Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 140 of 195

Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa Hoi An wins All-inclusive Resort Awards

It’s the award season for luxury hotels around the world and Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa Hoi An is thrilled to have received a number of prestigious awards this year including Asian Lifestyle Tourism Awards, Luxury Travel Guide Awards. The hotel proudly has recently awarded the World Luxury Hotel Awards and The Guide Awards.

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Established in 2006, World Luxury Hotel Awards is the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry. Besides, Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa Hoi An won Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resort at The Guide Awards 2017 which were given by Vietnam Economic Times basing on surveys of tourism and hospitality products and services conducted in 2016-2017.

Mr. Sven A. Saebel, General Manager of Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa Hoi An shared: “It is thanks to the votes and shares of our valued customers that Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa Hoi An has won double prestigious awards. World Luxury Hotel Awards provided us with international recognition for world class facilities and service excellence offered to guest. Moreover, as we have moved into the all-inclusive market, the Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resort recognizes our continuous efforts to provide our guests a holiday – not just a room with breakfast.”

Stunningly designed and perfectly positioned along the popular Cua Dai Beach stretch, Sunrise Premium Resort Hoi An offers enchanting views to one of the most breathtaking coastlines in the world, as well as the perfect mix of luxury, serenity and adventure. Featuring 222 luxury rooms, suites and oceanfront villas with private pools, Sunrise Hoi An Resort is designed to help you explore, relax, recharge and make the most of your vacation.

Each accommodation is thoughtfully designed with an emphasis on intimacy, luxury and the conveniences of home. Relax near our signature pools or private beaches, unwind through the healing treatments of Bliss spa, and enjoy the culinary delights.

Savor the fresh seafood and casual cuisine of The Pool House, delight in Vietnamese delicacies and Asian fusion at Spice Garden, or enjoy afternoon tea and creative cocktails at The Lounge. There’s no shortage of enticing culinary offerings at our hotel’s stunningly designed restaurants and lounge.

Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa, Hoi An

Tel: +84 (0235) 393 7777
Email: resa@sunrisehoian.vn
Website: sunrisehoian.vn

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

South Africa – the rainbow of the continent

I received a business trip notification to South Africa just one week before the departure date, which made me thought “oh no, going to africa? I’m going to live in poor living conditions with some Africans that appear on TV?” Feeling desperate, i was hopping my visa wouldn’t be approved by the embassy. However, seven days later, as an interpreter, i accompanied the delegation to Cape Town – the first destination of the journey full of surprises and luck.

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CAPE TOWN – WHERE TWO OCEANS MEET

Francois – a Dutch local guide welcomed us at the airport with his radiant smile and friendly handshake. Being one person of the 9 percent of whites in South Africa, he is proud that his ancestors were the first immigrants to set foot in Cape Town, beginning the process of exploiting the continent.

Cape Town is known as the legislative capital of the only country in the world that has three capitals. However, what makes Cape Town the most attractive tourist destination in South Africa is its unique natural geographic location – where the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet. Therefore, it is not difficult for me to feel the harmony between the natural landscape, the abundant flora and fauna, and favorable climate of the place.

June, though not the season of purple Jacaranda flowers blooming on the streets, is the time of early winter. A little cold but still sunny weather, and places are not too crowded with tourists. This is the ideal time to enjoy the feeling of freedom on the wide roads between two rows of trees scattered with golden light filtering through the leaves, which feels like a sweet resonance of autumn to welcome and mesmerize us.Contrary to my “preconceptions” about a poor country, Cape Town appeared with 4-lane roads, luxury villas along the beach, and streets covered with green trees. From the airport, we headed straight to V & A Waterfront and felt overwhelmed at Cape Town’s most famous shopping complex in front of Table Bay. This is the place where any shopaholic definitely wishes to go; there are over 450 booths with loads of famous brands’ products. Our delegation spent the whole afternoon here; the women went shopping, so the men took the children to Two Ocean Aquarium to learn about the sea creatures living in the place where two oceans meet. For a person who is not keen on shopping and does not have children like me, watching the fishing boats coming in and out of the harbor for loading and unloading goods as well as carrying tourists, and enjoying street magic performances was enough to make an autumn afternoon in Cape Town unforgettable. When the lights came on, the streets became more crowded and busier. We, like many people, chose a restaurant right opposite the harbor to enjoy the luxury of this place before going back to the hotel. Contrary to the modern but crowded city visit the day before, we decidedly to visit historical sites on the next day. These sites are associated with the historical African faith and their journey to reclamation.

Table Mountain is one of the symbols of Cape Town, as you can see the mountain from anywhere in the city. Just by looking at the mountain, you will understand the origin of its special name. For the fisherman, seeing Table Mountain appear behind the clouds from the distance means that they have arrived home safely. Fortunately, when our car arrived at the foot of the mountain, it stopped raining and the fog disappeared, making the cable car service operational again. From the top of the mountain, I was overwhelmed by the splendor of the city embracing the coast from above, surrounded by the two sides of the mountains. Along with Signal Hill, Lion’s Head on the left and Devil’s Peak on the right form an arched shape, “Table Mountain embraces the city, protects the people from the storms from the two sides of the ocean.” – Francois proudly said. Also at the top of Table Mountain, Francois showed me a Protea – the national flower of South Africa. This flower was chosen as a national symbol because it survives despite the aridity of the granite and sandstone layers here, like the South African nation which has gone through many ups and downs to become the richest country in the continent.

When visiting Cape Town, you should definitely go to the Cape of Good Hope – the point where the two oceans meet. On the way to the Cape of Good Hope, Francois showed me Vasco da Gama, memorial – the statue of the first Portuguese to discover the Cape of Good Hope in the 15th century. Then the Dutch got the information and brought immigrants here to set up a stopover for cargo ships from Netherlands to India in the 17th century. Arriving at the Cape of Good Hope, I felt so fortunate to be able to reach the meeting point of the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, also the first place of Africa to be discovered. This land has witnessed many great discoveries of humanity. After many steps, we reached Cape Point – the southernmost point of Cape Town, where located at the top of the hill is a lighthouse leading the way for fishingboats. We rode the last cable car to the lighthouse, touched thesignpost, and measured the distance from here to London, Riode Janeiro, and New York.

The highlight of Cape Town is the visit to the home of rare animals. From Hout Bay, the boat took us to the Seal Island, where thousands of seals were swimming and sunbathing, without the fear of human encroachment. Passing by the million-dollar villas of Hollywood stars in Simon town, we stopped at Boulders Beach and walked to the colony of penguin – the kind of birds that is on the Red List of Threatened Species and preserved only in this region. From a few ten thousands five years ago, there are now only a few hundred due to climate change. I was so lucky to see them with my eyes, these cute little birds fluttering on the beach.

PRETORIA – HISTORICAL CAPITAL

As soon as we landed at Johannesburg airport, we were taken to Pretoria – the important administrative capital with many historic vestiges. South Africa is also known as the rainbow Nation because of its cultural and ethnic diversity. On the way to our first destination, the Union Buildings, Sonet – a tour guide in Pretoria – told us about the continuous effort of the people here to have a better life. In order to become a developed country, South Africa has undergone a period of persistent struggling: Breaking free from the domination of the British and the Dutch, and overthrowing the Apartheid.

As her story came to an end, we arrived at the Union Buildings – where the Presidency office is located at. This is the place where the inauguration of Nelson Mandela – the first president to be elected after the end of Apartheid – took place in 1994. Also in this place in 2013, hundreds of thousands of people gathered for his funeral. Our attention was paid to South Africa’s highest statue of Nelson Mandela in front of the building. The statue with two hands stretching out, linking the two wings of the Union Buildings is the symbol of the spirit of national unity for the country of the legendary president.

Continuing our journey, we visited the Voortrekker Monument – built to commemorate the Dutch who died during the eight-year Great Trek from Cape Town to Pretoria to escape the British sovereignty. The city of Pretoria was named after a Voortrekker leader. Stepping into the Monument, I was especially impressed with the handmade tapestry in the basement, which depicts several events that took place during the Great Trek. It is said that nine women had worked for eight years to complete this masterpiece. Another interesting factor is that the dome of the Monument has a hole that is only open for the sunrays penetrating every year at noon on December 16th – the Day of Reconciliation – to guide the people who had enlightened this land in the past.

GOLDEN CITY OF JOHANNESBURG

Coming to South Africa, you should definitely buy gold or diamonds. But if you cannot afford such an expensive item, you can still have a great experience exploring a gold mine like me.

We asked to go to Gold Reef City Theme Park instead of the historical relics. As this park was built on an old gold mine and the mines still remain under the ground, we could observe the mining process which was imitated perfectly. A ticket for entry includes a gold mine tour for the price of ZAR190 for adults and XAR120 for children under 1.3 metres height. We were given helmets and flashlights. The iron-cage-shaped elevator took us down to the depth of 13 metres to the first floor where trams were filled with rocks, which inner layers were solid gold. Going deeper, we saw the drills and machines used for exploitation. It is said that this mine had a depth of 50 metres and there is plenty of gold still remaining right under my feet. Going out of the mine, the tour guide took us to an auditorium that showed how to make a 1-kilogram gold bar. We were encouraged to touch this gold bar then touch our earlobes before leaving the room to pray for luck. Just like gold spreading throughout the rocks and soil, the wealth of South Africa is still accompanied with poverty.

Johannesburg is one of the cities that has an enormous gap between the rich and the poor. When in Sandton, I could wander between skyscrapers, a busy commercial centre, and beautiful modern streets. However, when I travelled only seven miles to Alexandra, I felt like I was in another country. It took nearly 50 years for South Africa to overthrow racism, so it may also take a lot of time and effort to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. I believe if they have enough courage and persistence, South Africa will achieve it.

W.TIPS

VISA

It is recommended to apply for a visa one month before the trip at the South African Embassy at Level 3, Central Building, 31 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi. The processing time at the Embassy is 10 working days and the visa fee is 57 USD. Note: For children under 18, you need 02 certified copies of their birth certificate, one to submit to the Embassy and the other to bring along during the journey customs will always require this document to let you pass through the border gates.

TRANSPORTATION

Two prestige and low-cost airlines flying from Hanoi to South Africa are Emirates (transit in Dubai) and Kenya Airways (transit in Nairobi, Kenya).

CURRENCY

The currency of South Africa is Rand (1 USD = 13.3 ZAR), and you are recommended to exchange currency at the airport or trade centre. However, remember that you cannot change back to the US Dollar when needed. Also, because South Africa has the highest crime rate in the world, it is advisable to make payment with a credit card instead of carrying cash. Almost all restaurants and shops accept card payment.

SOME GUIDANCE NOTES ON SAFETY

Do not wear expensive accessories and put cash in the back pocket. Do not withdraw cash at ATMs at night or go to the attractions alone. Be wary of strangers who ask you to exchange money, and absolutely do not respond to offers for banned things in South Africa such as ivory or rhinoceros horns.

Important documents, cash or valuables belongings should not be left in the hotel room but should be deposited at the hotel reception to prevent theft.

IDEAL TRAVEL TIME

The best time to visit South Africa is in the spring (from September to November) when the weather is cool, and the streets are filled with purple Jacaranda blossoms. Or you can travel here in the winter (from June to August) when it is cold but not freezing. Cape Town is also recently ranked by National Geographic as one of the top 10 amazing destination in autumn. However, you should bring a jacket or a scarf because of the big difference in temperature between day and night.

OTHER NOTES

♦The standard voltage and sockets in South Africa are 220V to 250V and 3-pin type respectively, so it is recommended to carry a travel adapter and a multi-purpose outlet.

♦ It is advisable to prepare a photocopy of your passport and other necessary personal Identity documents; in the case of missing, the embassy may issue a new passport or travel document in the shortest possible time.

♦ It is advisable to travel to Kenya or Tanzania because the flight route is quite convenient and you can apply for a visa of these two countries at the border gate. Moreover, do not forget to take the vaccination against yellow fever and bring it along if you go to African countries where this disease is detected. You will be required to be checked at the immigration desk.

♦ Do not take photos of local people, the police or animals being fed, without permission, especially at local attraction sites where you will be hassled for money.

Huong Thao | Wanderlust Tips

8 must-see places in The Mekong Delta in the evening

Travel to The Mekong Delta in the evening, where to go and what to do to have the most enjoyable experiences? Here are eight suggestions from Wanderlust Tips.

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NINH KIEU QUAY – THE SYMBOL OF CAN THO CITY

Located at the confluence of Hau River and Can Tho River, Ninh Kieu Quay is in Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District. This is a river wharf at the entrance of Can Tho Market. In 1876, the French troops occupied Can Tho, and the wharf was built with brick and stone along the banks to prevent waves, similar to Northern Vietnam’s wharf, where there was busy trade. The beauty of Ninh Kieu Quay was described in poetry. Today, Ninh Kieu Quay is anticipated to become a tourism site with an area of 7.000m², attracting a large number of locals and visitors who want to enjoy a view, take a stroll and get some fresh air.

Top tips: Hai Ba Trung Street along the river is planned as a walking street and night market. Here, every 100 metres, there is a range of stalls selling different items such as food, fruit, and souvenirs.

Cuisine: Enjoy many attractive dishes at the restaurants at Ninh Kieu Night Market.

CAN THO PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE – CHECK OUT THIS INTERESTING SPOT WHEN VISITING CAN THO

Can Tho Pedestrian Bridge is also known as Love Bridge, crossing Khai Luong Canal, connecting Ninh Kieu Quay and Cai Khe Islet. The bridge is made of semi-permanent reinforced concrete. It is nearly 200 metres long and 7.2 metres wide, with the total investment capital of VND 50 billion. The bridge is designed in a S-shape symbolising country’s shape. On the bridge, there are two lotus statues. The bridge is equipped with coloruful LED system creating lively and modern beauty. By the railing of the bridge, there is an abundance of green trees and flowers, which create an impressive sight from the bridge.

Top tips: The pedestrian bridge is a favourite destination for locals as well as tourists. People come here for sightseeing, taking check-in photos or taking part in many cultural events of the city organised here.

Cuisine: Right next to the pedestrian bridge, there are restaurants such as Ninh Kieu.

CAN THO BRIDGE – THE LONGEST MAIN SPAN BRIDGE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Can Tho Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over Hau River, connecting Can Tho City and Vinh Long Province. In 2010, this bridge became the longest main span bridge in Southeast Asia. With 216 cables, it looks like a long hair of a young woman on Hau River from above. The distance between two banks of Hau River is larger than Tien River, so it was built longer and higher. Bridge piers are placed on Au Islet, so from a distance it has gentle bends. Looking up from the bridge, the spreading orange cables at the top look like they are interwoven with the blue sky. Hoa Su, and Tay Thanh Tay Do.

Top tips: In the evening, Can Tho Bridge is lit up in the middle of the night. You can drive on the bridge, then pass the beautiful bridge to feel the cool breeze and watch the Can Tho city sparkling at night.

Cuisine: Quang Trung Restaurant (A3 Road, Hung Phu 1 Residential Area), Bien Dong 2 Seafood Restaurant (168, 30 April), and Vinh Ky Restaurant (2 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai).

YACHT ON THE HAU RIVER – ADMIRE CAN THO CITY’S SCENERY AT NIGHT

One of the favourite evening activities of visitors to Can Tho is travelling on a yacht along Hau River. The yacht departs from Ninh Kieu Quay and takes tourists for a trip on the water, where they can admire the gentle and poetic river and Can Tho City lights shimmering at night. In particular, visitors enjoy many “Don Ca Tai Tu” shows and enjoy the attractive specialties of Southern Vietnam during the trip.

Top tips: River cruises usually open around 7:30pm – 9pm daily, on weekends or public holidays, yachts have 2 additional tours: 6:25pm – 7:45pm and 8pm – 9:30pm. Ticket is free.

Cuisine: Culinary services are available on the yacht with plenty of options.

CAN THO ANCIENT MARKET – 100-YEAR-OLD MARKET WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE IN THE MEKONG DELTA REGION

Can Tho Ancient Market, over hundred years old, is next to Ninh Kieu Quay. Local residents also call it Hang Duong Market or “Six Provinces Market”. Can Tho Ancient Market was built at the same time with Ben Thanh Market and Binh Tay Market (HCMC) in 1915. This market boasts the most beautiful architecture in the Mekong Delta and is the place people gather to trade goods in the Southern region. However, this market became degraded over time. In 2005, it was repaired and restored with a total investment capital of billions of Vietnamese dong to met the needs of trade and commerce, and to preserve the traditional and cultural details. Its harmonious and poetic combination of ancient and mordern architecture always leaves good impressions with visitors.

Top tips:

The market is located on Hai Ba Trung Street, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. It opens daily from 6am – 9pm. Besides shopping here, visitors also can admire the impressive architecture of the ancient market, watch the poetic Hau River winding behind the market.

Cuisine: Enjoy the snacks along the road from Ninh Kieu Quay to Ancient Market.

TRAN PHU NIGHT MARKET – PARADISE OF DELICIOUS AND CHEAP SNACKS

Located at the end of Tran Phu Street, Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Tran Phu Night Market or Can Tho Night Market is another one of the most popular bustling night markets for tourists in Can Tho. The market is divided into two zones: Trade and Service, and the Food Court. Between the two, the food court is more crowded and attractive. Countless stalls are close by, with plenty of options: baked foods, fruit juices, milk tea, fruit, and ice cream. Prices are very affordable.

Top tips: Tran Phu night market operates from 5pm-11pm daily.

Cuisine: Enjoy countless tempting dishes at the market.

XANG THOI LAKE – SAILING ON THE LAKE FULL OF SHIMMERING LIGHTS

Once used as a landfill by citizens, nowadays Xang Thoi Lake (also known as Bo Ho) is a famous attraction in Can Tho, especially in the evening. With an area of 6.5 hectares, visitors will have to spend a lot of time to walk around the lake. Although it is an artificial lake, the water inside the lake is still quite clean because it is changed regularly.

Top tips:

Here, visitors can walk around the lake to feel the fresh air. The lights from the surrounding buildings reflect on the water, creating a sparkling and fanciful scene. Besides tourists and many photographers often come here to “hunt” for impressive moments. When tired, you can visit a café by the lake to enjoy a cool drink and enjoy a view of the peaceful lake.

Cuisine: Around the lake there are pubs, garden cafés, and karaoke at reasonable prices.

LUU HUU PHUOC PARK – SIMPLE LIFESTYLE OF CAN THO PEOPLE

Next to Hoa Binh Avenue, Luu Huu Phuoc Park is located at the beginning of Ly Tu Trong Street, An Cu Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. The park was built in the shape of a guitar, and was named after Can Tho’s famous musician named Luu Huu Phuoc. This is the place where important events of the city and cultural activities, such as celebrations and festivals, take place. In the evening, the park atmosphere is even more bustling with older people practicing Tai Chi and the youths playing guitars, with many groups gathered to sing.

Top tips: The park is clean, airy and motorcycles are not allowed to drive inside. Visitors can walk around, enjoy the open space and watch the idyllic lifestyle of the locals.

Cuisine: Nam Bo Restaurant (1 Ngo Quyen), Duck Hotpot (13B Ly Tu Trong), Lumos Coffee & Cake (10 Ly Tu Trong), Mat Cua Café (54 Le Lai), and Tiny Corner Café Self-Respect.

Wanderlust Tips

8 must-see places in The Mekong Delta in the afternoon

Travel to The Mekong Delta in the afternoon, where to go and what to do to have the most enjoyable experiences? Here are eight suggestions from Wanderlust Tips.

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LONG TUYEN ANCIENT VILLAGE – TYPICAL BEAUTY OF SOUTHERN VILLAGE

Far from Can Tho’s city centre about 5 kilometres is Long Tuyen Ancient Village, which is considered as a place of convergence of cultural values, symbolising the beauty of the waterland, and it is one of the five Vietnam ancient villages recorgnised by Vietnam Record Association. Although over 100 years old, surviving the test of time, Long Tuyen Village still retain its ancient beauty and unique cultural identity.

Long Tuyen’s scenery is as beautiful as a painting with a crossing river called Binh Thuy. Binh Thuy River is 15 kilometres long, seperating the village into two symmetrical halves and from the village it is divided into 30 interlacing canals. To this day, Long Tuyen Ancient Village has preserved many old architectural works bearing historical and cultural values: Binh Thuy Ancient house, Binh Thuy Communal house, Nam Nha Pagoda, Hoi Linh Pagoda, Long Quang Pagoda.

Must see: Bui Huu Nghia Historical Monument.

Cuisine: The ancient village has many cafés such as Hong Nhung, Khanh Ly, Loc, Pho Xua, Tuyet Hang Anh My …

MY KHANH TOURIST VILLAGE – AN ATTRACTIVE ECO-TOURISM SITE

Located between Cai Rang and Phong Dien Floating markets, My Khanh Tourist Village with an area of 8ha belongs to My Khanh Commune, Phong Dien District, Can Tho City. This ecotourism site attracts visitors with its beautiful gardens in the waterland and a variety of exciting entertainment activities.

Top tips:

Coming here, visitors can explore, and learn about the local life when visiting Southern ancient houses, enjoying “Don Ca Tai Tu” show, working as a farmer for one day, visiting the traditional cultural village, visiting fruit gardens, travelling by horse-drawn carriage or electric taxi, boat rowing, watching pig and dog racing, monkey shows and crocodile fishing. In My Khanh Village, you can find homestays with fully equipped bungalow for guests. Admission fee: VND50,000 per adult and VND30,000 per child.

Cuisine: The restaurants in the tourist village: Da Da, Luc Giac, Ancient House, Nha Xua, Bat Giac, Thuy Ta, My Khanh.

CAN THO GARDENS – ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THE MEKONG DELTA

One of the experiences that can not be missed while visiting the Mekong delta is to visit the orchards. The gardens often have an area of a few hectares, with luxuriant orchards with a variety of fruit: mango, rambutan, mutant coconut, green skin pomelo, dragon fruit, mangosteen, … Here, visitors to the garden can enjoy fruit all year round. In addition, visitors can also try working as a farmer when fish catching at the canal or harvesting fruit. Through these activities, visitors will somewhat learn more about the idle working life of the locals.

Top tips:

Can Tho has a lot of fruit gardens for tourists to visit such as Lung Cot Cau Tourism Site (Nhon Nghia Commune, Phong Dien District), Con Son (Binh Thuy Ward, Binh Thuy District) Vam Xang Orchard (My Khanh Commune, Phong Dien District), Muu Cuong Tourist Garden (My Khanh Commune, Phong Dien District), Bao Gia Trang Vien Eco-Park (Thang Thach Ward, Cai Rang District).

Cuisine: Enjoy the specialties of the Mekong delta Vietnam in the garden.

SA DEC FLOWER VILLAGE – A TOURIST ATTRACTION IN DONG THAP

Sa Dec Flower Village is located in Tan Qui Dong Commune, Sa Dec City, Dong Thap Province. This village is windy, fertile, and full of sunshine all year round and is home to hundreds of exotic species of flowers. The flower village has an area of about 60 hectares, with 600 households and 3,600 workers specialising in growing flowers and ornamental plants. In every month of the year, visitors can admire a forest of flowers, mire ysillage a forest of flowers featuring various colours and aroma. Along with typical plants, such as starfruit, areca nut, carmona retusa, cluster fig trees, banyan, and apricot, there are rare plants over a hundred years old.

Top tips: From Can Tho’s inner city, follow National Highway 1A, then cross National Highway 80 to Tan Qui Dong Commune, Sa Dec City, Dong Thap Province. The distance is more than 60 kilometres.

Must see: Sa Dec Flower Village Park.

Cuisine: Restaurants in Sa Dec City: Sadec Riverside Restaurant (397 Tran Hung Dao), Hai Lua Restaurant (Ton Duc Thang Street), and the Sa Dec Flower Village Café.

PHUONG NAM ZEN MONASTERY – THE LARGEST MONASTERY IN THE MEKONG DELTA

Located in Lo Vong Cung Historical Site, Phuong Nam Zen Monastery was inaugurated on 17th May 2014 in My Khanh Commune, Phong Dien District, Can Tho City. The monastery was built on an area of nearly 4 hectares, with a total construction cost of VND145 billion. The building of the monastery restored the monastery of Buddhist Monk Tran Nhan Tong.The main hall and ancestral house were built in the cultural architectural style of the Ly and Tran dynasties. The bell tower and drum tower resemble the bell tower of the Keo Pagoda in Thai Binh. In particular, these four structures are made of ironwood, from about 1,000 logs imported from South Africa. The Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the main hall is made of bronze, weighing 3.5 tons; the great bell weighs 1.5 tons. The statue of Bodhisattva and Patriarch of Zen Buddhism is carved from 800-year-old coniferous evergreen wood. The interior is well-proportioned with Guanyin Hall, Maitreya Buddha Hall, One Pillar Pagoda, Lecture Hall, Guest House, a prayer hall, a library, and the Oriental medicine room.

Cuisine: Along Province Road 923 in Phong Dien District, there are restaurants such as Ha Chau Restaurant, Riverside Café, and SaKe Garden Café.

ONG PAGODA – 100-YEAR-OLD PAGODA CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CHINESE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

Ong Pagoda was built by the Chinese community of Guangzhou and Zhaoqing (Guangdong Province, China) in Can Tho from 1894 to 1896 on an area of over 500m² for religional purposes. Therefore, the pagoda is also called Quang Trieu Hoi Quan. The pagoda boasts a unique Chinese architectural style.

Top tips:

The pagoda is located at 32 Hai Ba Trung, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. Ong Pagoda has three main ceremonies of worshipping Guan Gong (on the 24th of the 6th Lunar month), Holy Mother (on the 23rd of the 3rd Lunar month), and the most quintessential activity of Ong Pagoda Festival: the lantern auction ceremony (auction of six-sided lanterns) that takes place every 10 years with the belief that the lantern will bring luck and success to the owner.

Cuisine: Southern Restaurant (1 Ngo Quyen), Royal Palace Restaurant (55 Phan Dinh Phung), Hoa Cau Café (4 Hai Ba Trung), and V18 Club (Hai Ba Trung Street).

CAN THO’S KHAM LON PRISON – NATIONAL HISTORIC RELIC SITE

Kham Lon Prison is also known as the Prison Provinciale, built by French colonialists in 1878-1886 for the colonial government. Surviving more than a hundred years, it is evidence of cololonial and imperial crimes, as well as honourable evidence for the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people.Can Tho’s Kham Lon Prison is divided into two locations, with 21 collective cells (with a capacity for 30 people but in fact there were more than 100 people kept in each cell) and many small cells for solitary confinement. In addition, there are other structures such as pagodas, churches, kitchens, a supervisors’ department and vocational hall. Additionally, there are also displays of torture tools, artifacts made by prisoners, pictures, and precious documentation.

Top tips: Address: No. 8 Ngo Gia Tu Street, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho.

Cuisine: Ninh Kieu Restaurant and Ninh Kieu Sky Bar (2A Hai Ba Trung), Rooftop Bar (16 Tran Quoc Toan), and Senior Coffee (36 Ngo Gia Tu).

CAN THO BEACH – RELAX WITH THE WAVES AND ESCAPE HEAT IN CAN THO

In fact, Can Tho Beach is an artificial beach by Hau River in Bai Cat Area (Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City). About 400 metres of the riverbank were covered with 1 million cubic metres of sand to create an artificial beach. From here, visitors can admire Can Tho Bridge nearby.

Top tips:

The ideal time to visit Can Tho Beach is about 14:30pm – 10pm because it is cool, mild and not intensely sunny. Entrance fee: VND20,000 per person. Here, visitors can swim in the cool water and participate in many exciting underwater games such as water motorbike, kayaking, banana floats and high speed boat trips along the beach. Especially, by Can Tho Beach, there are magic shows, exciting dances.

Cuisine: Prince Restaurant and beverages stalls by the beach.

Wanderlust Tips

8 must-see places in The Mekong Delta in the morning

Travel to The Mekong Delta in the morning, where to go and what to do to have the most enjoyable experiences? Here are eight suggestions from Wanderlust Tips.

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CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET – GOING TO THE MARKET ON THE RIVER

Cai Rang Floating Market is located in Cai Rang District, Can Tho, about 30 minutes by boat from Ninh Kieu Quay. There are many floating markets in the Mekong delta, and Cai Rang is the largest and most famous one. The market specialises in the sale of local fruits and agricultural products. In the morning, hundreds of boats are in close proximity to one another. The seller hangs the products on poles from the nose of the boat, so buyers would know what kinds of products they sell.

Top tips:

Cai Rang Floating Market is often open fairly early in the morning until about 8 or 9am. Due to the needs of the buyers, besides fruit and agricultural products, many other things are offered: noodle, hu tieu (noodle with seasoned and sautéed beef), coffee, and floating pubs. Guests rent boats to explore floating market with prices from VND350,000/boat.

Must see: Take a boat trip to visit the floating market, fruit garden or hu tieu factory.

Cuisine: Enjoy local specialties on the boat in the market.

BANG LANG STORK GARDEN – THE LARGEST BIRD SANCTUARY IN NINE DRAGON RIVER DELTA

About 60 kilometres away from Can Tho’s city centre, Bang Lang Stork Gardens is located in Thoi Thuan Ward, Thot Not District, Can Tho City. This place attracts hundreds of thousands of storks (white storks, gray storks, black storks, little cormorants) from many regions migrating to find places to nest. They land on the mid-sized bamboo branches, swinging with the wind, calling for each other. Visitors have the opportunity to explore the interesting living habits of crowded storks amidst the peaceful countryside of the Mekong Delta.

Top tips:

To see the vibrant living rhythm of the garden, visitors should go from August to January according to the lunar calendar. Especially, if you want to admire the cattle migrate, you should come here from February to April according to the lunar calendar. From 5am to 6am, the flocks will fly away to find food; at about 5pm, they will fly back. These are ideal times of the day to visit the stork garden, enjoy the moment of beautiful stork wings in the dawn or sunset. Ticket price: VND10,000 per person. Opening hours: 5am-7pm daily.

Cuisine: Along the National Road 91, in Thot Not District, there are many restaurants such as Phuong Nam (Thuan An Ward), Loc Phat (Long Thanh Ward).

TRA SU CAJEPUT FOREST – BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS OF GREEN NATURE

Tra Su Cajeput Forest is located in Van Giao Commune, Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province, about 20 kilometres from Chau Doc City and 130 kilometres from Can Tho City. This is a typical riparian forest in the Mekong delta area of the Hau River, home to many waterbirds, wild animals and aquatic species in Vietnam’s special-use forest. Moreover, visiting cajeput forest, you have chance to learn about the unique cultural value of the Khmer and Kinh communities living along the forest with many traditional handicrafts such as brocade weaving, jaggery making, cajeput essential oil distillation and beekeeping.

Top tips:

To explore cajeput forest, visitors can rent tandems to ride around the forest or travel on small boats or canoes threading through the canals. The green of cajeput covers the space, and dozens of singing birds will make visitors feel like they are getting lost in the wonderland.

Cuisine:

Enjoy specialties: roasted siamese mud carp, snakehead fish steamed with gourd, rice field crab served with tamarind fish souce, tamarind sauce, sesban flowers salad … at the restaurants in the residential area along cajeput forest.

TRAM CHIM NATIONAL PARK – EXPLORE THE DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS OF WETLAND

Tram Chim National Park is located in 7 communes of Tam Nong District, Dong Thap Province. The national park has an area of 7,588 hectares, home to many species of flora and fauna, of which there are nearly 200 species of waterfowl, accounting for about a quarter of all bird species in Vietnam. Visiting Tram Chim National Park, visitors will be guided through waterways on the lagoons, passing through the Melaleuca forests and immense grasslands, experiencing firsthand the beauty and interesting activities of the birds.

Top tips: From Can Tho’s inner city, go along National Highway 1A then turn left, and then follow the National Highway 30 to Tram Chim National Park. The distance from Can Tho to Tram Chim is about 120 kilometres.

Must see: If you have a lot of time, you can visit the attractions of Cao Lanh District, Dong Thap Province: Xeo Quyt Relic (Hamlet 4, My Hiep) and Gao Giong Ecotourism Park (Hamlet 6, Gao Giong Commune) are located on the road from Can Tho to Tram Chim National Park.

Cuisine: Enjoy country-style dishes with authentic flavours at the food court in the national park.

TAN LAP FLOATING VILLAGE ECO – TOURISM SITE – IMMERSE YOURSELF INTO THE NATURE

Located in the centre of Dong Thap Muoi, Tan Lap Floating Village (Tan Lap Commune, Moc Hoa District, Long An Province) is a wetland with a typical cajeput forest, lotus, water lilies, water hyacinth, and wild rice lakes. It is home to many kinds of animals (birds, storks, fishes, etc.). The forest canal runs through Tan Lap Floating Village, in front of which, there is the gentle river called Vam Co Tay. Here, visitors can stroll on the path through the forest, or sail through the forest canal, enjoy a panoramic view of the vast forest from the observation tower, explore the cultural identity of local residents with traditional handicraft, the art of Don Ca Tai Tu (music of talented amateurs), and special festivals.

Top tips:

From Can Tho’s inner city, tourists can follow National Highway 1A, cross Can Tho Bridge and go straight. Then you will pass through Vinh Long City (Vinh Long Province) and Cai Lay Town (Tien Giang Province) to Long An Province. Continue to drive along National Highway 62 to Tan Lap Floating Village. The distance is about 120 kilometres. Ticket price: VND55,000 per person.

Cuisine: Bring food to the eco-tourism site or enjoy specialty food in the Tan Lap dining area.

VINH TRANG PAGODA – A COMBINATION OF ASIAN AND EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURE

Vinh Trang Pagoda is located on Nguyen Trung Truc Street, My Phong Commune, My Tho City, Tien Giang Province. This is the largest Buddhist temple in Tien Giang Province, and it was also ranked a national historical-cultural relic in 1984. Vinh Trang Pagoda was built in the shape of “Nation”, a Chinese character that resembles a pagoda. The temple also includes elements of the Renaissance, a Romanesque style, French decorative flowers, and Japanese enameled tile. Chinese characters are written in the ancient style, but the national language is written in Gothic characters. On the exterior, the architecture of the pagoda is an unusual yet harmonious combination of Asian and European aesthetics. However, the internal architecture of the temple still features the traditional Vietnamese sculptural style.

Top tips: From Can Tho’s inner city, tourists can travel along National Highway 1A through Vinh Long Province, Tien Giang Province to My Tho City. The distance is over 100 kilometres.
Must see: Along the way from Can Tho City to Vinh Trang Pagoda, tourists can visit Dong Tam Snake farm in Binh Duc Commune, My Tho City.

Cuisine: Right on Nguyen Trung Truc Street, there are many restaurants such as: Bo De, Sy Gia, and Ta Hien Restaurant.

THE FAMOUS PAGODAS IN SOC TRANG – PRESERVING TRADITIONAL CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL VALUES

Soc Trang Province is home to more than 200 pagodas of three ethnic groups: Kinh, Khmer, and Chinese (the Khmer ethnic group accounts for nearly 29%). Therefore, it is not strange to see, in almost every district and commune, the presence of different pagodas, creating a beautiful and holy architectural complex honouring traditional cultural and historical values of Soc Trang in particular and the Mekong Delta in general.

Top tips:

From Can Tho’s inner city, follow the National Highway 1A to Hau Giang Province, passing through Nga Bay Town (Hau Giang Province) to Soc Trang Province. The distance is about 60 kilometres. Soc Trang Province has many pagodas, but top the four must-see pagodas are: Doi Pagoda, Dat Set Pagoda, Kh’leng Pagoda (in Soc Trang City) and Chen Kieu Pagoda (My Xuyen District, 10 kilometres from Soc Trang city centre).

Cuisine: Enjoy famous Soc Trang cuisine: fish broth with rice vermicelli, da salad vermicelli, coóng cakes, blotched snakehead porridge, Vietnamese pancakes, grilled beef, grilled pork skewer, and hu tieu noodle.

PRINCE OF BAC LIEU’S HOUSE – THE MOST PROMINENT HOUSE IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Prince of Bac Lieu’s House was built in 1919. The two-storey building is distinguished by its luxurious white colour and magnificent French architecture. This place is associated with the Prince of Bac Lieu, Tran Trinh Huy, the most famous male patrician of Southern Vietnam in the early 20th century.

Top tips:

The house is located at 13 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 3, Bac Lieu City, Bac Lieu Province, near Bac Lieu river bank. From Can Tho’s inner city, follow National Highway 1A through Can Tho Bridge, then go straight and pass Nga Bay Town (Hau Giang Province) and Soc Trang City (Soc Trang Province). Exiting Soc Trang Province, you will arrive in Bac Lieu Province. The distance is over 100 kilometres.

Must see: Visitors can visit the famous sites of Bac Lieu City, such as Xiem Can Pagoda which has typical Khmer architecture, the Bac Lieu wind farm, Bac Lieu Beach, and the Bac Lieu Salt Field.

Cuisine:

Enjoy Bac Lieu’s specialties such as fish sauce hot pot, Ngan Dua thick noodles and creamy coconut milk, Pungent rice vermicelli with beef, Vietnamese pancake, xa bau (salted and sweetened radish), bulrush, seafood, etc.

Wanderlust Tips

Share the love: Voluntourism

Discover the feelings of travellers and volunteers from the United States, Belgium and Vietnam when participating in community activities in Vietnam, Malaysia and Korea.

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SCOTT ELLIS, 31, BELGIUM

Through workaway.info, I found interesting projects where I could be useful. I paid only 20USD for me and my partner for 1 year of registration. And we’ve done volunteering in Malaysia on an organic farm and another in South Korea in an exchange language café. Our job was to talk English with locals.

My experience in Malaysia wasn’t good because the manager was annoying. And most of all, I was expecting to be learning some stuff. But I spent 10 days cutting bamboo and my partner spent 10 days on her knees taking out all the weeds. My experience in South Korea was, in contradiction, very good. I had a good time talking with local people. They were so nice and showed me around. And by that way I now know more about their local culture and lifestyle.

For both of the volunteering experiences, we had free food and free accommodation. Most of the places offer that (in exchange for 4-5 hours of work). But some places don’t offer anything and people have to pay for everything.

Yes, for some people, they are willing to pay a lot of money to join a trip. And bad people can use this good will to make profit. I hardly join such kind of trips because I don’t like the idea of making profit on the back of poor people or kind-hearted tourists.

But for me as I travelled 43 months, it’s just a break during travelling. For me my travel wasn’t holidays, but it was a way of life.

TRAN DUC BAO, 21, VIETNAM

I volunteer every year because when I attended a religions school in Boston, there were always volunteer trips for students. We also distributed food to the poor and homeless people and in our spare time we went around exploring the destination. It was a bit interesting but I did not feel very excited about these trips.

But the trip to Lo Lo Chai (Ha Giang Province) in July was the first tour I booked myself. And indeed, the trip was so great that it brought me unforgettable feelings. Probably because we were all Vietnamese, so I felt a sense of empathy and I deeply connected with the people here. And that made me more inspired to do volunteer work and help people in Lo Lo Chai.

My job was teaching English to young children, and every month there is a volunteer groups that comes here to do this work periodically. I had the chance to meet local people and stayed at a homestay, and walking a lot helped me to be familiar with the streets. At a cost of just over VND 1.6 million for a trip of 2 days 3 nights, it is also very cheap and worth your money compared to what I had experienced here.

Next summer I am planning to attend a longer volunteer program for about two weeks to a month, teaching in Lao Cai Province. Learning, connecting and giving is the best way to make me feel life is more meaningful and help me grow.

DIYA HEBLE, 22, UNITED STATE

I’ve never had a volunteering experience like this before. It was my first time volunteering in this capacity outside of my home country. I worked on business development with a partner organisation called Hoa Ban Plus, supporting a group of disadvantaged women in a rural district called Mai Chau. I was very excited to help them develop their own handicrafts so that they can earn their living and be financially independent. I was able to watch with my own eyes how our hands can help other people’s life, how we can play a little role in the journey to make an unfortunate persons’ future brighter.

Since that moment, I have felt so engaged with volunteer work that I decided to contribute to Volunteer For Education in any way I could by being an intern. During the time of my internship at this organisation, my main responsibility was to encourage more foreigners/expats to partake in the volunteer programs. So I helped with a lot of marketing efforts, formed partnerships with other organisations/businesses, and did some photography for content creation. I hope more and more people can partake in such meaningful trips to help people in need.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time outside of the office as well, in Hanoi. I had never been to Vietnam before, and I love travelling, so it was a pleasure to gain an understanding of Vietnamese culture and experience a different lifestyle.

ALEX PIKE, 26, UNITED STATES

I heard about “All Hands” from a friend that I met when I was travelling in Vietnam. I applied to work in Nepal while I was in Thailand.

We would go to a beneficiary’s property and help them to clear out rubble and remains of their old homes so that we could have a clean area for building a new house. I was on site for 6 weeks during March and April of 2016. We slept in dormitories for free and all of the meals were included on days that we worked. We worked from early morning until mid-afternoon. When we got back to base, we could relax, swim in the river, and hang out with each other.

When I finished my 6 weeks, I went trekking for 6 weeks to Mount Everest and some other breath-taking mountains. Nepal is an amazing country. I can’t wait to go back someday. I’d love to do the exact same thing again!

I loved volunteering. I made so many great friends and it felt great being able to help people every day. Handing over a new home to people in need is an amazing feeling. I didn’t have a lot of money to share, but I did have time, youthful energy, and positivity, and I think that sometimes, that’s the best thing to share anyways.

I think everybody can benefit from volunteering. I also got a lot stronger and gained some leadership skills. So, while I was helping others, I was able to grow as well.

Wanderlust Tips

Voluntourism: Travelling for a good cause

Some consider travelling a way to escape from reality or to get away from familiar places to sunbathe or sightsee. For others, travelling doesn’t need to be a holiday, but another way of living, learning new skills, experiencing different cultures first-hand and helping others. From this point of view, voluntourism has room to grow. From an economic view: a billion-dollar market.

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According to an article posted in 2014 on Washington D.C based National Public Radio, voluntourism is one of the fastest growing trends in travel today with more than 1.6 million volunteer tourists spending about USD2 billion each year.“Already, the industry is worth USD173 billion per year, and it is estimated that emerging markets will surpass advanced economies in international arrivals,” stated the Tourism and Hospitality Research 2014.

Thousands of organisations providing volunteer vacations grant people a chance to travel for a good cause. Among these, Africa has the most organisations, nearly 500, offering more individual programs and products than any other region (over 2,000). Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Uganda are some of the most popular destinations for volunteer programs, as revealed in the above-mentioned research.

This trend has drawn great attention from millenials who expect life experience and personal growth while still looking for a chance to give back to the host community. And voluntourism provides them with exactly what they are seeking. According to a survey released by Marriott Rewards Credit Card, 84 per cent of millennials say they would travel abroad to participate in volunteer activities, and 32 per cent of millennials are interested in taking a charitable trip.

FROM A TOURISM VIEW: A TRIP OF A LIFETIME

The numbers mentioned above are impressive enough. Yet besides from a commercial aspect, we may also find it more amazing to see the motivation that urges people to join and how they feel after a trip. That would explain why more and more people are willing to spend their vacation and even money on this kind of travel. “It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” said K. Wulfers from Texas who volunteered in Kenya with an organisation called Love Volunteers. She said that she enjoyed meeting people and went on excursions to discover the local life during her free time.

Africa seems to leave exceptional experience. Like K. Wulfers, Sabrina Colombo felt so engaged with the job that she decided to become a long-term employee of LEO Africa after joining a lion and black rhino volunteer monitoring programme based in a private game reserve of 33.000 hectares. The main job of the 2 game drives was to monitor the lions, but also elephants, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs and some birds and mammals of interest. The volunteers help collect data in the field and then enter it into a computer as the staff has to provide weekly, monthly and annual reports for the reserve, to help make the correct decisions to keep the balance in the reserve. The volunteers come from all over the world. In addition bush walks, koppie climbing, sleeping outside and night drives are planned and the participants share their time with people from all around the world. “I fell in love so much with this place that I ended up doing everything I could to come back! I got back to Italy after volunteering for 2 months, saved money to do a course to become a field guide and now here I am! My dream came true!!!” she said excitedly.

A little bit different, Mai Huong, a 24-year-old Vietnamese travel enthusiast, finds voluntourism to be a way to travel more on a little budget. She found her chance with WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). With this organisation, the young writer experienced being a farmer in Mongolia, Thailand and Myanmar. “I did farming work at organic farms and found it interesting to cultivate, breed and do many other things I have never done before. I worked 4-5 hours per day from Monday to Friday, and in return the farms provided me with food and a place to stay,” said Hương. Hương was also very excited to try a different living lifestyle: “I lived with many other voluntourists and we took turns to cook traditional dishes from each nation. It was really fun as we now know more about different cultures and cuisine.”

Actually, compared to the normal way of travel, voluntourism can help save money. Another voluntourist shared that, she took part in a programme to teach English in Chile for 8 months with WorldTeach and the program cost was about USD4,000, including airfare, visa, training, housing and meals, and a stipend to cover basic costs.

Whether you aim is to broaden your experience, to learn new skills or to take a dive into a new culture, when you travel on a budget on a volunteer vacation you get all of it by contributing to the local community, which adds meaning to your trip. Wearing and McGehee (2013), in a book analysing this trend, concluded that, ‘‘international volunteer tourism often focuses on humanitarian and environmental projects with the intention of serving the communities in need.’’

Volunteer For Education (V.E.O), which has been established in 2013 in Hanoi now provides many volunteer tours to remote regions of Vietnam such as Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Ha Giang. “There have been around 10,000 people joining our tours since they were established,” said Thuong, a member of V.E.O. “The volunteering work includes teaching English and soft skills, renovating roads and maintaining or building schools. We run this social business to improve living standards, education and infrastructure in remote regions of Vietnam. Bringing people to lesser-known places, we hope to raise people’s awareness about poor conditions in the regions and even sometimes in places that are located in famous tourists destination.”

In 2014, National Geographic listed the volunteer programme in Vietnam operated by Global Volunteers in their 50 Tours of a Lifetime.

THE FLIPSIDE

Even though many people feel that the voluntary trips they take are exceptional, and fantastic and some even wish to experience the same trip again, that does not mean that there aren’t any negative things about this kind of travel. For tourists, the complaints are normally about being overcharged, poor accommodation and many other issues relating to the gap between expectation and reality. One shared with Wanderlust Tips, that he was so disappointed as he was expected to learn some stuff, but he had to spend 10 days cutting bamboo and his partner spent 10 days on her knees taking out weeds. Another voluntourist was expecting to teach English to children but when he arrived, all the children had finished school.

Many people pour thousands of bucks to sign up for this kind of tour but they, for some reason, do not really take part in the trip, but are still charged. And then, a question arises about whether the money they spent went to the people in need or to the organiser’s pocket. Being asked about the financial transparency, V.E.O, who turned from a NGO to a social business, reveals that they re-invest the income in the social projects but cannot make clear to voluntourists how much they allocate in what way to the local projects. With an average 9 people signing up for a tour with V.E.O per day, many will have questions about this issue, especially when their experience from the trip is not what they expected. This situation is likely to happen. In fact even the organisations with good reviews can be doubted of being a scam if involved in such financial disputes.

From another point of view, short-term voluntourists can do more harm than good for the host community, especially in the specialised fields such as health or childcare. That is not to mention the question of whether or not a community is comfortable with strangers in their midst and how they make sure that local culture is protected and respected. According to a journal on CNN, in the case of orphanage tours to places like Siem Reap in Cambodia, the presence of wealthy foreigners wanting to play with parentless kids has actually had the perverse effect of creating a market for orphans in the town. A system has emerged in which parents will rent their children out for the day to play with gullible backpackers, creating fraudulent orphanages in response to visitors’ demand for them. Lumos, a charity by J.K.Rowling, proved that 90 per cent of the eight million children in institutions worldwide are not orphans and have families at home which want to care for them but cannot because they are pushed into institutions because of poverty and discrimination on the basis of disability or ethnicity. “Voluntourism is one of drivers of family break up in very poor countries. It incentivises ‘orphanages’ that are run as businesses,” she tweeted and this is the reason why Lumos does not support voluntourism.

It sounds terrible enough for any kind-hearted human being, but even if there is no such conspiracy, some argue that the orphans are vulnerable and they need stability instead of a momentary commiseration.

Wanderlust Tips

How to survive a desert or semi-desert drive

Here is some brand-new advice from the road-trip experiences of Tran Dang Dang Khoa – the young man travelling around the world on a motorcycle.

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During these past few weeks, I have crossed through the deserts and semi-deserts of Balochistan Province, Pakistan and Sistan, Baluchistan Province (Iran), which are famous for harsh weather, arid climate, and extreme vastness.

Heat from the sun, road surface, sand, and blowing wind will wear you out very quickly. On road trips with self-driving vehicles in foreign countries, you will sometimes encounter the following situation, especially if travelling in countries with similar terrain and climate. In addition, if you drive long distances in a hot season with high temperatures in Vietnam, it is important to make sure that your journey is safe and favourable, so that you can enjoy exciting experiences along the way.

CHECK THE MOTORBIKE CAREFULLY BEFORE DEPARTING

Extreme environments often have very few residents living along the road, so you may only find a low number of repair shops, or none at all. If any damage occurs along the way, it will be very dangerous and you will waste a lot of energy to repair it yourself. Before departing, you need to change the lubricating oil, check the amount of water, and fill up the water for the engine cooling system. If the temperature is too high, the engine can get very hot, and if the engine doesn’t have enough oil, it can also get hot and easily damaged. In addition, it is necessary to check the tire pressure. When travelling paved roads, it should be pumped moderately, but when driving across a sandy area, it is recommended to let the air out of the tires to increase the tire’s footprint (You should carry a hand air pump to fill up the tires when you return to driving on paved roads).

BRING PLENTY OF WATER, FOOD, AND GASOLINE IF YOU GO FOR DAYS

Driving under the hot sun, you will soon be dehydrated, so bring plenty of water and pack it carefully into various bags and containers so that even if your motorbike falls, the bags and containers will not be broken. Gasoline reserves are equally important; you should carry a suitable amount of gasoline for the distance that you will travel. Also, it is recommended to carry 1.5 times the capacity of your motorbike tank. Petrol containers should be especially designed to prevent collisions and leakage, and to withstand high temperature. At the gas station, after filling the tank, make sure you fill up the reserve containers, as you may not know whether the road ahead has any gas stations.

WEAR CLOTHES THAT COVER THE WHOLE BODY

There are many misconceptions about dressing when driving through desert, such as wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts. This is not right. You should follow the Arabs, who have lived in the desert for thousands of years: cover the whole body. The sunlight in the desert and semi-desert has extremely high radiant emissivity, which causes bad effects for the skin. Continuously exposing your skin to sunlight will cause injuries to the body and wear you out quickly. It is recommended that you wear long-sleeved clothes, shoes, gloves, sunglasses, and a full helmet to protect your body and minimise physical damage when accidents happen. Some people, especially motorcyclists, even dip their clothes in water before entering the desert, to reduce the heat and keep body’s moist.

MOVE ON THE ROAD

Keep a steady speed and curb the amount that you increase and decrease your speed, so that the engine is not forced to work too much. This also optimises the fuel consumption of the motorbike. There are very few vehicles in the desert, but you still need to pay attention to vehicles in the same or opposite direction. When driving through thick sandy areas, your motorbike may tilt and continuously lose balance; if this happens, prop your legs up in the sand to keep balance and push the motorbike if it sinks in the sand and cannot move.

It is recommended that you locate your centre of gravity at the centre of the motorbike. Do not lean forward or backward, otherwise the centre of mass of the motorbike will be distorted. When changing direction, this could cause difficulties, such as the motorbike sinking in the sand. When travelling through the thick sand, you should shift down to a lower gear and drive at a steady speed. Avoid increasing the speed, as your motorcycle may lose balance easily.

SOME OTHER NOTES

Notify your family or friends about your planned destination and arrival date so that if you get lost or your motorcycle is damaged along the way, someone will know and call for help if necessary. Bring a thin tarpaulin (if you ride a motorbike) to use as a sun-shading tool when taking a break along the road or stopping to repair your motorbike, as it will be very hard for you to find any shade.

After getting out of the desert, wash your vehicle and thoroughly clean the gears and drive chain, as the sand can erode them very quickly and cause other damage for the motorbike. You should travel in a group and have tow rope or winch to support each other when driving on the sand. Avoid going alone if you do not know where you are going. If camping in the desert, be sure to bring sturdy tents, blankets, and pads because the temperatures in these areas grow quite cold at night. Other necessary items are flashlights, cooking utensils, and other basic camping gear.

Wanderlust Tips

Conversation with Ray Pu-lei Kuan: General Manager of Vietnam’s Air Macau representative office

Mr Ray from Vietnam’s Air Macau representative office shared with Wanderlust Tips some interesting information about Macau’s only carrier and a new image for the country they are presenting to the world.

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How long have you been working for Air Macau?

I am Taiwanese and have been working for Air Macau for over 20 years. During this time, I worked for many different offices of Air Macau but mostly places in China such as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhuhai. I have mostly been in charge of sales departments.

And because outbound tourism from Vietnam increased 10 per cent last year, Air Macau’s leaders came up with the idea of launching a representative office in Vietnam. In the same year, I was sent to Vietnam to do market research multiple times. And that’s why I am here: to set up things for the Vietnam office. In the past six months, we have undertaken all the office set-up work including the office license application, legal procedures, and developed the local sales teams.

Why has Air Macau decided to open a representative office in Vietnam after four years flying here?

After a long time flying to Vietnam, we recognised Vietnam’s market potential. Air Macau is very small, but we are intending to expand our flight network in Vietnam including Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City. We would also like to increase our flights to Hanoi from one to two or three daily flights. Danang is also very popular with Taiwanese, Korean, and Japanese tourists. And we are aiming to go to Ho Chi Minh City – a modern city with a large market and many beautiful places close by especially islands. Vietnam has so many attractive destinations stretching from North through the Centre to the South.

Vietnam is witnessing fast-growing outbound tourism as I mentioned before. Besides, there are around 15,000 Vietnamese people living and working in Macau. And the number increases 8 per cent per year. If each person comes home once per year, that means more than 40 people fly a day. All of this ensures our chances to expand as we are aiming to cater to both labourers and transfer passengers. Because of that, we prefer to fly to existing popular destinations rather than add new ones to our flight network.

Vietnam is developing very fast now. When I fly, it is not hard to recognise many Vietnamese people in the business lounge or business class on board. Vietnamese people now are willing and able to pay for good or even classy services.

What are the challenges Air Macau has in developing the Vietnamese market?

Firstly, visas are one of the biggest issues now. We hope in the future, the visa scheme will be loosened for Vietnamese people who want to travel to Macau. At the moment the visa to Macau takes time and Vietnamese people have to prove financial capability and many other conditions to apply for a visa to Macau. But the change may take some time as it involves legal policies.

Secondly, I see that in Southeast Asia, people don’t know much about Macau; they know more about Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. But once they get there people will realise that Macau is worth a visit. It can be called the little “Europe” of Asia without exaggeration. You will not see chaos or crowds like in many other emerging parts of Asia. Everything here is tidy and well arranged. We hope to bring the new and fresh image of Macau to people in Vietnam.

What does Air Macau have to offer to its visitors?

Macau is the added value we give our passengers. We don’t sell plane tickets only. Macau is of course a place of gambling. The income from casinos in Macau exceeds even Las Vegas, but Macau’s authorities are trying to change its image worldwide, because there are so many other things to enjoy here besides casinos.

Macau is a family destination, it is a place of heritage, shopping centres selling everything from high-end to middle-class brands, big hotels with great views and family space, and many leisure activities to enjoy with your loved ones. For those who love historical and cultural heritage, please note that Macau has both. Comprising over 20 ancient monuments and urban squares interwoven with the heart of the city, the historic district is collectively known as “The Historic Centre of Macau” and has been on the World Heritage List since 2005.

With an Air Macau boarding pass you receive many preferential rates for accommodation in Macau. As the only carrier in Macau, we get the great support from all the authorities and partners in Macau.

Personally, what has been your difficulty when moving to work in Vietnam?

Actually, moving to Vietnam for work is a challenge for me because most of the time I have been working in China – the same language, the same culture. Now I am trying to adapt to a new living and working environment.

Lucky for me, living in Hanoi is quite easy. When my wife, my mother or my brother’s family came here, I took them to lunch or dinner with plenty of choice, which surprised them. I asked: “What would you like? Vietnamese food, Korean food, Japanese food, Chinese food or Italian food?” Even though I am super busy right at the moment, it is not hard to find many kinds of food just several steps from my office. Sometimes I have fried spring roll, or pho bo, sometimes I eat Hue food nearby, or Southern Vietnamese food such as banh xeo.

The most difficult thing for me is the language. I have been working in a Chinese-speaking environment for quite a long time. You can see many Vietnamese language self-studying books on my bookshelf (laughs) as I am trying to learn basic words for daily communication. It is also the way to learn the culture because I will stay here for at least three years in my position, but I expect it will be much longer maybe 5 to 7 years. Another thing is traffic, but luckily I don’t have to move around too much as I work and live in the same building.

What are the new destinations Air Macau is targeting?

Beside Ho Chi Minh City, we are also planning to open new routes to Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Singapore. As I said before, we would like to come into already-developed markets where the volume of passengers is stable at high levels, and not develop new ones.

In the future, we will try to develop more long-haul flights and hope that Macau will not be just a transit place for a couple of hours but a transfer destination where people wish to stay longer.

Thank you for sharing with us many interesting points. I wish you and Air Macau great success in the future.

Wanderlust Tips

Novotel Phu Quoc Resort has won “The Guide Awards 2016-2017”

Novotel Phu Quoc Resort is honoured to receive the award “Excellent resort of the year” at the ceremony of The Guide Awards 2016 – 2017 held at Novotel Phu Quoc Resort. After 2 years in operation, Novotel Phu Quoc Resort has won noble prizes which have recognized our great effort for building and developing the brand in domestic and international tourism market.

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This year, with remarkable criteria aiming to green value and sustainable development in tourism, The Guide Awards had made surveyed, evaluated, voted and honored 115 enterprises in Vietnam classified into 6 categories including: Resort (40 resorts), Hotel (37 hotels), Serviced Apartments (2 serviced apartments), Restaurant (18 Restaurants) tour operator (17 tour operators) and Shop & Healthcare Service (4 enterprises).

“On behalf of Tourism branch and Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, I congratulate enterprises winning the awards today. I’m also welcomed and appreciate highly Vietnam Economic Times during past 18 years making the effort to maintain this award”, Mr Nguyen Van Tuan had speech at The Guide Awards event, “Tourism needs contributions from community, and Vietnam Economic Times and The Guide has had practical activities to contribute to the development of Vietnam tourism”.

Mr Lee Pearce, General Manager of Novotel Phu Quoc Resort shared that the resort always makes effort to bring customers with high class service in the comfortable and luxurious space. “It’s the honour of all staff of Novotel Phu Quoc Resort to win The Guide Awards. And we will continue to improve quality of services better”, said Mr lee Pearce.

Sited on the Phu Quoc island – one of the most beautifully well-known islands in Vietnam for its naturally white sand and stretched beach where is only taken 10 minutes of driving from the Phu Quoc International Airport. Minimalism of contemporary vogue meets comfortable and elegant natural design in your own private hide-away. Around lush greenery garden accommodation or the beachfront bungalow are ideally placed to take advantage of spectacular scenery, either set turquoise sea over looking at the sunset. Enjoy three dining venues that each waking up your taste buds, three innovative bars and the ultimate chill-out lounge. Rest and rejuvenate with array of traditional and international treatments. Literally experiences will immerse you in a local culture heritage, cuisine and underwater discoveries that bring you to the tropical paradise.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet