Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 143 of 197

Wanderlust Tips travel magazine’s October issue 2017: Journey into the unknown

October issue of Wanderlust Tips Magazine will be a journey to the unknown to explore mysterious stories and secrets inspiring your curiosity and love for exploration.

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Are you sure you have reached the end of the world and explored the most mysterious ways in which the world really works?

It will be the eagerness to travel on the Lama’s spiritual land and be enthralled by the eternal faith in the mysterious Tibetan land. Let’s experience these emotions through the journey of Nguyen Thai Duy: TIBET, THE MYSTERIOUS – ONCE AND FOREVER in Destination category.

It will be the excitement to arrive on the Cape of Good Hope where connects two oceans, or discover gold mines that have made South Africa into the wealthiest country in the Dark Continent. You will see how impressive SOUTH AFRICA – THE RAINBOW NATION OF THE CONTINENT in the Destination Category.

And it can also be the thrilling sensation when you hear the indigenous people telling about countless miraculous, haunting stories of familiar destinations where you seemingly got all the information just after a click. The article MYSTERIOUS STORIES ON THE ROAD by Mai Dong (Where the story goes category) is a collection of spiritual and haunting stories in many destinations. You can believe or not, but legends have been spoken by the local people through many generation.

Follow the flow of new secrets to be revealed, Wanderlust Tips interviewed 5 travel bloggers. Living a life of travel, what did they do to afford those “wild” dreams? Read the article TRAVEL BLOGGERS – HOW MUCH DOES A DREAM COST? In Conversation Category, we will share the most sincere sharing of 5 famous travel bloggers: Tran Viet Phuong (Tran Trap), Tran Dang Dang Khoa, Tam Bui, Mai Phuong, Christopher Hell.

Travel with the October issue of Wanderlust Tips to live a life of being emotionally intense, because ‘Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced,’ as philosopher Søren Kierkegaard has said.

Wanderlust Tips

Live healthy like the Apatanis

The journey to ziro was challenging and arduous, but the completely different way of life that i experienced in this peaceful wonderland gave me a sense of reward. Hidden in a pristine village is a modest, healthy lifestyle, close to nature in both the material and spiritual aspects of life. And perhaps that’s why the Apatanis are one of India’s most sustainable, long standing traditional tribes, remaining in isolation from the modern world.

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HEALTHY LIVING THANKS TO UNUSUAL SPECIALTIES

Come to Ziro and you will have a lot of unexpected surprises just by walking around the markets, or exploring the kitchen corners of the indigenous people, though at first glance everything may look meagre.

Visiting the musician cum devotee of culture named Hage Komo, we had the fortune to savour some 30-year-old smoked meat served with the traditional herbal salt of the Apatani, called tapyo. As Komo said, during major events like festivals or wedding ceremonies and birth rituals, the Apatani usually put a dish of tapyo with a chunk of smoked meat preserved for decades on the altar. And these two dishes are also specialties to treat guests from far away and show hospitality.

Tapyo is a special traditional herbal salt of the Apatani. Although they inhale smoke daily, the respiratory system of the Apatani is still very good thanks to tapyo. Tapyo is prepared using herbaceous species from around the villages: in the majority of cases these are types of grass such as sarshe or pepu. As said by people living in the village, pepu can be used for the treatment of coughs, fever and as an antipyretic.

To prepare tapyo, people have to go through a series of steps. The base plant material after being collected is sun dried, then burned. The ashes are then collected and kept in a conical shaped bamboo apparatus called sader. Water is added gradually until the filtrate starts dripping from the bottom where it’s collected in a cauldron. Filtrate is then added to the pot filled with starch-laden water from boiled rice and placed on the fire for 5 to 7 hours. “About 15 litres of water is required to attain the desired thickness with the filtrate gradually being added until the solution attains a depth of approximately 3 centimetres,” said Punyo Assu, Komo’s wife.

After cooling, the solid solution is put on a leaf from a plant locally known as Lolly. The leaf is rolled, wrapped and kept above a vessel of fermented rice beer for three days. After three days, when the wet substance has absorbed the vapour of rice beer and has reached the suitable temperature, it is ready to consume. “It is very good for your health, it has iodine and can cure many diseases,” Komo said.

We glanced at the dish of salt, it was wet, had a light red colour and resembled dried red clay. Curiously, I ate my first piece of meat dipped in the salt. Tapyo is salty and sweet, and it was not exactly my cup of tea. But Komo said: “This spice always stimulates our taste buds. We have no sea, so we have used it for hundreds of years. Now we do have mineral salts, but we still like to eat this salt. Normally, it is sold for 6 US dollars per kilogram.”

Besides the tapyo, we also tried Apatani’s 30-year-old smoked meat – it was black, very hard, and had a slightly unpleasant odour, but it is considered a great asset in every Apatani family. There are chunks of meat that have been preserved over half a century. And on every important occasion they use only a small piece of meat to offer ancestors and gods.

When we finished the meat, Punyo Assu brought out and baked some tiny fish, which were as small as fingers. Then he shared the fish with us. Michi Tajo explained that these fish were valuable food here. The fish are farmed in the field, but farmers cannot farm too much fish, that’s why in Ziro they are sold at high prices. We understood that we were lucky guests

NATURE – THE SOURCE OF APATANI TRIBAL LIFE

When observing the living habits of the Apatani, I realised their life has a strong bond with nature. And in fact, the Apatani are one of a very few tribes left in the world worshiping nature. White flags bearing the symbol of the moon and the red sun are erected throughout the Apatani’s bamboo villages. This flag originated from a special religion called Danyi-Piilo practiced by the Apatani, praying to the Sun (Ayo Danyii) and the Moon (Atoh Piilo). “Danyii-Piilo is God, the source of light guiding human lives, the energy of life, and also the guardian of the creatures in the world,” Bullo Boga, an Apatani shaman said.

In the spiritual life of the Apatani, the moon and the sun are like parents and represent truth, justice, beauty, morality, love and goodness. There are also rituals with special sacrifices to show respect and gratitude to Danyi Piilo. Apatanians have two major festivals, Myoko and Dree.

Myoko is the Spring Festival, celebrating friendship and prosperity. This festival is held over the course of 10 days from 20th to 30th March every year. On these days, men carry leaves from the forest to make a Nago (makeshift hut) for the ancestors to come, rest and watch the festivities. At the Myoko festival, the tribal shaman slaughters pigs, chicken and mithuns at dawn as a sacrifice. This festival is one of the most important ones for the community. The Apatani send their prayers for prosperity and love during the Myoko festival.

Unlike Myoko, the Dree festival is an agricultural festival, held from 4th to 7th July every year. The Apatani believe that Dree will help them have a successful harvest. At this festival, villagers sacrifice birds, eggs, chicken and mithun for the four main gods: Tamu, Metii, Danyi and Harniang. Tamu wards off insects and pests, Metii prohibits epidemics and other human ailments, Harniang keeps the soil fertile to prevent drought and Danyi protects the Apatani community and gives them a prosperous life.

Having a close bond to nature there are mascots symbolising the power and prosperity of the Apatani tribe namely wild cows living in the forest, also known as gayal or mithun. In many families, you can see a mithun horn hanging solemnly in the middle of the house. The Apatani never call mithuns “it”, but always “Mr Mithun”. When we asked if they go to the forest to hunt for mithun, Taro corrected: “We do not hunt but invite him. Mithun loves salt, so it’s easy to seduce and tam him”. Mithun has a very high value in Apatani beliefs and thus, mithun sacrifice has been a longstanding custom in traditional local rituals like weddings.

Even though a girl living in the modern world like me found it hard to get used to many of the customs here or eat the specialties that the Apatanians have been cooking for generations, deep down I realised that the root of the enduring strength of this tribe is the bond with and respect for Mother Nature shown in every ritual, lifestyle and belief.

Mai Huong | Wanderlust Tips

Mu Cang Chai during monsoon season

Although many months have elapsed, I still remember that afternoon in the rain, the muddy motorbike, the fresh atmosphere and bright scenery of the mountain after the rain, and the pellucid smile of the little girl whose father is the owner of the house we stayed at. Every thing was so modest and peaceful.

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WE MUST FINISH WHAT WE STARTED

When the weather in Hanoi was hot, we chose to head to Mu Cang Chai as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city and because we knew that this highland was in one of the two beautiful seasons of the year – the monsoon season.

At the beginning of the trip something went wrong. After booking seats on a coach that did not pass by Mu Cang Chai on its way to Lai Chau, we had two options, come back home or stop halfway to catch another coach to Mu Cang Chai. With 30 seconds of thinking, us two young ladies decided to board the coach. At 4am when the sky was still dark, in the middle of nowhere, the coach dropped us at the crossroad of Hua Bo 2 Village (Son Binh, Tam Duong, Lai Chau). We walked into a small grocery store where the light was on but the owner was asleep, we sat waiting and wondered to ourselves: “Where are we?” After more than 2 hours, we got on a coach to Mu Cang Chai at 6am, and it turned out the distance from Son Binh, Lai Chau to Mu Cang Chai was not 40km as the previous driver said to us, but 100km.

Throughout the long journey, the driver constantly looked at me with concern on his face and he handed me a plastic bag in case I got sick over 10 times. Later reflecting back on the journey, besides the beauty of Mu Cang Chai, the sound rising from our stomachs is also one of the things remaining in my mind.

When arriving in Mu Cang Chai Town, after renting a room at an inn and eating breakfast, we rented a motorbike to start our first journey: Khau Phue – Tu Le Pass. Khau Pha Pass was named by Tai Dam people and means the Horn of Heaven (the horn rising to the sky). Located at an altitude of about 1,200 metres above sea level, this is the highest of the four big passes in the Northwest. I heard the innkeeper say that in the past, Hmong people living in this area believed if they climbed to the summit of Khau Pha Pass, God would hear their prayers so when life was hard, they came here and prayed to God.

When arriving at the foot of Khau Pha Pass, the summer rain poured down heavily. The rain came with a fury and whipped our faces. Equipped with a raincoat, we continued to drive slowly. Driving around bends, the temperature dropped as we went up, although it is in the midst of the summer, the summit was obscured by thick clouds, restricting our vision. But perhaps the lucky gods were still smiling upon me, as there were very few big trucks running on the pass, sometimes there were only few Win motorbikes driven by ethnic people rushing trough the mass of raindrops.

When we arrived at the top of the pass where a rest area is located, it only sprinkled and then stopped raining and the sun threw out her first beams. Thanks to that, I could admire the beauty of Phu Gia Valley in the monsoon season. In the bright golden sunshine, the brown colour of the soil, the green of the young rice, the yellow colour of the alluvium and the sparkling water creates a magnificent multi-coloured mural amidst the vast land.

Not as magnificent as the terraces in autumn when they are covered in a golden hue and the luxuriant ripe ears of rice. Mu Cang Chai’s terraced fields in monsoon season bring a very special beauty wearing the cold, modest and pristine colours which are authentic to the North West and in some places, the terraces have the green colour of young rice full of vitality.

After feasting our eyes on the beauty of Cao Phuc Valley, we drove the motorbike to Tu Le Pass. The fragrance of the young rice and the sweetness of Tu Le rice flakes still remained at the tip of our tongues as we slowly roamed through the small trails of Thai Lim Village – home of the Thai community, located at the lowest area of land by a stream, just below Khau Pho Pass. And of course, we did not hesitate to conquer steep and winding bends to reach Lim Mong – a Hmong people’s village where nestled at the heart of freedom and pride those are at home who used to live in high mountains, where the heaven meets the earth.

WHERE EMOTIONS FLOURISH

When we got used to the feeling of excitement of driving on the mountain, we returned to La Pan Tan to search for terraces called “round tray of sticky rice on the top of the ladder to heaven”. The road to La Pan Tan was really horrible, it was flooded with rugged red soil and has many bends and slopes, on one side is the mountainside, on the other is the deep canyon. At times, the road has steep slopes like a thrilling horror game, making my heart beat against my sternum. Sometimes, the motorbike seemed to be in a vertical position, climbing slowly up the slopes amidst the untouched mountain. Sitting behind my companion on the motorbike, my face turned pale, afraid of falling of the motorbike. It was raining again and the road was muddy. Sometimes motorbikes of the indigenous people passed by; they just revved up the engine to lumber up the mountain slopes, but did not forget to give us friendly smiles. The road is really a nightmare so if you do not have the courage to conquer this difficult road yourself, then you can choose motorcycle taxis driven by indigenous people.

La Pan Tan appeared right in front of my eyes with the wonders of terraced fields looking like the “fingerprint of the land”. Looking from above, the sparkling vibrant colours spreading across the hills made the scenery even more spectacular. The green colour of the young seedlings in the field is not as beautiful as the gold when it turns ripe but it is bright, fresh and full of vitality.

“Youth is like a heavy rain. Even though you catch a cold from it, you still look forward to experiencing it once again.” And the feelings about our “reckless” journey keep my heart throbbing whenever the memories flood back. From La Pan Tan, we continued to drive along the muddy path and we planed to return to Mu Cang Chai Town. But unexpectedly, when we just got down to the foot of the pass, that catty lady called “weather” continued to coddle and it rained again. The rain became a downpour. So we were forced to nestle in a local house. The little house had its back to the highway, looking towards the mountain, with a pretty little gate.

The owner was enthusiastic and rustic. Using pigeon Vietnamese, with a little shyness, he told us many stories from the weather in the mountainous area to the colourful dresses of Hmong people. His little daughter looked at us with her round big pellucid eyes and sometimes gave us an innocent smile to welcome the guests from far away. At such a time, a melody suddenly rose in my mind “some people have a dream of wealth, some people have a dream of peace…”. For many people, perhaps the life of deprivation in this area is boring but looking at the way he smiled and told us the story about the farm, the way he hugged his dear little girl full of love, I saw the fullness and happiness in his heart.

From the experiences we had on the difficult road to Pan La Tan, our journey to explore Mu Cang Chai became easier. From Che Cu Nha to De Xu Phinh and Ba Nha Bridge, we continued to explore remote villages, drove up towering mountains, looked over sparkling terraced fields full of water in the afternoon light as the pure white clouds slowly floated in the sky. I occasionally met some groups of Hmong women walking on the precarious mountain road, some were very old, but they still carried bamboo baskets in smoke-black colour, walked agilely with hands folded in front of their chest, making them look whole and hearty. Another interesting thing about Mu Cang Chai is that you can catch friendly smiles everywhere, from small children playing on the side of the road to ethnic minority people who speak little Vietnamese. Whatever you ask, they will enthusiastically smile and answer, as if you have been their neighbour for a long time.

Mu Cang Chai has the two most beautiful seasons of the year, they are monsoon season in May and June, and the harvesting season in September and October. The monsoon season was over, but if you want to see Mu Cang Chai covered in the golden yellow of ripe rice in the sunshine of autumn, this September do not hesitate to put on a backpack and go. Besides admiring the captivating scenery when the golden yellow colour of the autumn covers the terraces in Mu Cang Chai, you can also see the spectacular annual paragliding festival themed “flying on the golden season” hosted by the People’s Committee of Yen Bai Province and the Northern Airlines Club and Vietwings Hanoi Club.

The panic clutched at my heart when I heard about the terrible flood damaging this town. After the flood, I knew they still kept smiles on their faces, the terraces will continue to turn green in the near future, but somehow deep in my mind, I am afraid that that these paradises will disappear one day. In the newspapers, it said that the Maldives may be buried beneath the tide, the Great Barrier Reef will disappear within two decades, romantic Venice will sink and the vast scale of the Amazon is reducing. Recently, Jiuzhaigou Village, Sichuan, China, which has been nicknamed “paradise on earth”, has been hit by a magnitude 7 earthquake and temporarily closed while tourist season is approaching.

I know that my steps will be more rushed, and I will have more journeys ahead, I will go with respect and a broader mind to see the spectacular.scenery of nature that may later be only visible on photographs or postcards.

W.TIPS

TRANSPORTATION

If you travel from Ho Chi Minh City, you should keep a lookout for the early tickets of Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air to get cheap deals. After arriving at Noi Bai airport, take a bus or taxi to central Hanoi to rest and eat. Then, from Hanoi you can choose to drive a motorbike, private car or travel by sleeper coach to Mu Cang Chai.

♦ By motorbike: From the centre of Hanoi, go straight on National Highway 32 over Trung Ha Bridge (Ba Vi), through Thanh Son District (Phu Tho), then pass by Nghia Lo Town, Tu Le Commune (Van Chan District) of Yen Bai City to De Xu Phin, when passing Khau Pa Pass, you will come to Mu Cang Chai. The travelling time is about 8 hours.

♦ By private car: You can take the Noi Bai – Lao Cai expressway to Yen Bai City and then drive to Nghia Lo. Or, you can take Noi Bai – Lao Cai expressway to Sa Pa, then go over Quy Ho Pass, Tan Uyen and Than Uyen in Lai Chau Province to Mu Cang Chai. It is best to change your routes when going back to gain more experiences.

♦ By coach: There are many high quality coach brands at My Dinh bus station for you to choose from like Hai Van (02437223588), Hung Thanh (0985694910 – 0985694901) and Thao Nguyen (0972226565 – 0942226565) or you can catch long-distance buses from Hanoi to Than Uyen, that go through Mu Cang Chai.

♦ How to travel in Mu Cang Chai: In Mu Cang Chai, you need to rent a motorbike to move more conveniently. Motorbike rental is from VND100,000 – 150,000 per day depending on the time.

ACCOMMODATION

Mu Cang Chai tourism has not developed so most of the accommodation facilities are guesthouses and homestays. You can choose to stay at Tu Le Town (Hoang Quan Guesthouse – 0216897126, Xom Vang – 02163897205, Pho Nui – 02163897115); Nghia Lo Town (Nghia Lo Hotel – 02163870106, Mien Tay Hotel – Nghia Lo – 02163870698) or in Mu Cang Chai Town (Son Ca Guesthouse – 0988981675, Suoi Mo – 0915842789, Buu Dien – 0975644965, Moon – 0912058899).

The average room rate is VND150,000 – 250,000 per room per day. During the high season, the price can fluctuate between VND 400,000 – 500,000 per room. If you choose homestays, the price per person is VND60,000 – 100.000 per person.

EAT

When you come to Yen Bai, you can enjoy local specialties such as: five-coloured sticky rice, sticky rice and Tu Le green sticky rice, Pa Ping Top baked stream fish, black square sticky rice cake, grilled chicken with clausena, stream crab and fried grasshopper.

Mu Cang Chai centre also has popular dishes such as vermicelli, noodles, rice and hot pot for people not used to ethnic dishes. Also if you like to eat fresh salmon, do not miss some of the famous restaurants on Khau Pha Pass.

CLOTHES

Weather in Mu Cang Chai is often difficult to predict and change continuously throughout the day. Therefore, you should prepare warm clothes, windbreakers and raincoats to avoid the risks of sudden rains.

If you go by motorbike, do not forget to equip yourself with standard helmets, arm and leg protectors, gloves and reflective stickers. When riding a motorbike in the rain, it is recommended to bring a raincoat, a hairdryer and a shoe cover.

SHOPPING

Assam apple, wild bamboo shoots, honey and Tu Le green sticky rice are all specialties of Mu Cang Chai and you can buy them as gifts for relatives and friends.

Thu Hoai | Wanderlust Tips

The dream of Phoenix Ancient Town

Sometimes i wonder whether what i have admired and experienced is a dream? The rows of tiled roof houses along the Tuojiang river, cobbled streets in the bright sunbeam throughout the town. The noise of crowds when the mantle of darkness is let down on earth or the quiet peace every morning. The singing of the boatmen on the river was warm yet powerful and courageous. Have i been awakened from a dream of Phoenix Ancient Town?

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A JOURNEY OF SADNESS

Phoenix Acient Town has a history of 1,300 years and is located in the Autonomous Prefectures of the Tujia people and Xiangxi Tujia and Miao in Hunan Province in China. I arrived here on a summer evening in the middle of August. The weather in Phoenix was pretty cool. In the midst of the modern houses, Phoenix Ancient Town gradually appeared with shimmering lights around the houses and an ancient bridge. I eagerly pulled my suitcase on the rugged stone streets.

But when coming into the town, the excited feeling I imagined having on my first visit suddenly disappeared. I was shocked by a sense of loss while my eyes were still looking for a quiet mossy roof and the poetic Tuojiang River I always dreamed of. Instead, welcoming me was a noisy old town and brilliant lights.

It was 11p.m but the streets were still crowded and there were shops everywhere, and many buyers. Even in small alleys, the crowd of people caused traffic jams. By the riverbanks, the bars were open and played all kinds of different music. Perhaps a person who enjoys peace and nostalgia like me feels quite disappointed with this commercialisation.

Although the peak tourist season was over, I know that until November the town is still crowded because the weather is cool and pleasant. If the cold of the North does not bother you, you can go in late winter or early spring, when the last snowflakes are melting away on the branches and you can enjoy a more quiet time in Phoenix Ancient Town.

THE SOUL OF PHOENIX ANCIENT TOWN

Near where I stayed, there was a market and it was bustling. The market sold all kinds of fruit and the local breakfast, so it was quite convenient. Crossing the market, I saw the ancient roofs, two-storey wooden houses, curved roofs and beautiful and ancient carved windows. If this town was full of music at night, it was more peaceful in the morning when many shops had not opened yet. Tuojiang River was still drifting along and people travelled mainly on the two sides of the river, just talking while sightseeing and I took a lazy stroll.

I heaved a sigh of relief; perhaps this was the atmosphere I longed for after travelling more than 1.500 km and a little disappointment at the beginning.Once considered an important cita del, Phoenix Ancient Town has experienced many historic events, ethnic conflicts and became a mixed cultural citadel between the Han Chinese and the Miao. The architectural style of Phoenix Ancient Town is prominently evident in the siheyuan and houses or large bridges in the town, especially the Hongjiao Bridge. Hongjiao Bridge is located at the centre of the town, built in 1615 and it looks like a large house including two floors crossing Tuojiang River. The bridge columns remain intact from the Ming dynasty with engraved patterns. The ancient roof is covered with yin-yang tiles and has curved corners.

From here, the bridge divides the whole town into two parts: the old town and the new town. The old town has many architectural monuments preserved from the Ming dynasty. The new town has an ancient style of architecture, but the buildings are more modern, most of them are cafés and bars along the Tuojiang River.

Going deeper into the town to a wall made of red sand, there are many shops close to each other selling countless items: sparkling silver jewellery of the Mia people, fragrant wine bottles of the Han people, Tujia’s beautiful lanterns and typical dishes. Nearby, there are street vendors with heavy fruit baskets giving offers to visitors.

The smell of fermented tofu mixed with the smell of pastry spreading all over the streets creates a strange mixture of scents. The sound of hammers in a peanut candy shop mixes with the melodious singing from a nearby drum shop. Then in a corner, a salesman reads a poem with steady rhythm to introduce the famous noodles of the restaurant and though I did not understand its content in Chinese, the rhythm and expression of the young man made me laugh. Such images, sounds and tastes carved into my mind a distinctive yet peaceful memory of the Ancient Town.

WHERE THE TIME GETS TRAPPED

Just occasionally turn into an alley and you will find an extremely quiet atmosphere. Different from all the excitement in the centre of town, the homestays are pretty quiet and some tourists sleep in. In another alley, there are small cafés with countless wind chimes, wooden furniture and colourful decorations. Every house also has a small courtyard with green bonsais at the entrance.

Going to the end of the town, climbing up the soaring steps, I felt like I got lost in a distant place completely separated from the modern world. Here, there were only elderly people practicing Tai Chi and they concentrated on the exercises of breathing and performed beautiful movements.

From here, the whole charming scenery of the town is in full view. Buildings, siheyuans and temples with yin and yang roofs one after the other and surrounding the town are majestic green mountains, the ancient buildings reflected on Tuojang flows through the city creating a poetic and passionate setting.

It turns out that people all have their own reasons to fall in love and want to return to Phoenix Ancient Town. You can find both noisy and gaudy places and peaceful ones, it’s like getting lost in the endless cycle of time. Equip yourself with a special map made of rough antique paper and you will have full details about the road and the best attractions in town.

If time permits, you can explore Miao Village to better understand the cultural life of the Miao. Miao Village is an old village 30-40 minutes by bus from Phoenix Ancient Town. Come here and you will be sailing on the green Chiyou Lake, passing over the hills and mountains to the Tiaoyue Cave’s entrance, listening to the singing of the Miao children.

W.TIPS

VISA

A tourist visa for China is valid for no more than 15 days so you should carefully plan your trip. The fee is USD40 per person for 4 business days. If using a tourist group visa, the departure date, arrival date and the number of people must be absolutely accurate.

LANGUAGE

People here speak only Chinese, they do not speak English or any other foreign language. Signs or menus are also in Chinese. So if you want to communicate, learn some basic Chinese words like: Hello: 你好 (Nǐ hǎo), 謝謝 (Xièxie), How much is this?: 多少錢? (Duōshǎo qián). In addition, you can also install a translation software on your phone.

TRAVEL

There are many ways to travel from Hanoi to Phoenix Ancient Town.

♦ Option 1: Take two flights Hanoi – Guangzhou and Guangzhou – Zhangjiajie and then drive 230km by car from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang.

♦ Option 2: Take a flight from Hanoi to Truong Sa and then drive 500km from Truong Sa to Phoenix Ancient Town.

♦ Option 3: Take a car or train from Hanoi to Nanning and then continue to take a train to Zhangjiajie and then drive from Zhangjiajie to Phoenix Ancient Town.

♦ Option 4: Take a car or train from Hanoi to Nanning and then take a flight from Nanning to Tongren Airport, which is about 50km from Phoenix Ancient Town.

ACCOMMODATION

There are not many hotels in town, especially in the old town. So you can choose a homestay run by locals. There are homestay rooms overlooking the Tuojiang River and homestays in the alley with lovely gardens. Homestay prices depend on the type of room you choose and when you go. Average price is from VND400,000 to VND700,000.

CURRENCY

VND and USD are not available and it is recommended to exchange VND to RMB as it is more profitable. You can bring USD as a precaution, but the exchange from USD to Chinese Yuan will be more profitable in Vietnam. 1CNY = VND3,400. USD1 = CNY6.5.

There are also ATMs for international cards like Visa and Mastercard. However, consider carefully when using because the exchange fee is very expensive. In China, it is now common to trade and pay with WeChat software on smartphones. It is very quick and convenient and many street vendors use it.

FOOD

The food in China is quite greasy and spicy and it is the same in Phoenix Ancient Town. If you cannot eat spicy food, you need to tell the restaurant.Chinese people have a habit of drinking hot tea so hot water is usually available in many places. If you want to drink cold water, restaurants also have cold water but without ice, it is difficult to find ice here, even in restaurants.

Fruit is pretty fresh and cheap. You can go to the market to buy peaches or kiwi. Prices range from CNY5-10 per catty. 1 catty = 0,5kg and the Chinese use this unit when buying and selling in the market.

Besides fruit, there are many delicious snacks you should try such as shrimp cake, milk tea and fruit juice.

SHOPPING

You can choose from many items like jewellery, house decor, musical instruments and food as gifts. Here you can bargain with the seller to buy them for only half or two thirds of the listed price.

OTHER

Some sites such as Facebook, Google or Instagram are blocked in China, so if you want to access them, you should download Betternet or Hotspot Shield VPN applications for your phone.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips

Nostalgia for The Mekong Detal

When i begin to feel oppressed with high-Rise office buildings, crowds of people And the busy, noisy, dusty traffic, a Melody suddenly rises in my mind: “To those who travel to the Southern land. Blue sky and white clouds reflect on Cuu Long River. The great vast cajeput forest and green coconut palm trees … “. This song, from a Southern drama I watched as a little girl, reminded me of a childhood dream: to visit and explore the South, far away from the North where I was born and grew up.

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Unlike curious little Alice crawling from a rabbit hole, I entered Ho Chi Minh City from the door of an airplane. From the airport, there are many trips to the Mekong delta. Thirteen Mekong delta provinces and cities have rivers, canals, and lush green trees which provide unique features for the South. Tien River and Hau River are the two largest branches of Vietnam’s Cuu Long River; this river’s nine estuaries are often referred to as nine dragons, hence Cuu Long (Nine Dragons). These river mouths have formed a labyrinth of streams, channels and canals of the Mekong delta where each place has its own unique characteristic.

KINGDOM OF PALM TREES

Coming here, you must not miss the vast green palm forests. These are not coconut trees rising from the ground; they are wild nipa palms, considered a “specialty,” growing in the marshes.

Thoi Son Islet, also known as Lan Islet, is located by the Tien River downstream, in Thoi Son Commune, My Tho City, Tien Giang Province. This is one of the places in this region blessed with the most abundant palm trees. Amidst the green colour of the coconut branches, our sampan floated on the beautiful gentle flow of the canals. We went through a lot of natural poetic “arches” made of coconut branches bending towards each other. Without any engine noises, we were able to hear the sound of the boat paddles, gentle as a breath in the slow pace of life here. Sometimes we heard the song of the birds calling each other, contributing to the beauty of this wonderland.

The nipa palm forest is not only a unique feature of the Mekong delta, but also very useful for its residents. Nipa leaves are used for making house roofs, baskets; the petiole and mid rib are used for making rope, string, and carpet, or it may be sundried to use for fuel. In particular, nipa fruit provides a sweet juice for the summer. Part of the Arecaceae family, the nipa fruit looks like giant dry pinecones with numerous nuts. Its fruit only has flesh, no liquid. People usually mix its flesh with sugar and cold ice to make a sweet juice, it is one of the Mekong delta’s favourite drinks.

Besides the nipa palm, another example of how well our ancestors adapted and mastered nature is the sampan. When people immigrated to the South more than three centuries ago, on this land of water, the Vietnamese sampan, a dugout canoe, was created. The sampan is made of three planks which look like three joined leaflets. Thanks to its small, compact size, and light weight, the boat can easily crawl through narrow canals. Moreover, thanks to its small and narrow flat bottom, it can move quickly even in shallow water. Therefore, sampans are considered the “legs” of the Southwestern people. From birth to adulthood, they always go to by boat to visit each other. Today, though there are now roads built everywhere, the sampan is still used in many villages.

The Mekong delta also has another unique specialty, the hammock café. At first, hammocks were used by families for resting. Then, visitors asked to use the hammocks for a rest. After recognising the needs of these customers, shopkeepers decided to turn their cafés into more attractive and special places for visitors. Since its inception, hammock cafés have been very popular with tourists, especially motorcyclists. On the busier roads, there are more hammocks cafés; every ten or so kilometres, there are 5-6 hammock cafés. These cafés are quite simple, with nothing much more than a few hammocks hung on bamboo poles with thatched roofs. A small glass cabinet with some cold coconuts and a few glass cups are for anyone, including even the locals, the hammock café has become an indispensable part of everyday life. For tourists and travellers, the feeling they have when drinking cup of coffee and lying on the hammock will remain unforgettable on in the long journey of discovery.

A WORLD OF FLOATING MARKETS

Floating markets are one of the first things to appear on this land where all trade takes place on waterways. When visiting the Mekong delta, people should not miss these markets. One of the largest floating markets in the Mekong delta is the Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho.

Before coming to the Cai Rang floating market, we had a chance to admire the picturesque scenery of the Mekong delta on a boat departing from Ninh Kieu wharf. Along two river banks, small houses with metal or thatched roofs, on wooden or concrete pillars, looked like stilt houses in the water. A local said that only “rich” families were able to use concrete pillars. The poorer have no choice but use wooden pillars made from hopea odorata – a kind of wood that can withstand high temperatures and humidity for 10 to 20 years. If we come here in the rainy season, from June to December, we would not see these pillars because they are “hidden” under water, making all of these houses look like they are floating on the water, like a Venice of Vietnam. But actually, this Venice’s version is so poor that it makes us feel sad. Whether the pillars are concrete or wooden, you have to acknowledge the poverty of the Mekong delta, as people have said.

And there are even poorer families who cannot build their houses by the river and thus live on fishing boats. When we came by, they were spreading nets or doing daily tasks such as washing dishes and drying clothes, while children were swimming around, splashing water, and laughing happily. Although living in difficult conditions, people here still retain their friendliness and love for life.

While smiling with the babies, I realised we had arrived at the market and were caught in “traffic jam.” Although the river is very broad and there are not too many farmers’ boats, the large number of tourists’ boats crowded the river. Our boat had to wait for a while to get near the boats full of vegetables such as potato, tomato, pumpkin, watermelon, pineapple, as well as boats selling food and drinks in the centre of the market. The noisy sound of the engine and the calls of the vendors created a bustling atmosphere. I was a little disappointed because I a bustling atmosphere. I was a little disappointed because I did not see any row boats, and there were only a few boats of farmers and sellers; also, the market was not as crowded as I imagined when I saw it on the Internet. “Everything changes,” Caroline Shaw, a tourist from England, said with a somewhat sluggish tone. “I came here 13 years ago. At that time, there were more boats, and most of them were row boats, and the goods were more diversified and colourful.” Still, she found the floating market very interesting and distinctive, as she had not seen anything like it in Europe. However, the boatman was worried that in the near future, the floating market will disappear as the road system develops and no one wants to go to the market on the river anymore.

Leaving the Cai Rang floating market, we once again passed by the small houses with the high-rise buildings in the distance. Life always has many contradictory aspects.

Back in the city, we strolled along the romantic Ninh Kieu Quay. Located at the confluence of Hau River and Can Tho River, Ninh Kieu Quay is the commercial centre of Can Tho City, where hundreds of boats pass by. Ninh Kieu Quay was built in the 18th century for trading purposes, but its beauty has made it become famous in many literary works. Especially at night, the glittering lights of the floating restaurants, reflecting on the river, make this place more beautiful. Perhaps that’s why so many people come here to enjoy the cool breezefrom the river. Along Phan Boi Chau Street and Phan Chu Trinh Street, there is a barbecue and junk food paradise as varied as Taiwanese night markets. From popular dishes such as grilled chicken leg and wings, grilled skewers, grilled vegetables, tofu, smoothies, and sweet dessert soups to regional specialties like tung lo mo – a Cham sausage – and grilled shrimp, octopus, and squid are all delicious. Prices are very reasonable, only half compared to Hanoi’s seafood.

MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES AT TRA SU

We were about to end our journey in Can Tho, but an American friend we met on the trip advised us to visit the Tra Su cajeput forest in Chau Doc, An Giang Province. He was extremely impressed and said he would return to Tra Su if he had a chance to visit Vietnam again.

Chau Doc is very remote area, very close to the Cambodian border. We were rewarded when we arrived at Tra Su: I was completely mesmerised by the immense green of 850 hectares of cajeputs growing in water. It seems that the green colour of thousands cajeputs is not enough to satisfy this land, so in the rainy season, nature also covers the surface of the water with a dense carpet of pistias, creating an extremely unique fresh, green world. The cajeput forest is home to 140 species of plants, 11 species of animals, and 23 species of fish, including rare species on a protected list. Here you can easily see the storks, coucals, and mallards, feeding or swimming in their kingdom.

We stopped at a leafy hut in the middle of the forest. From there, as we swayed in our hammocks, we could see Khmer villages in the distance. Here, we immersed ourselves in wild nature, a beautiful dream from which I do not want to wake up and return to real life.

Wanderlust Tips

Interview with Quang Vinh: A famous singer with a passion for travel

The nightingale prince – as singer Quang Vinh is known to his fans – has a passion for both singing and flying all over the world. For this issue, Wanderlust Tips travel magazine interviewed the handsome singer to understand more about his love of travel.

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Why do you travel to so many countries?

Perhaps I got used to going on tour all over the world so staying in one place makes me feel uneasy. The outside world is very large and travel helps me broaden my horizon and learn more about life. I want to live life to the fullest. So whenever I get a chance, I go on a journey.

Since 2000 starting to work as a professional singer, I have never stayed home for more than a month (laughs). I am fortunate to have opportunities to travel to so many places, due to the nature of my work so I usually go on tour and I’m definitely an adventurous type of person. The more I am on the move, the more I appreciate my present life and what I have.

Would you mind sharing some memorable experiences along the way with the readers?

My life is a chain of endless experiences and it’s hard to tell what memory is the most noteworthy. But perhaps I will never forget the first time I saw the aurora in Iceland. What a miracle! It is a great wonder of nature without any human intervention.

In Vietnam, I really enjoy trips to Ninh Binh, where I have the chance to talk and get to know more about the local people. Especially when going by boat, it is really interesting when hearing the boatman telling his stories while admiring the scenery and indeed it helps me find joy in life.

What about “unexpected” experiences?

When travelling I also encounter a number of unpleasant things! Some countries are not really safe like Italy or France, although they are all European countries where many people wish to visit, if you are not careful you will still be robbed, pickpocketed or asked for money.

Regarding Vietnam, in many places I visited, both foreigners and Vietnamese tourists are usually overcharged for food and services. In addition, many relics or natural landscapes are not preserved or properly maintained causing damage and degrading. And many visitors litter and have bad manners when queuing and eating.

Generally speaking, I think every destination has its own problems; we meet both good and bad people so we should be careful and be on our best behaviour.

How many countries have you travelled to?

I have travelled to about 20 countries in the world and almost all the provinces in Vietnam. However, I actually did not have enough time to learn thoroughly about those places. That is the reason why I made the “Quang Vinh Passport” program on my personal YouTube channel so people can acknowledge the practical problems of travelling. New destinations are always attractive and urge me to explore, and if I have the opportunity to return to a destination, I always try to experience it in a different way from the first time.

There are many types of tourism: pleasure tourism, ecotourism or cultural tourism, culinary tourism and so on. What is your favourite type?

It depends on the time as well as the person I travel with. I am not biased towards any type of travel. If I go with my family, I will choose places that are easy to travel to. When travelling solo, I travel to wherever I like, even climbing mountains or crossing rivers. When going with friends, we spend time both exploring the destination and relaxing and having fun. Each type of tourism has its own points of interest, so it’s hard to choose which one I like the most. I think when the opportunity comes, you should take it and turn it into a precious memory for yourself and the people you love.

Many people are now travelling and regularly post their photos of new food or check-in at the destination on social networks. What do you think about that?

I think we need to save our memorable moments and wonderful things during the actual trip, some people like to show of and others like me just want to record it for ourselves. When getting older maybe I can’t go anymore, so now when I am still healthy and young, I will try to travel as much as I can. Then sometime in the future I can take the pictures out, look at them and think about my young meaningful days full of amazing experiences. It will be a picture diary reminding me about my vivid youth.

Being a famous singer and going on journeys that involve moving a lot, experiencing different kinds of climates and food, how do you prepare to stay healthy as well as keep in good shape to go on stage or for recording? At home I exercise at least 4 times a week, so that I am always in good health for travelling. I have no secret, but travelling a lot is the reason my skin is tanned.

The videos are so fresh and lively because of my enthusiasm for my work, I am doing a job I love, so I am always happy. The spirit is the most important. Everything will go well when you are in a good mood (laughs).

Perhaps the combination of many passions makes for a good career. Like combining travel and music. Do you intend to do this?

If you follow my YouTube channel, you will soon see that I am making new types of videos in which I record activities and experiences at every destination I travel to and then insert my new songs to those videos. The song “Coming for You” was filmed in Langkawi (Malaysia). Or the song “Whether you remember or forget” was filmed at Bich Hoa Tam Thanh Village (Tam Ky City, Quang Nam). I think this is a new direction for my music.

As a person who has many opportunities to travel to different destinations, what suggestions do you have for travel lovers?

Each person will have their own way of experiencing, I do not encourage anyone to follow my style, I just want to share what I have, and your job is wearing your backpack then going on the journey. Just go far away and you will be amazed at the world as well as discover many things, including exploring your own possibilities and challenging your limits.

I wish everyone good trips, and if you have time and passion for music and travelling like me, I would be very happy if you follow and support me, it would mean great happiness and joy for me on my future journeys of travel and song.

Thank you for the interesting thoughts, we wish you success in the upcoming plans.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips

The United States: Journey to a dream comes true

The contemporary version of the concept that writer and historian James Truslow Adams mentioned more than eight decades ago in his famous novel, the “the american dream” is somewhat different. Aspirations for equal rights, self-liberation and the creation of a good life still exist, but today we do not have to dream of the United States via Hollywood films, we can travel to and discover this country in real.

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MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE UNITED STATES

GETTING A US VISA IS HARD!

Applying for a visa is probably the barrier that makes people worry the most. But my friends who have experience in applying for a visa to the United States agree with me that among developed countries, applying for a visa to the United States is the easiest. Why? Because they do not ask you to prove your financial ability or ask for your administrative papers prior to the visa interview. All you have to do is access their web site to fill in the visa application form, follow all the guidelines listed on the site, pay for the visa and make an appointment for your visa interview.

At the interview, visa applicants may bring documents related to housing, finance, work and marriage certificates or household registration books to provide more information, however from my experience you rarely have to use these documents during an interview.

The key here is that if you really intend to travel to the United States just for a holiday and not to stay there, then do not worry. Just answer the questions of the official at the embassy confidently and sincerely. I have had a close friend applying for a visa to the United States successfully. She is single, has no fulltime job, and is just a freelancer but she was confident, sincere in the interview – same as me. When I applied for a US visa, I only said that I was currently a freelancer and a travel blogger. Having a passport with tons of stamps is also an advantage. So stay calm, sincere, and confident. Or think simply that if you cannot get a visa to the United States, you will simple go to another country. Get rid of nervousness because it only makes the situation worse.

THE UNITED STATES IS FLASHY!

When you watch movies, you only get to know one corner of the United States. And this may lead to some misconceptions about this nation. New York is an example. The glittering, lavish images of New York in films can leave people feeling surprised or even slightly… disappointed when they first come here. During the first few days in the United States, I went on a walk with a friend in New York. My friend laughed and asked: “What do you think? New York on films is more beautiful compared to its reality, isn’t it? I thought my friend worried that I would feel disappointed after having a first-hand view of this city that people considered a magnificent place on earth. I smiled and said that although some streets in New York were slightly … sloppy and had quite a lot of garbage, overall this city still has its own characteristics and identity, like the historical tram stations without air conditioning, the stunning streets with both old and new buildings, the flues emitting smoke from the road surface, the street corners with tired homeless people standing and sitting.

Many also think that the United States is a prosperous nation. But in fact, like in any society, there are both rich and poor people. There are homeless people and beggars of all races on a lot of the streets of the United States. There are also people dressing in ragged clothes, talking out loud and sometimes they gather in groups on the street, making visitors slightly frightened. Sometimes they appear on the street, sometimes in the train station. But do not worry; they will not do anything to you. Even when they ask for money and you do not give them any, they will just turn away, and sometimes politely say: “God bless you.” Many of my friends living in the United States say that people are not encouraged to give money to beggars because in fact they are on benefits and there are food banks where they can go and eat.

A LOT OF LATENT VIOLENCE EXISTS IN THE US!

Also, when watching movies or news on TV, many people will feel startled and think that American society is not safe because of gunshots, chaos or recent terrorist attacks. But generally speaking, the United States is quite safe. Security is always guaranteed so the cases you see on the news rarely happen. Police and security forces are always on time when bad events occur. So you do not need to worry when travelling to the United States.

ALL CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE MODERN AND INDUSTRIAL!

If you think so then you are wrong. Most of the American middle-class people live in two-storey houses surrounded by lawns. Many traditional Americans are willing to drive to work 2-3 hours per day, as long as they can live in a spacious farmhouse in a rural area. When driving across the States, you will be surprised by the abundant landscape stretching along tens of kilometres: pine forest, rocky mountains, desert, grassland, fields or a large lake which may be artificial. The United States has 59 national parks where you can admire mountains, rocks, lakes, forests scenery and rich ecosystems that are strictly preserved.

THE UNITED STATES – UNDISCOVERED CHARMING PLACES

When speaking of the United States, people will think of New York with Wall Street, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square or San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge and places like the White House or Capitol Hill in Washington DC. However, like many other countries in the world, there are always interesting places where ordinary tourists or group of visitors going on tour rarely have the chance to discover. And you are lucky, if you have relatives or friends living in the US for years. They will show you small yet strange and wonderful places making you realise the US has so many places that are not famous but will reward you with memorable experiences.

In New York, I stayed at the peaceful Roosevelt Island overlooking the urbanised borough of Manhattan across the river. Roosevelt Island is full of trees and parks. The island has only one main road stretching along its length and a free bus route for residents and tourists. On sunny weekends, many families roll out their carpets on lawns for sunbathing and eating. Walking along the river to admire Manhattan’s scenery and to enjoy the fresh air is not a bad idea. Or you can take a walk on Roosevelt Island to get to know a very different corner of New York that is peaceful and not noisy. Another unique place few people know they can visit is the headquarter of the United Nations.

The East Coast of the United States is not only home to New York. You should go to Washington DC if you are already in New York as you just need to buy a bus ticket and travel 4 hours from New York to Washington DC. In Washington DC, besides the White House, there are also well-known museums such as the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum that has appeared in many Hollywood films. You should also visit Virginia to see stunning streets with houses surrounded by flowers – spring, summer, autumn, winter, these streets are beautiful during every season.

And speaking of the vast green spaces and the old streets, you cannot miss St. Louis in Missouri. During my trip to the USA, St. Louis was an unexpected destination on my journey. It all started when I arrived and stayed in Chicago for a week and connected with friends of mine. It takes only 4 hours by car or train to get to St. Louis from Chicago. Compared to those bustling cities like New York or Washington DC, the distinctive beauty of St. Louis surprised me. This city does not have many and although the flowers and grass are not as colourful as in Virginia, they are neat, clean, quiet and incredibly peaceful. These streets gave me a real sense of peace. When staying here, in the morning I would turn down a small alley by the roadside, walk to a small garden-style café, sip a cup of coffee and eat a small cake. The guests around also sat quietly and read books in the morning light. Everything was very slow andvery quiet.

But that’s not the thing I like the most about St. Louis. It’s the green space that makes the city a great place for those who want to enjoy the fresh air. This city has many parks as wide as forests. It is no coincidence that one park is named Forest Park. With an area of 5.5 square kilometres, this park is not only full of trees and green grass, but also has wide paths, lakes, water fountains and pretty bridges. This is the perfect place for running and walking. Other parks like the Missouri Botanical Gardens are very splendid. The super-wide garden that has some places designed in Japanese style attracts many tourists to visit and admire it.

And there is one thing only few people know in St. Louis, there is an ice-cream store known as the best in the world. There are a lot of guests queued up to buy and enjoy the delicious ice cream at this 100-year-old store. Opened in 1929, the Ted Drewes is famous for its logo of an upside-down ice-cream cup. In September 2016, Soolnua – a digital marketing agency in Ireland published its annual World Ice Cream Index and Ted Drewes was voted the best ice cream store in the world. Indeed, when tasting Ted Drewes ice cream, I recognised that it is not too sweet, not too fat, but soft and creamy. Looking at the scene of people lining up and waiting patiently for a glass of ice cream is enough to make you realise how famous it is.Not too far from St. Louis is Denver in Colorado State. The state is a perfect rectangular shape on a map and is a famous skiing destination in winter. But no need to wait for the snowy season, as even in the summer some places in the mountains have snow. Walking in the cool summer air, you can still see snow trails left from the winter in Colorado. When coming to this state, you should go to the town of Vail in West Denver, stroll along the town on stone-paved roads full of flowers and then take the cable car to the top of a mountain at an altitude of 3,300 metres to take in the view of the surrounding snow mountains.

And even in famous places on the West Coast like San Francisco, there are unique, poetic features. This city is not only famous for the Golden Gate Bridge full of visitors. Stunningly steep descents are also a special feature here. Try walking through the steep streets to get to know a difference corner of the city or simply to stand on the top of a slope overlooking the city and admire the shore in the distance. Between the steep descents, is the small zigzag of Lombard Street filled with trees and flowers. Dubbed the most crooked street in the world, this street has eight hairpin turns. When the cars run around the turns, amidst the clusters of flowers, you may think you are seeing the strangest and most interesting thing on the planet. The cars here run very slowly because the speed limit here is only 5 mph (8km/h). If you are bored with the Golden Gate Bridge or the steep streets, you can visit Pier 39 for a stroll in the bustling street by the port, then enjoy fresh seafood at one of the restaurants of which Fog Harbour is the best.

The United State is so big that you cannot travel to all the states on one journey, but do not worry, each state in the United States has its own identity, and only when you visit can you see that. Popular places like the Niagara Falls in the North is where you can see Canada and Cloud Gate. The old railroads of Chicago, the lively Las Vegas casinos are all worth a getaway to learn from your own experiences that the United States really has many wonderful things for those who love to explore and travel. Located at Pier 39, is a seafood restaurant that is always crowded and sometimes guests have to line up to wait for seats. The restaurant offers a spacious dining area with beautiful bay views. The seafood here is prepared skilfully. In fact, even raw or steamed seafood is delicious. Oysters or lobsters are rich in flavour without any spices. Some other seafood dishes are cooked with vegetables or noodles with tastes that make the visitors enraptured with enjoying the amazing flavours.

W.TIPS

VISA

Applying for a US visa is not too difficult, though the process is quite complicated. See the details and follow the steps at: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/en/, the principle is to be honest in the declaration and prepare sufficient supporting documents when coming to the interview.

TRANSPORTATIONS

♦ There are many airlines flying from Vietnam to the United States. The best are Taiwanese airlines like China Airlines or EVA Air, as they have reasonable prices and short transit times. If flying to cities on the West Coast of the US such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, the best option are airlines from the East Asia area like Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and China (including ANA, Asiana, Korean Air, EVA Air, China Airlines, Air China, Cathay Pacific). Another option are the Middle East’s airlines such as Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad, especially when you fly to cities on the East Coast like New York, Washington DC.

♦ Travelling in the United States is quite easy. Set up the Google Maps app on your phone to look up the ways. In the US, Google Maps is integrated perfectly into the transport system. Whether travelling by train, urban bus, or long-distance coach, Google Maps always gives you the most optimal route.

♦ Taking a long-distance bus in the US is a good option if you want to save money. There are many popular bus operators like Greyhound, BoltBus and GoBuses. You can buy bus tickets online and when getting to the bus stop (as instructed in an e-mail), you only need to show the bar code or reservation number to the staff to check in.

♦ Travelling by Amtrak in the United States is often more expensive than by bus, sometimes even more expensive than by airplane, but in return, you do not need to worry about traffic jams on the road or flight delays. Amtrak tickets can be purchased online, the stations are right in the city centres. No need to print the ticket, you just need to show the barcode sent via e-mail for the staff to scan.

♦ If travelling by plane to the United States, there are some notes you should remember. Most airlines in the United States have different restrictions for carrying checked baggage, carry-on baggage and personal items on board. You should note this point. For super-cheap airlines like Frontier, Spirit, only personal items such as a purse, briefcase or small bag which is small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of yours is included in the price. Other airlines charge no fee for carry-on baggage, but charge fees for checked baggage. Some airlines such as Southwest are quite generous, offering free carry-on baggage and checked baggage. Many US aircrafts have Wi-Fi so you can use it for your work or personal entertainment. Most of the wireless networks on the plane offer T-Mobile customers one-hour free internet connection so you can take advantage of this by buying a T-Mobile SIM when travelling to the US.

ACCOMMODATION

Hotels in the United States are more expensive than in Asian countries, so be prepared. Booking on Airbnb is a less expensive option. Joining the Couchsurfing community and staying free at locals’ homes is a way to experience authentic American life.

CUISINE

Food in the United States is quite diverse, you can eat all kinds of cuisine from around the world. If you stay for a long time and get tired of American and European food, you can go to Asian restaurants, including Vietnamese restaurants. Especially on the West Coast and the states where many Vietnamese people live, it is not difficult to find restaurants satisfying to your taste. Generally, food in the US is good. You should also try to eat local cheap fruit, which are rare in Vietnam. Apples, peaches, cherries and plums are all very fresh here.

VISIT

In cities, to save money for sightseeing, you can buy full package tickets like a CityPass, which costs around USD100 and allows you to visit popular attractions or museums at a lower cost compared to buying separate tickets.

Wanderlust Tips

Before sunrise

The pure and sweet love dream of the eloquent youth who meet, connect and lose each other in the classic movie Before Sunrise has captivated many generations and it is the inspiration for the collection Pre-fall by designer Ha Linh Thu.

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This unrestricted infatuation, fascination and incredible emotions have been realised in sweet colours and dashing cut lines of cocoon dresses, bomber shirts, blazers and pleated skirts.

So when such sweet designs appear on the street, they look striking and distinctive but not out of place, even when they are shown on a sunny morning by the lake, next to a row of colourful flowers on a crowded street, on an old balcony or in a small, simple little shop.

Life still goes on, it may be sadder, more vicious, and less romantic, but it always contains such beautiful dreams. The items of the winter and fall season bring modern trends, reflecting the spirit of women’s freedom. The pink colour of love glows in the golden sunlight of Hanoi in early autumn.

Photographer: LE TUAN ANH
Make-up: TU TA
Hairstylist: VAN TRAN
Stylist: HUYEN GIN
Model: TIEN PHAM
Costume: HA LINH THU

Wanderlust Tips

Luxury cruises: Admire Halong Bay on a floating hotel

Thousands of limestone islands in various shapes, countless amazing hidden caves, surrounded by clear blue waters and vast sky. All of these create the dazzling and fascinating beauty of Halong Bay. Cruise on the sea, take part in an exciting journey, enjoy luxurious five-star hotel facilities with Wanderlust Tips’ July issue which introduces to our readers three magnificent cruises, promising to bring visitors experiences that could not be more attractive.

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EMPEROR CRUISES – A CRUISE OF THE PAST AND THE ARTS

Inspired by the life of King Bao Dai – the last king of the feudal dynasty of Vietnam, the cruise’s cabins are named after the famous landmarks where King Bao Dai’s villas were located including Dalat, Nha Trang, Do Son and Vung Tau. Along the long wooden corridors visitors can enjoy precious paintings and pictures of Bao Dai and his wives.

From the moment you enter the stately wooden doors of Emperor Cruises, you are immersed in a space of art where you can admire a range of works by the famous painter Pham Luc – from lacquer works of old Hanoian streets to still life of the Vietnamese lotus flower and oil on canvas paintings about Tet – the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Emperor Cruises is a museum floating on the sea.

Emperor Cruises offers eight suites with large glass doors and private balconies, breaking the limit of other cruises in Vietnam. From on board, visitors can admire the poetic beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay. There is also a cafeteria, gym, spa, library, movie room, wine cellar, bar and large sundeck – where people enjoy romantic dinners under the stars or participate in dances during exciting dinner parties.

Besides its delicate visual arts, Emperor Cruises also delights visitors with the smell and taste of attractive dishes cooked by experienced chefs or with melodious songs played by famous violinists and pianists. Travelling on Emperor Cruises will remind visitors about the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty and help them enjoy the magnificent beauty of Halong Bay in a luxurious and romantic space.

STARLIGHT CRUISE – A BRIGHT STAR ON HALONG BAY

Inspired by the light guiding fishermen in the dark night, Starlight Cruise was created to illuminate the hidden beauty of Halong. Starlight Cruise is both the newest member and the pride of the Oriental Sails Company. The yacht is made of steel and has a double layer on each side, so tourists can completely be assured of their safety throughout the trip. With a total length of 58 metres, a width of 10.72 metres and a height that is equal to a four-story building, the yacht is truly magnificent and has 46 sailors working around the clock.

The 32-room Starlight Cruise offers an overall impression of modern and comfortable accommodation. Rooms are equipped with a Jacuzzi tub and huge windows with bay views. The size of each room is larger than on other yachts of the same category: 22 square metres for Deluxe and Executive rooms and 50 square metres for Suite room. The rooms have wooden floors and are well equipped with handicrafts and modern amenities, offering guests the most adequate facilities during their stay on board.

In addition, a 350 square metres restaurant which includes a stage, balcony and large sea view window, is an ideal place for a party. The bar is spacious; there is a computer room, a small library and some children’s toys. Most significantly, on top of the boat is a huge sundeck, which has a row of benches on each side and a mini golf course for visitors to play while admiring the scenery. However, if you want a more private and quiet space, you can visit the wine cellar to sample hundreds of different kinds of wine. After a long day of sightseeing, the spa service will be a great choice for you to relax, and rebalance.

THE AUCO CRUISES – AN IMPRESSIVE JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY

The Au Co Cruise belongs to the Bhaya Group. 2017 marks the milestone of 5 years since the Au Co Cruise was officially launched and first offered a trip of 3 days 2 nights exploring the natural world wonders of Halong Bay. Visitors can take part in the journey to explore Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay and the beautiful wild islands. Then, visitors can participate in exciting outdoor activities such as trekking through the rainforest, visiting peaceful local ancient villages on the island, riding bicycles along tree-lined roads, exploring the national parks with rich fora and fauna or visiting the vegetable garden grown by participants of a community program of the Bhaya Group.

Along with interesting outdoor activities, visitors have the chance to get to know Vietnamese traditional culture as well as enjoy a dance named Au Co – Lac Long Quan, enjoy unique Vietnamese dishes prepared by talented chefs and explore the traditional tea art of Vietnam.

On Au Co Cruise, you will have time to relax in a luxurious five-star space. There are a total of 32 cabins on each Au Co Cruise, 30 cabins have private balconies and a bathroom with luxurious amenities. A world-class vacation on an Au Co Cruise will definitely satisfy even the most difficult guests.

Au Co Cruise as well as Bhaya Group always care about the feelings of visitors and hope to bring them the best service. So guests are sure to feel the thoughtful care from the time they start the journey by limousine from Hanoi to Tuan Chau, and making use of the private lounge at the Operations Centre of the company while waiting to have their cabin on the cruise assigned.

Wanderlust Tips

Roger Chng: We learn from every place we go and every person we meet

The well-experienced hotelier, Mr Roger Chng shared with Wanderlust Tips magazine his thoughts on the hospitality industry in general and Fortuna Hotel Hanoi’s orientation development in particular.

[rpi]

Being one of the best four-star hotels in Hanoi, what are the criteria, which Fortuna Hotel Hanoi follows to keep its standards and quality?

At Fortuna Hotel Hanoi, we always strive to maintain a high standard by giving ‘full service under one rooftop’ for the guests, which includes many below-mentioned amenities. Firstly, we have to mention our fully equipped guest rooms in four ranges: Deluxe, Grande, Premier and Suite featuring the most comfortable and classy living spaces for all guests.

Secondly, it would be a deficiency to not mention our three restaurants, which boast wide ranges of choice: May Man – Dim Sum and Chinese cuisine, Emperor Japanese cuisine & Tiffn All Day Dining – International Cuisine.
Last but not least, Fortuna Hotel Hanoi also has two ballrooms and four multi-functional meeting rooms and a spa and fitness centre with an outdoor swimming pool.

How will Fortuna Hotel Hanoi be different after the renovation?

The process of renovation started last year and will last for at least 3 years. In our plan, the renovation includes guest and meeting rooms, restaurants and lobby. For the outside look, we repaint the façade, changing the colour from white to brown purple; the aim is to change the face of the hotel.

Rooms are injected with a more contemporary look: wooden floors, standing bathtub, Hollywood twin beds in some rooms and other state of the art new furniture. Besides, everything is possible to hand-reach to maximise guest’s convenience. The new ballroom looks brighter, the main colour is gold and elegant with fower patterned curved soundproof walls. The foyer is bigger and most signifcantly, equipped with more contemporary facilities such as better sound system and a LED screen. After renovation, the Golden Ballroom is one of our best-seller meeting rooms, especially ideal for weddings and themed events. We are promoting MICE services so renovating the ballroom is one of our key strategies.

Why did you choose to renovate the hotel to be more modern rather than remaining classic and Asian? Is the target customer changing too?

Actually we are still following modern Asian style, as our main target customer remains the same. However as the world is changing day by day, there is no reason for a 19-year-old hotel to stay the same. We renovate to achieve a modern Asian style to give more convenient living conditions for the guests, so as to make them as comfortable as possible. As I said above, our guests are our priority and we do everything for their best experience. The hotel and resort market in Hanoi has been performing well since 2017, partially thanks to the growing international arrivals.

How would you predict the outlook of the whole market in the second half of this year?

Hanoi is the heart of Vietnam with most of the head offces located here, besides, Hanoi has many tourist attractions thus this is a destination, which is suitable for both business and leisure travellers. Since 2016 and the 1st half of 2017, many hotels have opened in Hanoi, which is proof that this is a potential market. I believe that the positive outlook will continue in the future, at least in the second half of 2017 and 2018.

After many years in the position, could you compare the potential of the hotel resort market in Vietnam to other countries?

In my point of view, Vietnam’s hotel and resort market will see sustained or even accelerated growth in the future. First of all, Vietnam’s tourism is developing faster and faster and attracting more and more international visitors, and it is said that Vietnam is becoming one of the most favoured destinations in South East Asia. This rapid development is not only because of breath-taking scenery and succulent cuisine, but also thanks to the proper strategy of the Tourism Department and the huge investment from local and foreign companies. Secondly, compared to other countries, Vietnamese hotels and resorts have attractive prices along with international standard services.

It is not easy to fnd a destination with comparative hotel prices and professional services like the ones in Vietnam. For instance, with around USD100, in Singapore you can only fnd a 2-3 star hotel but in Vietnam you have a wide range of choices from 3-4 star hotels in city centres to a deluxe room in a resort near the beach. What a bargain!

In Vietnam, is anything changing in your way of approaching, caring for customers, training and managing staff?

As an international hotel, it is necessary for us to have different ways of approaching and caring for customers. For example in our hotel, most of our guests are from Japan and Korea, thus to make the guests ‘feel at home’ and have the most convenient experience, we have Japanese and Korean ambassadors to assist them. In terms of cuisine, we offer a wide range of choices to meet guests’ demands. Besides, many guests are businessmen, sometimes they need space for a short meeting with colleagues or partners, so we also offer them small meeting rooms and facilities for their needs. These are two of many ways we approach and care for customers. Once again, guests are our priority; bringing them the best experience is our mission. Regarding training, every month we offer external and internal training classes with the aim of improving staff’s skills and knowledge in servicing, soft skills and languages.

What is the biggest diffculty you have had since you came to Vietnam to take up this position?

For me the biggest diffculty is language. Understanding the native language is one of the most effective ways to understand local people, to know their thoughts and ways of working because language has a strong connection with culture and history. Vietnamese is hard, but I’m learning.

Do you travel often? Which destination do you like most in the country?

I have a passion for travelling as I think we learn a lot from each place we go to and every person we meet. Of course, Hanoi is the destination I love the most, as this is where our dream and our mission are. Besides, Hanoi has a lot of charming places, not only the popular attractions like Hoan Kiem Lake or Long Bien Bridge, but also other small corners and I am never done exploring enough of the hidden gems of this city. Having lived in Hanoi for nearly 20 years, it may be true to say that Hanoi is my second hometown.

As a traveller, which factors would you advise other travellers to take into consideration before choosing a place to stay to ensure a great trip?

People now have so many implements to help them plan a trip. And I can say without any exaggeration that we now can travel to every corner of the world easier than ever. As a regular traveller, I think you should take into consideration several factors before going on a trip including: place of interest, cuisine, security and safety, as I know Vietnam is one of the most peaceful countries in the world, and their hotels and services.

Thank you for your time and collaboration. We wish you great success with Fortuna Hotel Hanoi.

Wanderlust Tips