Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 158 of 195

The Ambassadors Club was launched at Hanoi Daewoo Hotel

The Ambassadors Club was officially inaugurated by the Diplomatic Corps On May 12^th at Lakeview Sky Lounge – 18^th floor of Hanoi Daewoo Hotel.

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On May 12^th, on 18^th floor of Hanoi Daewoo Hotel, the Ambassadors Club was officially lauched by the Diplomatic Corps in order to foster the friendly relations among the Heads of Mission and their families. The event saw the attendance of distinguished guests including ambassadors and spouses, the representative of international and national organizations and the media.

Hanoi Daewoo Hotel proudly becomes host of this special event on every Friday from 7 p.m to 12 p.m at Lakeview Sky Lounge. Every member of the Club will receive Gold preferential card to receive 20% discount on total bills at all food and beverage outlets of Hanoi Daewoo Hotel.

“From the very beginning, Hanoi Daewoo Hotel played the perfect host for many important events such as The Francophone Summit, ASEAN Summit, Russian National Day celebration, as well as co-hosted the Russian Food Festival with Embassy of the Russian Federation in Vietnam. We are so proud to co-ordinate with Diplomatic Corps to hold the Ambassadors Club, and this will strengthen our leading position in the market”. Mr. Erwin R. Popov – General Manager of Hanoi Daewoo hotel shared.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

8 must see places in HCMC in the evening

After a day traveling to discover attractions in HCMC, where you should go in the evening, what to do to have a new experience? Here are the detailed suggestions from Wanderlust Tips for so you to have a journey to discover the perfect land of HCMC.

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Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street – A modern street for pedestrians and vehicles.

Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 consists of two parts connecting at Cay Lieu roundabout. Ho Chi Minh President statue park from Le Thanh Ton street to Le Loi street. Besides being a beautiful and open-air entertainment space in the evening, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street hosts attractive activities including parades, street festivals, flower festivals, cultural exhibitions, sports and art performances.

♦ Top tips: Nguyen Hue Square between Le Loi to Ton Duc Thang Street, including a pedestrian granite tiled road and a lane for transportations (from 6pm – 11pm on Saturdays and Sundays, motorised vehicles are prohibited on these lanes. The area has free Wi-Fi 24/24 to serve visitors with a speed of 1GB/second, ensuring many people can access the Internet at the same time.

♦ Must see: Head Office of the Ho Chi Minh People Committee

♦ Cuisine: Phuc Long Coffee & Tea Express at 39 Nguyen Hue, The Workshop Coffee at 27 Ngo Đuc Ke, Koi Thé Café at 72 Ngo Đuc Ke, Nhu Lan Bread at 66 Ham Nghi.

Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre – The most expensive Culture Centre

Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre is located at no. 7 Lam Son Site, District 1. This place was built in the style of flamboyant gothic architecture, which enjoyed massive popularity in France at the end of 19^th century. Heavy with ornaments, relieves and decoration the Palais Petit Museum and Opera House in Paris where built in this vain. Construction materials, decorative elements were imported from France. The Opera House is the most expensive of the cultural centres built in Saigon during French colonisation and has a unique roof of black stones.

♦ Top tips: With a modern first floor, second floor and sound and light system, the Opera House was a centre for music performances, concerts and operas for the upper class. Today Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre remains a venue for music events where Vietnamese traditional music and Western classical music is performed.

♦ Cuisine: Highlands Coffee inside the Opera House, Lion Restaurant at 11c Lam Son Site, The 1985 Café at 151 Đong Khoi, Bo Gia Milk Tea at a street stall next to the Opera House.

Anh Sao Bridge – A sea of light at night

Anh Sao Bridge is located at Phu My Hung, District 7. The bridge is 170 metres long, and crosses Thay Tieu like a crescent moon. At both its ends are two large squares: on the West bank is the Canal Area emulating a half-moon and at the East bank is the Half-moon Lake Area. The sides of the bridge are two artificial waterfalls, behind which there are colourful decorative lights. These two squares combine to have the effect of a multi-coloured floodlight and the waterfall creates an impressive view. Watching from above it looks like a star garden connecting the moon and the sun in a sparkling background of water.

♦ Top tips: Tourists coming here can take a walk on the bridge to see the cityscape, while enjoying the light effects. This is a favourite destination for photographers and young couples.

♦Cuisine: Cham Charm Restaurant, Yeebo hotpot and seafood restaurant at 109 Ton Dat Tien, Hoang Yen Vietnamese Cuisine on 103 Ton Dat Tien, Gong Cha on 175 Ton Dat Tien, Angel-In-Us Coffee at 171 Nguyen Đuc Canh.

Cruise on Saigon River – Peaceful water scenery in a busy and crowed city

The wandering waters of Saigon River flowing through the city for 37 kilometres sport picturesque scenery. To take in the whole view, you should go on a cruise along the river and explore its particular beauty. Cutting right through magnificent Saigon, the peaceful water scenery appears like a simple, vague and quiet beauty.

♦ Top tips: There are many activities on Saigon River including: sightseeing along the river to Nha Be, Can Gio, taking a motor boat to Lai Thieu, sightseeing and having dinner at the restaurants on the cruise boat. Depending on the selected services, the expense is at least 80,000VND per person. The cruise usually starts from Saigon harbour at 6pm and 8pm every day, and trips last an hour.

♦ Cuisine: Have dinner at the restaurant on board the cruise and enjoy various kinds of food.

Street cafés – An experience with interesting cultural characteristic

Many people think Saigon’s street cafés can only be found on one street, however street cafés are located in many areas and each one is suitable for a particular target audience. Han Thuyen street café mainly serves groups of young people. Duc Ba Church street café is very different and has small chairs and tables for well cared for officers. The corner of Park 30/4 on Alexandre De Rhode Street is an area for couples who love romantic moments and privacy to chat. Con Rua Lake street café is really interesting and both for friend meeting up and dates. The lake has a few sitting places where you can pleasantly dangle your legs. The street café close to the Opera House is not too large and perfect for young people who like being surrounded by flowers while enjoying a glass of milk tea or pink tea and watch the bright city street.

♦ Cuisine: Many kinds of drinks including black coffee/cold milk coffee, coconut water, passion fruit smoothies and snacks like stir-fried corn, mixed rice paper, roasted corn, stir-fried fish ball can be found around the area of street cafés.

Saigon’s Backpacker Quarter – Streets that never sleep

Located at the centre of District 1, the three streets Bui Vien, Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham are known as Saigon’s Backpacker Quarter. Although it is a small area, there are hundreds of hotels, rest houses, travel agents, restaurants, cafés, bars, convenience stores and fashion boutiques that have turned a few hundred meters into a busy trading area.

♦ Top tips: Both foreigners and domestic tourists visit here as the hotels are cheap for being in the city centre and it is very convenient to travel to surrounding destinations from here. Experience the feeling of sitting by the sidewalk and enjoying some glasses of beer while watching life on the streets go by and chatting with friends.

♦ Cuisine: Bun Cha at 145 Bui Vien, Baba’s Kitchen at 164 Bui Vien, Asian Kitchen at 185/22 Pham Ngu Lao, Tiny’s Cafe at 28/19 – 28/21 Bui Vien, Universal Sports Bar/Cafe/Restaurant/Live Music at 90 Bui Vien

Night markets – Attractive food and shopping destination

One of the favourite activities of tourists coming to Ho Chi Minh City is visiting the night markets. There are many crowded night markets in the city that are open from 7pm to 10:30pm every day. Night markets in Ho Chi Minh City attract a great deal of tourists because of the abundance of goods at suitable prices suitable to all kinds of consumers. Tourists can take a walk and enjoy the bustling atmosphere, as well as taste delicious foods or buy countless pretty thins.

♦ Top tips: Famous night markets: Ba Chieu Market, Thu Duc Market, Hanh Thong Tay Market, Ky Hoa Market.

♦ Cuisine: Choose from an abundance of tasty foods right at the night markets.

Entertainment at Saigon Centre – Recreation and shopping destinations for all ages

In Ho Chi Minh City, there are countless of massive trade centres with a lot of attractive activities for all classes and ages. Tourist will feel like they got lost in a small city filled with all the services you could dream of: supermarket, cinema, sport centre, recreational area, fashion, cosmetics, interior shops and many selections of food stalls. Besides the shopping there are events hosted including music exchange, product launches and cultural programs, which are held regularly to attract attention.

♦ Top tips: Trade centres you should visit: Diamond Plaza on Le Duan and Phạm Ngọc Thạch Street, District 1, Vincom Centre on Dong Khoi with three entrances facing three busy streets: Dong Khoi, Le Thanh Ton and Ly Tu Trong, Crescent Mall on Phu My Hung Urban Area, District 7, SC Vivo City on Nguyen Van Linh Avenue, Tan Phong Ward, District 7, Aeon Mall Tan Phu and Aeon Mall Binh Tan.

♦ Cuisine: In the trade centres, there is a big selection of restaurants offering regional Vietnamese and traditional dishes from all over the world.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

8 must see places in HCMC in the afternoon

You have three days to explore HCMC, where you should go and what to do to have enjoyable experience? Here are the detailed suggestions from Wanderlust Tips for you to have a perfect journey in HCMC.

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Ben Thanh Market – Saigon’s most famous feature

Located in District 1, where Le Loi, Phan Boi Cha, Le Thanh Ton and Phan Chi Trinh interest, the market was originally constructed with brick, a wood frame and with a leaf roof. It was located next to Ben Thanh River bank, near Gia Dinh Citadel, which is Ho Chi Minh City today, hence it was named Ben Thanh. After multiple restorations and rebuilding, today Ben Thanh Market has a history of more than 100 years and has witnessed the ups and downs this city and the country as a whole.

♦ Top tips: Currently the market is home to about 1,500 stores. In southern part products like cloth and dried foods are sold. The northern area has fresh flowers, fruit and food. In the East cosmetics, cookies and candy are available to purchase. And the West offers shoes, handicraft and souvenirs. Along the sidewalk surrounding the market, there are stores displaying all kinds of goods for tourists.

♦ Must see: Park 23/9 located between Le Lai Street and Pham Ngu Lao in District 1.

♦ Cuisine: Rice pancake folded in half at the West and East gate of the market, sweet porridge store that has been around for 40 years at gate no.7, pan-fried scrambled egg rice cake, vermicelli with fish sauce, vermicelli and sour crab soup opposite the East gate.

Paris Community Square – A little bit of Paris in the heart of Saigon

This small square in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, connects Dong Khơi and Le Duan Street. Two of the most famous architectural structures of the city are located here: Duc Ba Church and the Central Post Office. The church is built in the Roman – Gothic architecture style of 12^th century Europe and emulates the Duc Ba Church in Paris. All construction materials and decorative elements were shipped from France. The Central Post Office on the other hand combines the architecture of Europe and Asia. The front façade is decorated with the names of businessmen. Nestled into the arched roof is a big clock. The two high walls of the entrance hall have a fresco of historical maps of Saigon and there are over 35 stalls serving customers.

♦ Must see: The pink Tan Dinh Church on 289 Hai Ba Trung and Le Van Tam Park on Vo Thi Sau Street known as Saigon’s rich men’s cemetery.

♦ Cuisine: Noir – Dining in the Dark on 178 Hai Ba Trung, Ngon Restaurant on 160 Pasteur, Pizza 4P’s on 8/15, Le Thanh Tong or at in the ‘lane of snacks’ on 177 Ly Tu Trong.

Nha Rong Wharf – President Ho Chi Minh left the country from here to begin his quest for salvation

Nha Rong Wharf also known as the Ho Chi Minh Museum is located at the intersection of the Saigon River at the top of Nguyen Tat Thanh Street. On the 5^th of June 1911 a young man named Nguyen Tat Thanh, who would later be known as President Ho Chi Minh, got on board the “Admiral Latouche Treville” here to begin his search for the salvation of his nation. Today tourists coming to the museum find a display of images and objects about the revolutionary activities of President Ho Chi Minh. Various activities are organised here frequently here, including art performances, traditional storytelling and the enrolment of new members to the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

♦ Top tips: The address is No.1 Nguyen Tat Thanh, District 1. Opening time: 7:30am -11am and 1:30pm – 5pm from Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Monday.

♦Must see: Thu Thiem Tunnel – the tunnel under Saigon River, has the most advanced design of such a structure in South East Asia.

♦ Cuisine: Bien Nho Restaurant, Elisa Restaurant on 5 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Things Café, Mockingbird Café on14 Ton That Dam.

War Remnants Museum – One of the world’s most beautiful museums

The War Remnants Museum has a display of research materials, images and objects related to the subject of the study, collection and preservation of the evidence and consequences of the wars brought to Vietnam by outside forces. The museum aims to educate the public, especially the younger generations, about the fighting spirit that protects the independence of the nation, how to fight against invaders, and protect the peace, unity and friendly spirit between nations across the world. In 2016, the museum was voted one of the 25 most beautiful museums in the world.

♦ Top tips: The address is No. 28 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3. Open daily from 7:30am – 12am and 1:30pm – 5pm. The entrance fee 15,000VND per person for foreigners and 2,000VND per person for Vietnamese citizens.

♦ Cuisine: Highlands Coffee located in the museum’s compound, Hum Vegetarian Cafe & Restaurant at 32 Vo Van Tan, Marina Saigon at 172 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Shanghai Chicken Rice on 21 Vo Van Tan.

Fine Arts Museum, Ho Chi Minh City – The 99-door mansion of a legendary Saigonese tycoon

Located in the heart of the city, the Fine Arts Museum’s building on 97 Pho Duc Chinh in District 1, is a thing of ancient beauty, nestled into the branches of old trees. The majestic building harmoniously combines the architecture of Asia and Europe. It once belonged to Mr Hua Bon family. Also known as Uncle Hoa, he was one of the four richest men in Saigon at the end of 19^th century. According to legends passed down through many of Saigon’s generations, this building is the location of more than one mysterious anecdote. In 1987, it was restored and rebuilt by the Ho Chi Minh People Committee to become Ho Chi Minh City’s Fine Arts Museum. A treasure of art works is on display here, including the large-scale lacquer paintings “North Central South Spring Garden” by Nguyen Gia Tri, who is considered a national art treasure.

♦ Top tips: Open daily from 9am to 5pm. Entrance fee is 10,000VND per adult and 3,000VND per child.

♦ Must see: Bitexco Financial Building on 36 Ho Tung Mau, District 1, which is the highest building in Ho Chi Minh City.

♦ Cuisine: L’Usine Le Loi Breakfast on 70A-70B-68 Le Loi, La Fiesta on 33 Đang Thi Nhu, Café-Restaurant Ho Chi Minh City on 171 Calmette, My Sweetened Porridge 2 on 119 Nguyen Thai Hoc.

Chinatown in District 5 – A bustling trading centre

Most of Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinese population lives in District 5, resulting in Chinese built streets sporting architecture featuring their culture.

The centre for living and trading of most Chinese in the city is the big market area that includes a few famous markets selling various products. Binh Tay Market offers mostly dried seafood, mushrooms, sugar-coated fruit, candy, clothes, shoes and sandals and leather bags, at Soai Kinh Lam Market fabric is the main item being sold and Kim Bien specialises in wholesale. The surrounding streets including Hai Thuong Lang Ong, Chau Van Liem, Hau Giang and Lam Tan Ke are no less crowded and are filled with business stalls on both sides of the street.

♦ Must see: Ba Thien Hau Pagoda on 710 Nguyen Trai is the oldest Chinese built structure in the big market area.

♦ Cuisine: There is an abundance of food featuring Chinese cuisine including: noodles with seasoned and sautéed beef served hot and with delicious sides, glutinous rice cakes rolled in sesame and sugar on Cao Van Lau Street, Chinese sweet porridge at Dong Khanh Residence, roasted duck, roasted pig, roasted duck with egg noodle soup, stewed sweet Herbal chicken soup, shrimp dumpling or ravioli soup.

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda – A symbol of Vietnamese Buddhist architecture of the 20^th century

Located at No. 339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia in District 3, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda features the architectural style of the pagoda with same name in Duc La Village of Tri Yen Commune in Yen Dung District, Bac Giang Province. Pagodas with architecture following this shape include a three-arched-entrance gate and a central house. Three large staircases lead to the rooftop and the Buddha Temple. The Buddha Temple follows Northern pagoda architecture as seen in the curved roof corners with two adjoining levels of roof tiles. At the roof centre of the Buddha Temple are two Dharma wheels the corners are shaped like a phoenix head.

On the left of the central building of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is Quan The Am Tower , which at 35 metres in height is one of the most majestic towers of Vietnamese Buddhism. In the pagoda’s compound, sits the 14 metres high Vinh Nghiem Stone Tower constructed from 80m³ of Thanh Hoa stone and modelled on But Tower in Hanoi. Until 2013 this was the biggest and highest tower in Vietnam.

♦ Cuisine: Ngoc Son Ben Thuyen Restaurant on 11 Cong Ly Bridge, Diep Phap Vegetarian Restaurant on 303, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Effoc Coffee on 8 Nguyen Van Troi.

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden – Sanctuary to Vietnamese animals and plants

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden at 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem in Ben Nghe is one of the oldest constructions in Ho Chi Minh City. They were originally a botanical garden built by the French in 1864 as a place to preserve animals and nurse plants. In 1956, the Botanical Garden was rebuilt and renamed Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden. From 1984 to 1989 it continued to be improved on a large scale, with a special focus on the breeding facilities suitable to each species. According to the data collected, currently Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is home to more than 590 animals of 125 species, 1,800 trees belonging to 260 species, 23 kinds of domestic orchids, 33 kinds of cacti, 34 kinds of bonsai and 20 hectares of grass carpet. Besides the zoo, the bonsai and orchid collection area, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden also has a recreational area for children.

♦ Top tips: Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is open from 7am to 6:30pm every day. Entrance fee is 50,000VND per adult over 1.3 metres tall, 30,000VND per child from 1 metre to 1.3 metres tall and free for children less than 1 metre.

♦ Cuisine: Ocean Palace on 2 Le Duan, Bloom Saigon Restaurant on 3/5 Hoang Sa, broken rice street with a selection of stalls offering food at cheap price around 100 Thach Thi Thanh, longan ice-cream at No.2 Truong Han Sieu.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

8 must see places in HCMC in the morning

You have three days to explore Ho Chi Minh City, where you should go and what to do to have enjoyable experiences? Here are the detailed suggestions from Wanderlust Tips for you to have a perfect journey in HCMC.

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Independence Palace – Significant Historical Site

In the past, this was the building of Indochina’s governor general in Saigon and the workplace of South Vietnam’s puppet president and his employees. At 11:30am on the 30^th April 1975 tanks crashed through the gates of the palace leading to the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam’s government. The Independence Palace is 4,500m² and sits on a compound stretching across 12 hectares precinct. The building has one cellar, three main floors, two entresols, one terrace and a rooftop floor called Tu Phuong Lau (Floor of Four Directions). There are 100 rooms in total, each with its own particular design. The conference room can hold 800 people and there are two exhibition buildings with a total area of 2,000 m², one guesthouse with 33 rooms, a backup power generator and various services and entertainment facilities including a projection room, a tennis court and a Tay Nguyen stilt house.

♦ Top tips: Address 106 Nguyen Du, District 1. Entrance fee: 40,000VND per adult, 20,000VND per student and 10,000VND per pupil from 6 to17 years old. The Independence Palace is open daily from 7:30am to 11:30am and 1pm – 4 pm.

♦ Must see: Tao Dan Park and 30/4 Park next to the palace.

♦ Cuisine: Café 30/4, the restaurant in The Palace’s compound, Delicious Restaurant 138 (138 Nam Ky, Khoi Nghia), Sushi Tei Vietnam (200A Ly Tu Trong), Café Au Parc Store (923 Han Thuyen), Past and Present Saigon Café (33 Nguyen Trung Truc).

Historic relics and Cu Chi Tunnels – Vietnam’s Land of Steel

Being far from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City about 70 kilometres to the North West, the Cu Chi Tunnels have been preserved in two locations: Ben Duoc and Ben Dinh. Both these two areas have been recognised as National Historical and Cultural Sites. Coming to the complex, visitors are sure to have a number of memorable experiences: exploring secret underground tunnels, learning about the magnanimous history of the country part of which took place at Cu Chi’s liberated area, paintball, swimming in an artificial pool simulating the South China Sea, enjoying fresh fruit in Trung An Fruit Garden.

♦ Top tips: Entrance fee for Vietnamese is 20,000VND per adult and free for children, international visitor pay 90,000VND per adult and 45,000VND per child. It costs an extra 20,000VND to visit the war village.

♦ Must see: Fosaco Ethnic Tourism Village; Cu Chi’s wild animals rescue station (50, Provincial Road 15, An Nhon Tay, Cu Chi)

♦ Cuisine: Ben Duoc Restaurant and Ben Dinh Restaurant at the tunnel complex, pork-leg rice vermicelli in Minh Quy (No. 27/6, National Highway 22, Tan Thoi Nhi, Hoc Mon about 7 kilometres from An Duong Overpass), veal in Xuan Dao (on the national highway 22 leading to Central Vietnam), durian and sugarcane juice in Vuon Cau (3 kilometres from Cu Chi Overpass).

Dai Nam Van Hien Wonderland – Tourism attraction holding many national records

30 kilometres north of Ho Chi Minh City, Dai Nam Van Hien Wonderland is located in Hiep An Ward, Thu Dau Mot City of Binh Duong Province. Sitting on an area of 476 hectares, it is divided into four main zones: a spiritual area with outstanding constructions including the Golden Temple, where worshippers pray to the holy gods, ancestors and national heroes; a recreational area with more than 40 modern games; an attractive and unique artificial sea with salt and freshwater offering many exotic water games; a Zoo that is home to many rare wild animals living in and open human-friendly area.

Being massive in scale, Dai Nam Van Hien Wonderland holds many national records: the largest temple, the longest hotel, the longest artificial mountain and river, the largest artificial sea, the largest square, a zoo with the rarest and most endangered animals.

♦ Top tips: Entrance fee 200,000-500,000VND per adult and 100,000-250,000VND per child.

♦ Cuisine: Eat at the many restaurants and food stores throughout the tourism area including Thanh Tuyen, Thao Ngu Quan Restaurant, My Vy, Cao Tin, Nghi Linh Restaurant, San Mau Inn and Tuy Y Restaurant (Shark).

Suoi Tien Theme Park – Ideal Weekend Recreational Destination

Located in Tan Phu Ward in District 9 of Ho Chi Minh City, Suoi Tien Theme Park was built on an S-shaped area covering 20 hectares, with a two-kilometre undulating stream at its centre. This recreational area was constructed and designated according to the legend of the Vietnamese people and their spiritual ideology. There are four zones each dedicated to one of the four spirit animals: dragon, unicorn, turtle, phoenix, and correlating to the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. There is countless elaborately constructed sculptures spread out harmoniously across the green space.

Tourists can take part in many interesting games including ones underwater at Tien Dong Ngoc Nu Sea, visit the aquarium, watch circus performances featuring dolphins and sea lions at the Tien Ngu Great Stage, climb the mountain, go canyoning on Lac Canh Lake, ride a high-speed roller coaster or explore Treasure Cavern, the magic castle and the snow castle.

♦ Top tips: Entrance Fee is 100,000VND per adult and 50,000VND per child between 1 and 1.4 metres tall. Price for entertainment services in the park range from 10,000 to 80,000VND per person per ride. From Monday to Friday opening times are 8am to 5:30pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5:30pm, during public holidays the park opens at 7am until the last tourist has left.

♦ Cuisine: Phu Dong restaurant chain inside the park, Long Phung Restaurant on the edge of the park, Dac Tin Café at 9/158 Hanoi Highway.

Dam Sen Culture Park – Attractive Recreation Area

Located in District 1, Dam Sen Culture Park is one of the largest recreation areas in Ho Chi Minh City blending Eastern and Western architectural styles. Visitors can enjoy a variety of sights and an abundance of recreational activities. A diverse vegetation with various types of tree ranging from old ornamental plants to numerous exotic plants fill the green gardens including Nam Tu Thuong Uyen Garden, Dao Lan Forest, Xuong Rong Garden and the Europe Flower Garden, where over 100 species of animals are at home. The modern game centre offers over 50 games that range from relaxing to adrenaline pumping and are distributed around Dam Sen’s compound and there are a great deal of special art and cultural events.

♦ Top tips: Entrance fee is 200,000VND per person over 1.4 metres tall, 120,000VND per child between 1-1.4 metres tall and free for children under 1 metre. Dam Sen Culture Park is open from 8am to 9pm from Monday to Friday and 7:30am to 9pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

♦ Cuisine: Huong Giang chain, Huong Sen Restaurant, Dam Sen Delicious Cuisine Village inside Dam Sen Culture Park.

Can Gio National Park – A Green, Fresh and Natural Environment

Can Gio National Park is about 50 kilometres South East of the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. It is secluded from the hustle and bustle of the urban area, offering amazing space surrounded by fresh nature. Can Gio has a lot of inspiring activities on offer including exploring Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest, Can Gio Sea, visiting Monkey Island and experiencing dangerous activities like chasing crocodile.

♦ Top tips: To get to Can Gio National Park, you need to take Bus no. 20 from Ben Thanh Station to Nha Be and disembark at Binh Khanh Ferry Terminal, then cross the river by ferry and continue with bus no. 90 heading towards the sea. You also can take bus no.75 departing from Park 23/9 and stop at Can Thanh Car Park in Can Gio. If driving a motorbike from the city centre head to Tan Thuan Bridge in District 7, then turn onto Nguyen Van Linh street, head to Huynh Tan Phat then go straight from Can Gio to Can Thach Commune’s centre. If you want to visit a destination along the way you can get off the bus at any time.

♦ Cuisine: Can Gio has a lot of seafood including shrimp, crab, fresh shellfish, the most special being “Gach Son” shrimp and crab.

Eco-tourism Site, Tan Lap Floating Village – Wallowing in Green Nature

Located at the centre of Dong Thap Muoi, Tan Lap Floating Village in Moc Hoa District of Long An Province, is a typical for the flooded part of the country with cajuput forest, lotus-lily, water hyacinths and wild rice growing in the area, which is home to many species of animals including birds, storks and fish. Flowing through Tan Lap Floating Village is Rach Rung. In front of the village is the affable Vam Co Tay River. Visitors can walk to Tan Lap Floating Village’s Eco-tourism site, along a path leading through cajuput forest or take a boat along Rung Canal. Enjoy the panorama of the cajuput forest from the observation tower, explore local traditional craft works, participate in camping activities complete with a barbecue, picnic and team-building games.

♦ Top tips: From the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, go along National Road 1 to Tan An City in Long An, then continue on National Road 62 for about 35 kilometres, to arrive in Tan Lap Floating Village. Entrance fee: 50,000VND per adult; free for children under 7 years of age. The Eco-Tourism Site is open daily from 7am to 4:30pm.

♦ Cuisine: Enjoy attractive dishes at the tourism area like river-leaf creeper, chicken hotpot, sour snakehead hotpot, crispy fried fish, braised anabas and stir-fried eel with saffron.

Thanh An Island – Experiencing the daily life of rustic fishermen

Situated 70 kilometres to the East of Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh An Island is located just outside Can Tho District. It is an ideal destination for people who love the simple and peaceful life on the water but want to be close enough to their urban home to return within the day. On Thanh An Island, visitors will discover a wild, peaceful natural area, filled with the hospitability of the affable, friendly fishermen. The local culinary specialties are full of the flavours of the sea.

♦ Top tips: From the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, drive your motorbike or car to the ferry to Thanh An Island. The ferry heading to Thanh An Island leaves at: 6:30am, 9am, 10:30am, 12pm, 2pm and 5pm and returns at: 6:30am, 7:30am, 10:30am, 12pm, 2pm and 5pm daily. The schedule may change depending on the weather conditions. Entrance fee: 10,000VND per person per way.

♦ Cuisine: There are more restaurants on Thanh An Island than there used to be and most of them are located at the market near the local committee’s headquarter and some are scattered along the main road leading through the residential area on the island.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Travel tips for Maldives

Before visiting Maldives, you should get some information on currency, climate, travel and some rules of this famous island.

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VISA TO MALDIVES

Everybody gets a free 30-day visa on arrival, provided that they have a valid travel document, a ticket out and proof of sufficient funds, defined as either a confirmed reservation in any resort.

GETTING THERE

Singapore Airlines, Silk Air, Scoot, and Tiger Airways will fly from Vietnam to Male, Maldives with transit in Singapore. AirAsia will also will fly from Vietnam to Male, Maldives with transit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

CURRENCY

The Maldivian Rufiyaa is the currency of the Maldives. The best currency to take to the Maldives is either the Euro or the American Dollar. Some islands allow you to pay by card. The Maldivian Rufiyaa is required to pay the ferry fees, taxi fares and eating at the local restaurants.

TRANSPORTATION IN THE MALDIVES

Getting around in the Maldives takes three forms: boats, sea planes (air taxis) and private yachts. The boats are the Maldivian equivalent of a car, while planes and private yachts are mainly reserved for tourists.

Taxi fare is fixed on any route in Male and Hulhumale: 25 Rufiyaa

Public Ferry fare: Male to Hulhumale – 15 Rufiyaa (vice versa), Male to Airport – 10 Rufiyaa (vice versa), Male to Maafushi – 50 Rufiyaa (vice versa)

CLOTHING

The Maldives is a 100% Muslim country and care needs to be taken in relation to the dress code on local islands. Whilst it is acceptable for men to wear t-shirts and shorts or swim shorts; females should avoid causing offence by maintaining a more conservative approach to clothes by wearing t-shirts, loose shorts or sarongs, and avoid wearing bikinis and swimwear unless on an uninhabited island, picnic island, sandbank, dive boat or resort island. Whilst the law restricts the wearing of bikinis on local islands, many guesthouses now provide dedicated tourist beaches or private gardens and sunbathing terraces.

ACCOMODATION

You can choose variety of accommodation in Maldives. The most common island people will stay at Maafushi, Male & Hulhumale. There is no backpacker’s hostel available. The cheapest room you can get is about 100USD. But you need to remember to add the taxes when calculating the room price. All services directly related to guests will incur 10% service charge and 12% T-GST (Tourism Goods and Service Tax). The 10% service charge is applied to the total value and 12% T-GST applied to the total value + service charge.

CUISINE

When you are at Maafushi, do not forget to have a candle light buffet dinner, which will cost you only 10USD. Some of the common cuisines in the Maldives are:

‘Mas huni’ (tuna and coconut mix) – ‘Mas huni’ is a blend of tuna, coconut and chilli, which is loved by all Maldivians. It is more like a salad and requires very little time to prepare. This dish is eaten for breakfast with ‘roshi’ or chapatti and black tea.

‘Kulhimas’ (chili tuna) – ‘Kulhi’ in Dhivehi, means hot or spicy and ‘mas’ means fish. Every single Maldivian enjoys this dish. It is easy to prepare and simply delicious. This dish can be eaten for breakfast with ‘roshi’ or chapatti, or for dinner with ‘roshi’ or rice.

AbangFadli | Wanderlust Tips

Island hopping from Ho Chi Minh City

Tens of kilometres near or hundreds of kilometres far, there are perfect getaway islands for Sai Gon’s residents. They are sweet Phu Quoc, romantic Con Dao, peaceful Thanh An, pristine Thieng Lieng and green Long Son. It is chance to refresh your experience whenever you would love to escape from the hustle and bustle Ho Chi Minh City

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Phu Quoc – Destination for all seasons

What make Phu Quoc so charming, is that so many luxurious resorts and recreation areas are located here and so even when travelling off-season Phu Quoc always has a lot of visitors.

You will find this to be true when you start your journey of discovery along Phu Quoc’s roads lined with lush trees filled with the salty aroma of the sea. Besides the luxurious seaside resorts, you can enjoy Phu Quoc’s fresh green spaces in bungalows built in the style of small villas surrounded by green trees. Cycling around Phu Quoc is not a good idea as sun is hot and the wind strong, but lounging in the compound of a lush resort is the perfect alternative.

Phu Quoc is not only an island paradise, but also one of food. During the day, you can enjoy your meals in restaurants on Street 30/4, and in the evening, take a walk to Bach Dang Night Market, where you will find the aroma of fish sauce used for raw fish salad with its unforgettable sour, sweet and hot flavours. A dishes of sweet firm steamed shrimp, stir fried mantis shrimp with garlic, grilled oysters with onion and oil sauce or fried sentinel-crab with butter are sure to satisfy your appetite. The way people prepare fish sauce for each dish in different restaurants is very impressive – even the street stalls selling spring rolls and grilled beef wrapped in lolot leaves have their own ways for mixing the sauce.

Although the beaches on Phu Quoc are not as large as those in Danang, they are lined by beautiful blue clear water and include Sao Beach, Ong Lang, Khem Beach and the remote beaches on Mong Tay and May Rut Island looking like a small version of the Maldives. When wandering the whole day through the epic tourism area of Suoi Tranh in the rainy reason you can admire a waterfall looking like a soft ribbon silk, in the dry season you can take a walk on the granite stones in the middle of trees rustling in the sunlight. And make sure to enjoy a laid-back moment for sunset views at Dinh Cậu when the sky is violet coloured. The luggage of visitors returning home is filled with rose myrtle molasses, rose myrtle wine and the black pepper of this beautiful island – all must buy souvenirs.

♦ Weather: Annual average temperature 27-28°C

Dry season: October – March, strong wind.

Rainy season: April – October, strong wind

♦ Getting here:

Plane: HCM City – Phu Quoc, Vietnam Airlines and VietJetAir, duration: 1 hour.

Bus, train: Western Bus Station (HCM City), Ha Tien Bus Station (Rach Gia), duration: 8-9 hours. High-speed train Rach Gia – Phu Quoc (Superdong 2, Superdong 3, Superdong 4 lands at Bai Vong Port and Savana Express ship lands at Ham Ninh Port), duration: 2 hours and a half

Con Dao – from the Island of Steel to the Islands of Flower Blossoms

This archipelago includes 16 small islands and is a mere one-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City. The road from the airport to the centre of the island arcs to create a panorama of an incredible scenery the likes of which are mostly seen in blockbuster movies.

Whether you choose to stay in a small inn, a luxurious resort near the beach or a poetic camping area next the rows of casuarinas rustling in the wind by the sea, it is all blissfully peaceful. The spacious white streets contrast with the shade of red bougainvillea, crape myrtles, and bright yellow flowers blooming by the roadsides. Not far from here, An Hai Lake is filled with lotus and water lily blooming in pleasant sunshine from September to December. Wandering along the roads, you will likely encounter a black squirrel appear and then disappear into a lush rows of trees. It is most interesting to make acquaintance with a native tour guide, who will take you trekking through Ong Dung Forest, sailing to a small island to view the sunset, diving in the sea or shopping for some of Con Dao’s specialties. When walking under the high green branches of the old forest, the atmosphere is cool even when it is really hot. The exciting experience of getting to the end of the forest, where the beach is beautifully lined by a pretty pebble bank is worth the trip and if you are lucky, you will find a giant “Tai Tuong” shellfish camouflaged next to the rugged stones.

Not just breathtaking, Con Dao is also a spiritual destination. Across the area you will find relics of the past. It is advised to spend the first morning visiting the relics area to hear the sweet voice of Con Dao girls telling you the sorrow stories of history. Once alone again make the most of the fresh air and incredible beauty of the island that was once known to be hell on earth and has now transformed into a paradise.

♦ Transportation:

Flight: HCM City – Con Dao (direct flight) Vietnam Airlines. Flight duration: 1 hour.

High-speed boat: from HCM City’s Bach Dang harbour the fare is 420,000VND. Travel duration: 4.5 hours.

♦ Weather: Annual average temperature 27°C

From May to November: rainy season with short showers, small waves, and warm and sunny temperatures
From December to April: dry season with warm and sunny weather
From March to September: small waves
From October to February: large waves on the East

Thanh An Island – A peaceful corner of Saigon

Thanh An Commune in Can Gio District 50 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh’s city centre to the East and only about 8 kilometres from Can Gio. sThanh An is delightfully pristine and peaceful – the perfect way to escape the city noise. About 5,000 people reside here who mainly earn their living through fishing, salt harvesting and forestry.

Thanh An does not have lots of tourism services or luxurious facilities like central Ho Chi Minh City does, however no one regrets coming here thanks to the peaceful scenery, sincere people and most of all the cheap, fresh, delicious food. When the ships return, there is shrimp, mantis shrimp, octopus, fish, sentinel crab and cuttlefish – an abundance of food for you to pick out with joy. You can buy the seafood right there and then have a local chef cook it for you. Besides the seafood, in the market on the island there are many snacks to be tucked into: Hu Tieu (noodle with seasoned and sautéed beef), noodle, banh canh – Vietnamese udon noodle soup, steamed bread, grilled chicken feet, brochette, dried yellow stripe fish, grilled girdle cake with egg and roasted bananas.

Thanh An’s landscape may not be that spectacular but visitors come here for the idyllic life, sincere smiles and enthusiastic spirit of islanders all of which provides gentle and meaningful experiences.

♦ Ideal time to visit: all year round, avoid rainy days, as you will travel by wooden boats.

♦ Getting There:

Motorbike and coach: drive from Huynh Tan Phat to Binh Khanh ferry, cross the river by ferry then go along Rung Sac street, turn left onto Duyen Hai street at the end of which is Thanh An Port.
Bus: From Ben Thanh, take bus No. 20, get off at the last station which is Binh Khanh ferry, buy a ticket to cross the river, continue on bus No.75 (the only bus from Saigon to Can Gio, which takes 2-3 hours), get off bus Can Thanh Station and then take a small boat to Thanh An (45 minutes).

Thieng Lieng Island – A salt island of weary but friendly people

Thieng Lieng seems far-flung and separate from Ho Chi Minh City so people are surprised when they learn it is a part of the city. And it takes about 5 hours to get there from the city centre. Despite the hot sunshine and salty atmosphere, the people of the island always welcome strangers with affectionate gazes and the warmest smiles.

The scenery in Thieng Lieng mostly consists of riverbanks and a network of canals along which lush green forests grow. Sailing along these canals, walking by the riverbank or just sitting down and observing the vast blue ocean, you are bound to feel like you have travelled to a remote island and not one so close to Ho Chi Minh City.

In Thieng Lieng, there are no luxurious inns or hotels and you might have to make due with a home stay, sleep in a school, the commune‘s committee offices or even in a local clinic. All of which can be arranged as although Thieng Lieng’s people still live in poverty, they are very generous with visitors. Enjoying a Saturday night with people of the island’s hamlet when everyone gathers, sings “don ca tai tu”, drinks some cups of wine and talks to each other after a hard-working week will make your mind relax and you may just realise the harmony of life.

Thieng Lieng is one of rare areas still keeping traditional methods of salt production, which includes using wooden rollers, waterwheels and wheeling by hand. If you want to visit vast fields of pure white salt, you should come here during sunny season – the time for salt production.

♦ Weather:

October – March: Dry season (salt making season)

April – September: Rainy season.

♦ Getting There: Make your way from Ho Chi Minh’s city centre to Thanh An Island Commune. The ship from Thanh An to Thieng Lieng departs and returns twice each day (Thanh An – Thieng Lieng: 11am – 4pm and returning: 5am – 2pm), Travelling time is about 45 minutes.

Long Son Island – Green Dragon of Vung Tau

About 100 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City, Long Son is an island commune belonging to Vung Tau City. It is a beautiful eco-tourism destination that has gained attention recently.

The history of settlement on Long Son is more than 100 years old. When the village was first established it was called Nua Village and at the time it was just a desolate land rising out of the vast water without a human footprint. Long Son with its green bamboo forest has been the called “green dragon” of Vung Tau.

Mr. Le Van Muu and other An Giang people settled and built their career on the isolate island. He and others started to deforest, clean up the reeds, mine the mountain, build houses, farm, construct a communal house, establish markets, build schools, and construct five blocks of houses along the street for new residents.

When the boat docks, visitors feel like they have gotten lost on an unknown island, where both the old and the new exist side by side. The centre of the island looks like an ancient town: it is a mega structure with symmetrically balanced design, following feng shui “tien tri hau cham” – there is a lake in front of the town and a mountain behind it. Long Son communal house also called the Ong Tran Temple is an old structure following the architectural style of Vietnamese structures like it. The communal house has many amenities from all three regions of the country: South, Central and North including tables, altars and lacquered board. After leaving the communal house you can visit the floating house in Ben Da area to enjoy the local cuisine. At the floating house, seafood is always processed while fresh.

Discovering the nature of the island is also makes for an interesting experience for tourists. Long Son Island has a diverse ecosystem Many tourists like to go climbing when visiting Long Son. The mountain are laced with trails, that visitors must navigate themselves to get through the forest and reach the mountain peak – a fascinating, natural masterpiece.

The peak’s width is 2 kilometres and there are countless stone pillars that reach up into the sky and stones with curious shapes. The mountain has three peaks: Ba Trao Peak (138 metres high), Ho Rong Peak (120 metres high) and Ho Vong Peak (100 metres high). From the peaks, tourists have a view of the vast ocean and Vung Tau City. At the mountain’s base is Sac Forest comprised of mangrove land with an abundance of sea creatures.

♦ Weather:

Rainy season: May – October.

Dry season: November – April.

♦ Getiting there:

Leave the city, and drive along the national highway no.51 or go through Thu Khiem tunnel heading to Cai Lai, cross the river with the Cat Lai Ferry and follow the signs to Ba Ria Commune. Long Son is about 35 kilometres from Ba Ria Commune.

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

How I Fell in Love with the Maldives

An extremely huge workload nearly stopped me from fulfilling my childhood dream to visit the Maldives. Just few days before my scheduled flight, I made the decision to drop everything and leave home, screaming “I am coming, Maldives!” And I don’t have any regrets; the Maldives is beautiful more than words can describe.

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Situated in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a heaven on Earth consisting of 1, 192 coral islands and spread over an area of 90,000 km 2 . It is the lowest country in the world, with a ground level of 1.5 meters. The Maldives enchanted me at the first moment: warm crystal clear water, white sandy beaches with azure waves lapping at my toes, fresh coconuts to sip under the whispering shade of palm trees, and colourful marine life. The climate is warm throughout the year, and the sea breeze works as a natural air conditioner, making the weather softer and more pleasant than any other place I have visited. When I arrived, I knew that I had put my feet in heaven.

Things to Do in the Maldives

The main activity in the Maldives is to simply relax, although there are a number of excursions if you get restless, from visiting locals on a nearby island to cookery classes. But given that 99 per cent of the country is made up of water, it’s not surprising that most visitors decide to take to the Indian Ocean to uncover treasures that lie beneath the waves. I did many interesting activities, but the best was a daily tour from Maafushi Island. Since the island is really beautiful, reading your favourite author’s novel and doing nothing, while enjoying the scenery, is also a brilliant idea.

1) Crab Racing

One of the most interesting activities on Maafushi is a crab race, hosted by a shop called ‘Active.’ It takes place every Tuesday and Friday at 9pm, and I got to take part in that. They hand out numbered hermit crabs and put them in the centre of a big circle in the sand, and whichever one reaches the edge first is the winner. They hand out some pretty good prizes to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners too.

2) Catamaran Cruise, Half Day Tour of Hulhumale Island

I almost missed the tour as I got the confirmation at the very last minute. Because I am traveling alone, I need to wait for any pair or group to join the tour, so as to fulfil the requirement. Also, there are seldom any tourists who take the tour to this island. I was really thankful for a group of 6 doctors from India for accepting me into their group tour. This tour cost about 75USD for a half day (9am to 2pm).

In this tour, you will spend some time on a luxurious yacht, while enjoying the view of the island. All members of the boat crew are really friendly. Then we stopped at Himmafushi Island for a walking tour around the island, which was very interesting. Here, you can see houses with walls made of coral. Also, there is not a single electric cable hanging in the Maldives because all the electric cables are underground. This island is not popular among tourists and really quiet.

Then, we went snorkelling by Hulhumale Island. While we snorkelled, the boat crews prepared Maldivian food for our lunch. There are about 6 different dishes, which are all very delicious. Maldivian cuisine has gained esteem, owing to the great flavour that it offers, along with affordability. The best of authentic Maldivian cuisine will surely leave your mouth watering.

3) Whole Day Private Island Tour

If you don’t have the chance to stay at the more expensive picturesque water chalet resorts and take beautiful photos, do not worry because there are many private island whole day tours to choose from (around 100USD-150USD depends on the distance of the resort).

To choose the best private island, make sure you know what the resort offers. Some of them offer breakfast, lunch, free flow of drinks, stingray feeding show, and free of charge for water activities. And do not forget to stalk their Instagram page to see how good their resort is!

I chose to spend my day at Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa. For the tour (120USD), I got a boat transfer from Maafushi to the resort (and vice versa), lunch, free flow of drinks, unlimited of water activities such as kayaking and usage of snorkelling gear. I am glad that I chose this resort, as it is really amazing and very picturesque.

4) Snorkelling, Picnic at Sandbank & Dolphin Watching Tour

This tour costs 25USD for a half day. For snorkelling, there are 3 spots: Coral Point, Nemo Point, and Turtle Point, with a 100% guarantee that you will encounter clownfish and turtles. One of the best snorkelling experiences I ever had! I encountered around 5 turtles at Turtle Point.

The sandbank is really beautiful and very white. Here, you will be served a packed lunch. Do not forget to snap your best photos here. The special feature of the sandbank is that if there is a high tide, the sandbank will be immersed and disappear. Hence, the sandbank is closed on the weekend for tourists and only open for the locals.

On the way back, you will be amazed with the most beautiful views of the sea, and a group of dolphins following your boat. It was an amazing sight.

Island of Paradise

As a budget traveller, I decided to only stay on the public island, and I am very satisfied with the outcomes of my decisions. The public island was a very nice place to stay, where you can socialize with locals and a lot of restaurant you can choose from if you are a food lover. You also can stay at the private resort which requires seaplane transfer if you want more privacy.

As I landed on the Maldives at night, I decided to stay in Hulhumale, where you do not need a ferry transfer from the airport with the variety of hotels to choose from. A lot of shopping is available on this island, and it is a good to start your trip, as you can get traveling supplies such as sunblock, food, etc.

Hulhumale has a wide sand beach instead of a concrete seawall. It is one of the first inhabited islands to take positive action against littering, installing bins and a proper waste disposal and collection system.

From Hulhumale, you can go to Male on a 30- minute ferry ride. I visited most of the attractions in Male in about 3 hours, which included Friday Mosque, Republic Square, Sultan Park, National Museum, and the most interesting, their wet market. I was amazed with the fish markets as many different type of fishes I had never seen before.

Male is the capital of Maldives. There are 2 ferry terminals in this city: Villingili Ferry Terminal for transfer to Maafushi Island and Hulhumale’ Ferry Terminal for transfer to the Hulhumale Island, airports, and Himmafushi Island.

To the famous Maafushi Island

I remember that I had missed the public ferries of the week. All the tickets were sold out and I was stuck at the Villingili Ferry Terminal for a few hours, trying to find my way to Maafushi Island, as I already booked and pay my hotel. I was very lucky that my hotel in Maafushi helped me book speedboat transfer to the island.

Maafushi is regarded as one of – if not the most – popular “guesthouse” island in the Maldives. A couple of things make Maafushi a solid destination for tourists. First of all, you can access the island in under 2 hours with the affordable public ferry service from Malé, the capital of the Maldives. Another feature I liked about Maafushi was the very “local” feel to the island. We noticed lots of local families walking around the island enjoying sunsets and the crystal-clear water (which is ideal for swimming). Maafushi has a super laid back vibe without the same touristy feel that most resort islands around the world tend to have.

Maafushi is also small and very easy to navigate. If you are staying on one end of the island and you can’t see the sunset from your balcony, a short five-minute walk should easily free up more favourable vantage points. Similarly, it takes very little effort to find restaurants and souvenir shops while staying on Maafushi.

One thing that surprised me was the range of excursions to choose from while we stayed on Maafushi Island. Diving, sailing, wind surfing, kite surfing, paddle boarding, snorkelling, jet skiing, wake boarding. Just name what you want and they are sure to have it. There are a bunch of shops all over town specializing in water sports, so organizing an activity is easy.

CHALLENGES OF TRAVELING SOLO IN MALDIVES

The Maldives are famous for honeymoons. Because I am a solo traveller, at the immigration counter, the officers asked me many questions and asked me to show all of my travel documents, such as hotel reservation and return ticket. This is different when you are in a group or couple, where the officers did not ask any of that. But remember, this is just a procedure.
In the Maldives, there is no hostel or dorm for accommodation. So, I needed to book a hotel room, which is very expensive. Traveling solo in the Maldives mean you are paying the price of 2 people in one room.
When checking-in hotel, there is always a welcome drink for 2 persons. Most of the hotel staff did not understand or were not familiar with solo travellers. They will keep asking you where your partner is. If you tell them you are travelling solo, they are very curious about it. When I told them I was traveling solo, they immediately took away the welcome drinks without letting me drink them.
Most of the tour and activities on the island required a minimum of at least 2 people. If it is a peak time, you will not have any problems, as you can join into any travel group for the tours. But if you are at remote or less famous islands, you may have a hard time getting the tour you want to do.
Let’s say you are lucky enough to join the day tours, with others mostly newlywed couples or families. I remember that everybody keeps asking you where your partner is, and they are judging you for your single life. At last, I came out with my own version of story to tell everyone who asked me: “Actually my wedding happened last week, but unfortunately on the wedding day, the bride did not show up as she said she was not ready. As the honeymoon package had been bought and cannot be refunded, I used this opportunity to clear my mind and to continue my life.” After hearing the story, everybody looked so sad and sympathized, and they never asked me again.

AbangFadli | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Summer Moods

Dynamic, but elegant, distinctive but luxurious – fashion masterpieces from Devon London and Lane JT have a tendency to take an audience’s breath away with pure style radiating from their collections.

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In Phuket summer beckons with the blue sea and white sails promising refreshing and gorgeous experiences. Sweet and exceptional, gentle yet strong – this girl is more than ready to welcome a vibrant summer and journey to an undiscovered destination. Despite both brands pursuing minimalism, Lane JT‘s features audacious but luxurious cropping lines, while Devon London dazzles with its unique handling of wool with an emphasis on colour details. Travel and be different – as is the spirit of everlasting youth.

Clothes: Devon London, Lane JT
Photo: Hoang Dang
Make-up: Loan Love
Model: YenTran
Stylist: Huyen Tran Le

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc: Slow life by the sea

Leaving behind the noisy city life, tourists at La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc MGallery by Sofitel step right into a tranquil Old French Villa covered by lush tropical gardens and embark on a journey to a slow paced life on the Western beaches of Phu Quoc.

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La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc has the noble style of the villas of the old French colony. Calm depth that never gets monotonous. The pastel yellow walls, its structural design, the white jalousies, and the old-fashioned decorations surrounded by a green tropical garden and adjacent to the beach from a picturesque scene framed by a white sand bank.

This graceful resort structure is inspired by a hundred-year-old love story. Phu Quoc was the scene of a romance between a French man trading pepper and a Vietnamese woman born to a family of fish sauce producers. After falling in love the embarked on a journey to Phnom Penh to start a business manufacturing this special condiment. Their names are Mr & Mrs Catherine and they originally designed and decorated this French villa that became a home for the elderly and a place to honour their ancestors. All items here tell the story of the family’s one hundred year old story that led them from Phu Quoc to Phnom Penh and back again.

70 rooms in eight styles and the villas of La Veranda Resort are all equipped with polished brown wooden facilities, mosaics, brick work, old fashioned ceiling fans, double doors and high ceilings offering a convenient, relaxing space, reminiscent of a time long gone. Thanks to its exceptional structure, La Veranda has just won the award of the Best Boutique Resort in Vietnam 2016 voted by the Luxury Travel Guide.

La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc MGallery by Sofitel

Address: Tran Hung Dao Street, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc
Tel: (+8477) 3982 988

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Venice: The city of masks

Once upon a time there was a city in which people never went out showing their real face. Everyday, they became a different person with the help of intricate masks. This city was Venice and until the 18^th century, anyone not wearing a mask when going out was considered strange. Today Venice is not only the city of a hundred bridges but also the city of a thousand masks. Examples of these are displayed in almost all souvenir stores along the canals.

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Venice’s masks: A symbol of freedom

Every February during Carnival, Venice transforms into a medieval city complete with exceptional decorations and colourful masks. Held for the first time in 1162, the festival was meant to eliminate discrimination between social, ages, wealth and genders. Masks became the spirit of the festival as they allowed everyone to be equal behind them. Some felt confident they could hide their shame behind the masks when confessing their love, others wore masks to do stupid things without recognition and judgment. The concept became so popular with Venice’s citizens that they wore their masks daily, though they were not yet intricately decorated.

More and more people used the anonymity provided to avoid being identified when committing crimes or not to damage the honour of noblemen when fencing, gambling, breaking into monasteries of nuns or visiting brothels. So during the 18^th century, Venice forbade citizens from wearing masks on the street except during festivals or important holidays. People were prohibited from carrying weapons when wearing masks, prostitutes were banned from wearing them and gamblers were not allowed this camouflage. Anyone violating the law was sentenced severely. The fine was 500 liras and men would receive penal servitude on ships for 18 months, while women would be struck and pulled along the street from San Marco Square to Rialto Bridge before being pilloried at the central square.

In 1980, the leader of the city decided to bring back the festival that had once been so popular.

The festival often starts with a parade of masks at San Marco Square featuring long-handled spear fighting on horses and musical performances. During this time, boats and gondolas turn even more magical thanks to the mask-wearing tourists along the Grand Canal.

Visitors are sure to be stunned by the colourful masks and costumes inspired by classical fashion trends complete with hats, overcoat and gowns from the 16^th and17^th century. This not only is high-class aestheticism, but also a reminder about the spectacular past of this boot shaped in particular and Europe in general during The Renaissance.

50 shades of mask

Though wearing masks, everyone has an individual face with different expression, thanks to artful hands of the craftsmen. Many of these faces are playfully distorted with long, pointed chins and without mouths. The traditional kind of mask most used in Venice is known as Bauta and usually comes with a three-cornered hat and a black overcoat. The origin of the name Bauta can be traced to the German word ‘behüten’, meaning to protect. The special shape of this mask transforms the voice of the wearer to protect their identification.

Beside Bauta, Voltos also known as Larva, meaning ghost in Latin, are another specific kind of mask in Venice. Shaped like the ghost of Volto the allow people to eat, drink and talk easily without taking off the masks. Voltos are so light that they makes people feel comfortable and are thus really suitable for dance parties or networking. Originally, Voltos were only white and used by men. As time passed Voltos became more magnificent and luxurious with decorative details of feathers and sealed with diamonds and gemstones to create an elegant appearance for their owner who would wear it with expensive clothes and precious jewellry and so it gradually become a mask favoured by women.

If Volto represented men, Moretas were used by women only. Moretas are oval masks made from black velvet covering the surrounding of eyes, nose and mouth. Moretas are also called dumb masks, as the women wearing them were unable to talk without biting a small bead inside the mask. Only when a girl wanted to respond or express her friendliness to a man who approached her, would she lose the mask. Therefore, Moretas stand for passionate beauty full of the mystery of women who take the initiative in selecting the person they want to talk to.

One more exceptional mask of Venice is the Medico Della Peste or plague doctor. This mask imitates the strange custom of doctors during the period of the plague from the 14^th to the 17^th century. A frightful pandemic that killed one-third of Venice’s population. Doctors would wear this mask and fill its beak with various aromas, as they believed the plague spread through diffusion in the air.

Beside these specific kinds of mask, Venice’s citizens also like wearing masks typical for actors of the Commedia dell’arte, a kind of traditional improvised drama performance in Italy during which the actors wear masks when performing on stage. One of the most famous masks from the Commedia dell’arte is the Colombina mask of a female servant that only covers half the face.

There is a legend that says the Colombina became popular as it was designed for an actress who did not want her beautiful face to be covered entirely. The half-covered design of the Colombina mask make female features more attractive and inspires artists with its abundance of styles. Colombinas made the world of masks much more diverse. It is the bikini of mask fashion.

An exciting atmosphere of music, dance, costumes and various kinds of mask turns Venice into a massive open-air stage during carnival. The most amazing feature is that almost all houses, streets and cultural structure of Venice are still preserved from hundreds of years ago and thus the festival offers tourists and citizens a fascinating party evoking a past full of passion and mysterious masks.

Wanderlust Tips

Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street – A modern street for pedestrians and vehicles.

Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre – The most expensive Culture Centre

Anh Sao Bridge – A sea of light at night

Cruise on Saigon River – Peaceful water scenery in a busy and crowed city

Street cafés – An experience with interesting cultural characteristic

Saigon’s Backpacker Quarter – Streets that never sleep

Night markets – Attractive food and shopping destination

Entertainment at Saigon Centre – Recreation and shopping destinations for all ages

Ben Thanh Market – Saigon’s most famous feature

Paris Community Square – A little bit of Paris in the heart of Saigon

Nha Rong Wharf – President Ho Chi Minh left the country from here to begin his quest for salvation

War Remnants Museum – One of the world’s most beautiful museums

Fine Arts Museum, Ho Chi Minh City – The 99-door mansion of a legendary Saigonese tycoon

Chinatown in District 5 – A bustling trading centre

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda – A symbol of Vietnamese Buddhist architecture of the 20th century

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden – Sanctuary to Vietnamese animals and plants

Independence Palace – Significant Historical Site

Historic relics and Cu Chi Tunnels – Vietnam’s Land of Steel

Dai Nam Van Hien Wonderland – Tourism attraction holding many national records

Suoi Tien Theme Park – Ideal Weekend Recreational Destination

Dam Sen Culture Park – Attractive Recreation Area

Can Gio National Park – A Green, Fresh and Natural Environment

Eco-tourism Site, Tan Lap Floating Village – Wallowing in Green Nature

Thanh An Island – Experiencing the daily life of rustic fishermen

VISA TO MALDIVES

GETTING THERE

CURRENCY

TRANSPORTATION IN THE MALDIVES

CLOTHING

ACCOMODATION

CUISINE

Phu Quoc – Destination for all seasons

Con Dao – from the Island of Steel to the Islands of Flower Blossoms

Thanh An Island – A peaceful corner of Saigon

Thieng Lieng Island – A salt island of weary but friendly people

Long Son Island – Green Dragon of Vung Tau

Things to Do in the Maldives

Island of Paradise

To the famous Maafushi Island

Venice’s masks: A symbol of freedom

50 shades of mask

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda – A symbol of Vietnamese Buddhist architecture of the 20^th century