Well-known highlights of northeast Vietnam

Stunning Halong Bay continues to dominate the itineraries of most travellers in Vietnam, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of the country’s northeast. If you’ve got some time up your sleeve and want to delve a little deeper, you’ll find there is more to this region than cruising around Halong’s feted karsts.

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Cat Ba Island

Craggy, jungle-clad Cat Ba Island is the launching pad for exploring the limestone islets and towers of Lan Ha Bay. Geologically an extension of Halong Bay, and just as dramatic, Lan Ha Bay sees much fewer visitors. But Cat Ba has more to offer than a beautiful seascape to goggle at. This is the northeast’s adventure capital – whether you want to climb it, bike it, hike it or kayak it, Cat Ba has the activity for you. Almost half of the island’s 354 sq km is protected as a national park, which is home to most of the world’s remaining golden-headed langur population (the world’s most endangered primate), while the island’s cliffs have become one of southeast Asia’s top learn-to-climb destinations.

♥ Experience it

For water-based activities, Blue Swimmer runs guided kayaking trips within the karsts and Asia Outdoors has recently brought SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) to Cat Ba. Pretty much everyone in town runs day tours and overnight cruises around Lan Ha Bay. Check out the boat trips offered by Cat Ba Ventures, which also operates hiking trips within Cat Ba National Park. For climbing, Asia Outdoors – the pioneer of the sport in Vietnam – offers excellent half- and full-day climbing trips.

Ba Be National Park

Most visitors to Vietnam’s northeast gravitate towards the coast, but nature lovers and hikers would do well to cast their eyes further north and inland as well. The handful who make it to Ba Be National Park are rewarded with intrepid hiking opportunities and tranquil lake vistas hemmed by jagged peaks. Three interlinked lakes form the heart of the park, and tootling around the lakes by boat, or kayak, is the best way to experience Ba Be’s languid beauty. The rainforest-covered hills have off-the-beaten-track hikes for those who want to get more active. The park is also home to 13 ethnic minority villages, and the small fishing villages that rim the lake have a well-established homestay program, allowing travellers the opportunity to sleep in a simple traditional stilted house.

♥ Experience it

Independent travellers are still thin on the ground here, with most people visiting Ba Be on private tours booked in Hanoi – try Vega Travel (vegatravel.vn), who arrange good-value trips to the park, including a night in a village homestay. Independents can easily organise homestay accommodation and activities within the park once they arrive. Homestay owners will help arrange boating and other water pursuits; Ba Be Tourism Centre has a wealth of knowledge about the park and can arrange boating, trekking and biking, as well as kayak hire.

Bai Tu Long Bay

The limestone outcrops of the northeast coast don’t stop at Halong Bay – the procession of pinnacles, islets and islands continues all the way to the Chinese border. This is Bai Tu Long Bay, a seascape just as striking as that of its famous neighbour to the south, but much less visited. Like at Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long is best appreciated on a cruise, but as there are much fewer cruise trips, the karst views are not as often obscured by other boats.

♥ Experience it

Many of the bigger travel agencies in Hanoi offer cruises that head into Bai Tu Long Bay. One of the most recommended companies for this region is Ethnic Travel (ethnictravel.com.vn).

Cao Bang province

Unless you’re travelling the road to China, Cao Bang province may not register highly on your itinerary. The countryside here, punctuated by knobbly-edged green karst hills, does hide a couple of sights that are worthy of a stopover for those heading this far north. Ban Gioc Waterfall is the province’s most famous highlight, with boat rides that take you close to the cascades. Nearby, Nguom Ngao Cave is one of the most magnificent cave systems in Vietnam, home to mammoth stalactites and stalagmites. For history buffs, an excursion to Hang Pac Bo (Water-Wheel Cave), further west in the province, is a good detour – Ho Chi Minh launched his revolution from this cave hideout in 1941.

♥ Experience it

Both the waterfall and caves are most easily reached from the town of Cao Bang. There’s no public transport from the town to Hang Pac Bo, but it’s straightforward to arrange a xe om (motorbike taxi) to the cave for a half-day trip. To get to Ban Gioc Waterfall and nearby Nguom Ngao Cave, take one of the regular buses from Cao Bang to the town of Trung Khanh, from where you can hire a xe om to take you the last 27km to the waterfall.

Lonely Planet | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

10 famous tourist attractions in Hanoi

As a capital of Vietnam with more than 1000 years of history, Hanoi has many cultural and historic sites that attract a lot of tourists nationwide. Hanoi Imperial Hotel is pleased to recommend foreign tourists with 10 must – see tourist destinations in Hanoi.

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1. Tran Quoc Pagoda

This is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam on the eastern shore of West Lake .The current structures are very impressive and date back to 1842. The pagoda is just off the road that divides West Lake and Truc Bach Lake. Tran Quoc Pagoda is the foremost symbol of Buddhism in the country. The landmark is beautiful offering good ambience and nice photos.

2. West Lake

To the north of the old quarter is the enormous Ho Tay. This lake is the largest in Hanoi with a shore length of around 17km (10.6 miles) and is a popular place for recreation with many surrounding gardens, hotels and villas.

3. Hoa Lo Prison

The Hoa Lo Prison was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War when it was sarcastically known to American prisoners of war as the “Hanoi Hilton”. The prison was demolished during the 1990s, though the gatehouse remains as a museum.

4. National Museum of Fine Arts

For a singular glimpse into Vietnamese culture, the Country’s National Museum of Fine Arts is the best place to visit. The museum showcasing Vietnam’s fine arts from every historical period. The facility contains a vast collection of art, sculpture, crafts and artifacts from every period in Vietnam’s history.

5. The Presidential Palace

Although Hochiminh President passed away but The Presidential Palace in Hanoi is a remarkable landmark. The palace was built between 1900 and 1906 to house the French Governor-General of Indochina. The Presidential Palace complex is open every day from 7:30am to 4pm, with a lunch break from 11am to 1:30pm.

6. Hoan Kiem Lake

Hanoi is a city of lakes and Hoan Kiem is one of the most popular with visitors. Superbly scenic and serene, the lake provides a habitat for soft-shell turtles and contains many picturesque pagodas and small bridges.

7. One Pillar Pagoda

The Buddhist One Pillar Pagoda is almost peerless in Vietnam, with a history that dates back a full millenium. The iconic landmark was badly defaced by French troops in 1954 but was rebuilt decades later.

8. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

One of the most conspicuous mausoleums in the world, the massive tribute to the most famous leader in Vietnam provides Hanoi with a landmark on par with Lenin’s tomb in Moscow. Open since 1975, the mausoleum site also contains a museum on Ho Chi Minh.

9. Grand Opera House

Hanoi Opera House is located on the August Revolution Square, the center of Hanoi, near Hoan Kiem Lake and the Vietnam History Museum. The theatre, designed and overseen by the French, was constructed from 1901 and was finished in 1911. It marks a significant period in the history of architectural development in Vietnam under the French at the end of nineteenth century to early twentieth century. It is a historical witness of the Revolution of Hanoi.
The Hanoi Opera House is not only a venue for art performances, but also a place for visitors to enjoy an almost 100 year old historical architecture.

10. Temple of Literature

Temple of Literature is located on Van Mieu Street, 2km west of Hoan Kiem Lake. Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam is a famous historical and cultural relic consisting of the Temple of Literature and Vietnam is first university. The temple was built in 1070 in honor of Confucius, his followers and Chu Van An, a moral figure in Vietnamese education.

Hanoi Imperial | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Guidelines for Applying for a Taiwan Tourist Visa, from A-Z

As of 1 September 2016, Taiwan offers visa exemptions for tourists from Vietnam. According to this policy, those who have travelled to developed countries could more easily obtain a Taiwan tourist visa.

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E-Visa

>>Visa Requirements:

The applicant’s passport must have remaining validity of at least six months, starting from the arrival date of Taiwan.
The applicant must possess an onward/return air or ferry ticket.
The applicant has never been employed as a blue-collar worker in Taiwan.
Permanent resident card or visa that has expired less than 10 years prior to the date of arrival in Taiwan, from the following countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, or any in the European Union.

After fulfilling all of the above requirements, visit the following website to register for an e-visa to Taiwan:

https://niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw/nia_

Southeast/. Fill out the following information: name, date of birth, passport, expiry date, visa number or resident card of the above countries.

At the end of the website, after your information is “Approved,” click the “Print” button at the end of the website. This will give you a PDF of your visa confirmation. It is recommended to print one and save a copy.

When entering Taiwan, bring the printed application form and passport, which has the visa mentioned above. Each time you enter Taiwan with this kind of visa, you will be issued an ROC Travel Authorization Certificate and residence of up to 30 days, with the visa expiration date after 3 months.

Applying for a Visa in the Traditional Way

If you do not meet all the requirements for the E-Visa application, you can apply for a visa in the common way, at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (see below for addresses).

–Hanoi: 5^th Floor, HITC 239, Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi. Tel: (+844) 3833 5501; (+844) 3833 5505 (ext. 128, 129, 130). Email: tecohn@netnam.vn

–HCMC: 336 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Ward 4, HCMC. Tel: (+848) 39621745/50. Email: suggest@tecohcm.org.vn

Required Documents:

+Online visa application form: https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw/, download the form and fill out all personal information.

+2 photos (4×6 cm) must be taken within the last 6 months.

+Original and photocopy of passport: besides the original, the photocopy must have sufficient pages to submit for the Embassy to check history of departure and entering times.

+Certification of stable career: You need to have a contract of employment, health insurance card, social insurance book, and an application for leave sealed by your company. Enterprise owners must submit a copy of certificate of business registration with the full name.

+Certification of financial ability: You must submit your recent bank statement, certificate of land, house or assets (you must bring both a copy and the original for reference). Total amount and asset value must be at least 50,000,000 VND.

+Hotel booking.

+Trip schedule.

+Return flight ticket.

+Other document, if any: invitation letter for mission, letter of guarantee of relatives in Taiwan.

Fee: short-term single entry visa, 50 USD. Short-term multiple entry visa, 100 USD. In case of emergency, the service fee is 50% of the stipulated fee.

**Note:

Tourism visa only receives application document in the morning.
When filling out visa application form, if you do not know an answer, or have many answers for one question, it is recommended to fill out two or three different forms, to have backup, in case the form you have submitted has errors when the officers check your application form at the desk.
It is recommended to submit your documents six to seven weeks prior. Because visa consideration and granting takes five to seven days, not taking in account if problems occur and you need to correct or supplement information.
You should have copies of all documents that the Embassy may need for checking.

Thu Hoai | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Sunrise Premium Resort Hoi An welcomed new Director of Food and Beverage

Sunrise Premium Resort Hoi An has just appointed Ms. Mae Monnet to the position of Director of Food & Beverage.

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French born, Madame Monnet brings a wealth of culinary experience and a noteworthy education from Glion Institute of Higher Education as well as Paris Sorbonne University to the luxury resort. With experience working for top luxury hospitality brands, Mae’s management background has provided her with skills to lead the F&B team.

“We are pleased to welcome Madame Monnet as part of our executive team. As Director of Food and Beverage, she will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Food & Beverage Department. At Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa, we strive to offer our discerning guests the highest quality of service and we are confident that Mae’s professional experience and culinary passion will elevate our food and beverage program to new heights.” said Mr. Sven A. Saebel – General Manager.

About Sunrise Premium Resort Hoi An

Stunningly designed and perfectly positioned along the popular Cua Dai Beach stretch, Sunrise Premium Resort Hoi An offers enchanting views to one of the most breathtaking coastlines in the world, as well as the perfect mix of luxury, serenity and adventure.

Relax near the signature pools or private beaches, unwind through the healing treatments of Bliss spa, savor the culinary delights of our 3 restaurants and 3 bars. Featuring 222 luxury rooms, suites and oceanfront villas with private pools, Sunrise Hoi An Resort is designed to help guests explore, relax, recharge and make the most of the vacation.

Sunrise Premium Resort & Spa, Hoi An

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

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

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Himalayan Travel Mart 2017 was held successfully in Nepal

From the 1st to 4th of June, Himalayan Travel Mart 2017 was took place in Nepal with the main objective to establish Nepal, as a Gateway to the Himalaya. The outcome hopefully places the nation in the international arena as a destination capable of hosting events at international level.

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The event saw a participation of around 74 Buyers from 36 Countries, and 50 plus Sellers, representing the Himalayan Region, like Bhutan, India, Tibet, Indonesia and Nepal.

The core achievement of the Mart, was seen as it hosted the Nation’s first ever ‘International Travel Bloggers and Media Conference (ITBMC), at the Park Village Hotel, in Budhanilkantha. The ITBMC, hosted 108 International Bloggers and Media Personnel in total at the event, the highlight being 9 Internationally acclaimed, Bloggers and Media Persons, who spoke on the importance of media and blogging, in promoting tourist destinations like Nepal. The Minister of Health, Mr. Gagan Thapa, also gave his statement, as ‘Re- introducing Nepal, as a Safe and friendly tourist destination to the whole world.

The Himalayan Travel Mart Conference was held on the 2nd of June, at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza, where travel industries dignitaries and experts, shared their knowledge and experiences on the topic “Himalayan Tourism and Innovation & Marketing“, which was of international standard, and would definitely benefit industry professionals here in Nepal.

The Inauguration ceremony was done by Nepal’s Right Hon. President – Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari, amidst a gala event, where the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board, Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi, welcomed the crowd and stated that this sort of event will redefine the entire tourism Industry. The Chairman of PATA Nepal Chapter, Mr. Suman Pandey, talked about the main objective of organizing this travel mart. The Chairman and Managing Director of Air India, Mr. Aswini Lohani, was the key note speaker of the event, where he declared the ‘1 +1’ Business class scheme .

Ms. Sarah Mathews, the Current Chairman of PATA, also congratulated everyone for organizing a first ever mega international mart as such. “With the participation of around 225 International delegates from over 53 nations making it an event attended by 500 plus delegates, the event can be compared to the likes of major international travel marts around the world” stated Sarah Mathews.

In the light of the success of the Himalayan Travel Mart 2017, the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Mr. Deepak Raj concluded saying, “Since the Himalayan Travel Mart has become a flagship for tourism promotion, the promotion and continuation of the Mart is necessary in the future. On this note, the next Himalayan Travel Mart 2018, was announced which is scheduled to take place from the 1st of June to the 3rd of June next year.”

The Official Airline Partner of the Himalayan Travel Mart was Air India and the Official Hotel Partner was Soaltee Crowne Plaza.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Wanderlust Tips travel magazine’s June issue 2017: The pellucid summer

June issue 2017 of Wanderlust Tips travel magazine brings the pellucid summer emotions flooded over the land, urging us to feel the breath of life in the purest and sincerest way.

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A Pellucid Summer is coming! Pellucid like a sparkling cocktail, like the early morning light or the skin of a beautiful girl on a yacht floating on the immense ocean.

Pellucid like the sweet memory of a tribe slowly sinking into oblivion in a remote valley.

Pellucid like a passionate commitment to a new journey, with new friends to experience the poetic and harsh land of young men.

Pellucid like our vibration when indulging in another stream of life, to feel its full splendour.

The journeys are still challenging and the lands are always poetic, you just need to keep your eyes open and a lucid heart to see and feel every breath of life in the purest and sincerest way.

If you want to learn the know-how to experience and live as indigenous people, explore Antalya – Turkey’s heritage city, travel with the Arctic Husky dogs or find the forgotten land of the Indian women with nose plugs. Let the June issue of Wanderlust Tips become your companion on each upcoming itinerary.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Vietnam – Indonesia: Business cooperation in the automobile and spare parts

On 2nd June, at Hanoi Daewoo Hotel, the Indonesian Embassy in Vietnam in collaboration with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) held the forum “Vietnam – Indonesia: Business cooperation in the automobile and spare parts”.

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The business forum attracted the participation of 70 Vietnamese and Indonesian companies in the fields of manufacturing, exporting, importing, assembling and manufacturing automobiles and spare parts. This is an opportunity for the enterprises of two countries to share their experiences and exchange on the aspirations about the automobile and spare parts in order to promote the cooperation among enterprises and contribute to the economic cooperation between two countries.

At the forum, Indonesian Ambassador to Viet Nam – Mr.Ibnu Hadi gave a speech on Indonesia’s automobile and spare parts industry, and provided statistics on exports from Indonesia to Vietnam in recent years. The Indonesian automobile industry is targeting Vietnamese market because of many reasons: large population, 85% of people using personal vehicles, average income over 2,200USD/person/year. In addition, Indonesia and Vietnam are both in the ASEAN Economic Community, following fundamental criteria such as equitable economic development, competitive economic sector, integration into the global economy.

Mr.Doan Duy Khuong – Vice President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry also said that Vietnam will soon receive a large wave of investment from many countries in the world such as the United States and other countries in ASEAN. He also expressed his desire that business cooperation between two countries would bring about practical benefits to society, such as creating employment opportunities for people and developing infrastructure in Vietnam and Indonesia.

There are 4 companies from Indonesia, including Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia, Astra Otoparts Tbk, Astra Visteon Indonesia, Amico Era Bumiindo. In particular, Astra Otoparts Tbk hopes that Vietnamese spare parts suppliers can offer more competitive price, as currently Vietnam’s product is 13% higher than Indonesia’s.

During the discussion, Toyota Tsusho Vietnam, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia and Akebono Brake Astra Vietnam also delivered a presentation on their business activities and specific statistics in recent years. Besides exchanging of experiences among the enterprises, many the difficulties and immediate challenges in the industry of export, import, assembly and manufacture of spare parts were arised.

Finally, Mr. Suryana Sastradiredja, Economic Counselor of the Embassy of Indonesia, hopes through this forum Indonesian and Vietnamese companies will have the opportunity to meet and find more possibilities of cooperation in the field of automobile and spare parts.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Bangkok Airways and Hong Kong Airlines enter into codeshare agreement

In Bangkok, on 1st June 2017, Bangkok Airways, the Asia’s boutique airline and Hong Kong Airlines, the Hong Kong based full-service carrier, have entered into codeshare partnership, giving travelers enhanced connectivity between Hong Kong and Thailand.

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Under the agreement, Hong Kong Airlines customers can now travel with Bangkok Airways to Koh Samui directly from Hong Kong or via Bangkok using its domestic flights between Bangkok and Koh Samui.

Mr. Puttipong Prasartthong-Osoth, President of Bangkok Airways said, “This new codeshare agreement with Hong Kong Airlines is yet another important milestone and an exciting development in the continued growth of Bangkok Airways. It allows us to give passengers a convenient and seamless access to and from Samui, either on our non-stop twice daily service from Hong Kong to Koh Samui or on multiple daily domestic flights between Bangkok and Koh Samui. Moreover, Hong Kong Airlines’ passengers traveling on Bangkok Airways will enjoy the boutique airline’s unparalleled services such as lounge access and in-flight meal.”

Mr Li Dianchun, Chief Commercial Officer, Hong Kong Airlines said, “We are very glad to welcome Bangkok Airways as our latest codeshare partner. Hong Kong Airlines launched the route to Bangkok since 2010 and now the city has become one of our best connected destinations with 37 weekly flights currently. The codeshare provides more flexible travel options by enabling our passengers to travel to Koh Samui, another hot destination in Thailand, directly from Hong Kong or through our flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok and connect their journeys to and from Samui.”

The codeshare flights has opened for sale on 1st June 2017 and for travel effective from the same day. Flight tickets under the codeshare agreement can be purchased via your preferred travel agents.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Holi Festival: Spring, Love and Forgiveness

I went to India for the first time in 2014, so I already had backpacking experience in the most populous and chaotic country in the world. With curiosity, my friends and I planned to return to New Delhi on the occasion of Holi this year, to witness this famous festival – a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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The Holi legend

There is a symbolic legend to explain the origins of Holi as a “colour festival.” The word “Holi” comes from “Holika,” the name of an evil sister of the Demon-King, Hiranyakashipu.

Hiranyakashipu, according to legend, was the king of the Multan and had earned a boon from Brahma that made him virtually indestructible. He grew arrogant and thought he was God, and demanded that everyone worship only him.

However, his own son Prahlada, was always loyal to Vishnu. This made Hiranyakashipu very angry, and he thought of a cruel punishment for the child. Finally, Holika, Prahlada’s aunt, tricked him to sit on a pyre with her while she wore a robe to avoid being injured by fire. As the fire flared up, miraculously, the robe flew away from Holika and wrapped around Prahlada to help him survive, while Holika was burned alive. Upon seeing this, Hiranyakashipu could not control his anger, and smashed a pillar with his own stick. At that moment, Vishnu appeared and killed Hiraynakashipu. As such, fire is a symbol to remind us of the triumph of good over evil, of the righteous over the wicked, of faith over the betrayer. The next day, when the fire died out, people put ashes on their foreheads, as a reminder of good direction. And today, the ashes of the pyre have been released by brightly coloured powders.

Holi Festival is held to signify the arrival of spring (same as the traditional Tet holiday of Vietnam). It is an occasion for people to play and laugh together, smear each other with colours, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships.

Rituals of Holi

Arriving in New Delhi two days before the Festival, we visited the city, enjoyed cuisine, and shopped at New Delhi’s central markets. During this time, people began selling coloured powders everywhere. Traditionally, these colours are blended from natural plants, such as saffron, sandalwood, and rose, which can easily be removed. But for about 10 rupees (3,500VND) a bag, I was a bit sceptical about their origin. However, I decided to put aside my suspicions to enjoy India’s most glorious festival.

One day before the Festival, in the afternoon, as I strolled around the small streets near New Delhi Railway Station, I heard the rhythm of music on the street. People opened the Festival with a small parade around the market. In this parade, beside the statue of the gods in a carriage, there are many people dressed beautifully in colourful costumes. We followed the procession, seeing people around us fighting for fortunes from a noble sitting in a carriage. The rhythms from trumpets and drums are so vibrant, and the massive influx of visitors made the streets very crowded. That night, everywhere from small alleys to major roads, people painted a circle using coloured powder, and firewood was piled in heaps with flowers to burn as the singing and dancing begin.

Brilliant festival days

If anyone expects a chaotic and vibrant setting in New Delhi during the main festival days, they will be disappointed. The next morning, when our group eagerly went out the street was empty and all of the shops and restaurants were closed. It’s because it’s festival time – nobody works, every store is closed, and people are at home to enjoy meals and fun, or they go on trips with their families. It is unlikely that people would rush into the streets, throw colour powder and give each other hugs. I have never seen this kind of calm in the streets of New Delhi. This is actually a pleasant surprise for me, because New Delhi always bothered me with hurrying, hurrying, and jostling.

However, after enjoying the rare tranquillity of the city, we tried to find a place with to experience the excitement of the colourful festival. We headed back to Main Bazar Road, new the New Delhi Railway Station, and saw many locals and tourists gathering. People gathered in a few other places, especially markets or crowded tourist areas. Without hesitation, our group began to join in the flow of people with ready-to-use powder. My friends had fun, while I took pictures and tried to avoid the powder sticking to the camera (even though I had a layer of nylon to protect it – better safe than sorry!).

People played from dawn until 12 noon, when the police began to disperse the crowd. About two hours later, all the shops, streets, and markets began to operate as usual.

A few tips if you plan to participate in the festival

Avoid coloured powders flying into your eyes, nose, and mouth. It is recommended to put oil on your body and face so that it does it attach to your skin.
Wear a lightweight outfit and sports shoes to facilitate easy movement.
With electronic devices, such as phones and cameras, use nylon bags or protective bags to avoid damage by powder and water (some local people love to splash water on their friends).
Holi takes place in New Delhi, and other regions of India, such as West Bengal, Mathura, or Vrindavan, however the festival in New Delhi is the most special.
Holi is not a festival where thousands of people gatherat one single place. People usually scatter all over the streets. You’ll have to try to find the right location for yourself.

Tam Bui | Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Green tour: collecting trash while kayaking on Hoai River

Green and responsible tourism has become the focus of many discussions. However, there is not enough action being taken to protect the environment. Wanderlust Tips in April had a conversation with Mr. Nguyen Long, who has had the well received idea of using kayaks to collect trash on the Hoai River in Hoi An.

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Hello Mr. Long. Recently, the community has heard a lot of stories about Kayak tours to clean up Hoai River. Could you introduce this tour to Wanderlust Tips’ readers?
Our clean-up tour is implemented along the route from Cam Thanh Coconut Forest to Hoi An Ancient Town;starting at 8.30am at the kayak tour office. After being instructed how to kayak for about 10 minutes, visitors know how control the kayak very well. On the waterway, similar to other boat tours on the river, visitors have the chance to see
the green coconut trees and admire the daily life of the local fishermen. Seeing the ancient town of Hoi An from kayaks is a really wonderful experience.

Moreover, kayaking to clean up the waterway is an extremely thought-provoking activity, it makes the river become greener, protects its aquatic species, and raises awareness among local people and tourists about the responsibility
they have for the surrounding environment. Each boat is equipped with bags and prongs, so that visitors can pick up bottles, plastic bags or indigestible garbage whenever they spot any and when the racket is full of trash it is transferred to other boats. Tours end at the Ancient Town at 12 noon and everyone is happy because the tour has contributed to the community. The experience is so much more special.

What made you come up with the idea for clean-up tours on the river?
Previously, I worked as a tour guide in Hoi An for a short time. When sailing along with visitors on the river, I often heard themcomplain when they saw lots of trash floating on the river. I felt really ashamed and did not know how to explain this to them.

Working in the tourism industry, I always think that Hoi An’s picturesque beauty is what keeps visitors coming and my career stable. So I came up with the idea of protecting Hoi An from pollution, while raising awareness among people about environmental protection.

Between the time when the idea arose in my mind and mid February this year, I was able to make it come true. I hope Vietnamese as well as international visitors will enjoy this activity so that people will be aware of rubbish more properly and that the project will spread sustainable and practical values for the whole community.

What are the difficulties when implementing clean-up tours on Hoai River?

Our most challenging is how to get travellers to spend money on a clean-up tour. Someone even asked: “Why must I pay money for cleaning up the river?” Changing this perception may take a long time.

In my opinion, if you pay for a normal rowboat tour with the price of 600,000 VND/person, why not buy one for only 220,000VND/person. You can still enjoy the beautiful scenery of Hoi An and contribute to the environment at the same time. That is sustainable tourism.

We are currently free of charge for all children or Vietnamese students who wish to participate.

How do visitors respond to the clean-up tour?
Regarding foreign tourists travelling with their kids or foreign students, they enjoy the tour because they can enjoy
sightseeing, while watching the daily life of local fishermen as well as participate in a significant activity. Foreign parents are fond of such educational activities because it is a very good way for them to communicate a message and set an example for their children. It’s a practical education activity, which creates a civilized way of living environmentally friendly in their community.

Although this is not their home, many visitors are really concerned when local people throw garbage into the river. Someone even asked me why people ruin their environment.
Do you plan to launch similar environmental protection tours to spread the message of sustainable tourism? What exactly will they entail?

Up to this point we have just been conducting sustainable tourism activities in Quang Nam and I hope to launch this project in many other provinces. Kayaking is a sustainable tourism model, as the kayak is run by manpower so it has no waste like emissions, and does not endanger marine species.

Another tourist model named Sleeping Camping is also under consideration. This is a model of nature-friendly tourism, without the need for permanent infrastructure that destroys the ecosystem as well as the beautiful nature of Hoi An.

How do you assess the impact of tourism on the environment today? How do you take concrete actions?

Tourism is called the green industry, the smoke-free industry, so many people mistakenly assume: “It does not affect the environment.” Yet it has direct impacts on our environment in many ways, in many ways such as garbage and emissions from traffic.

To improve this issue, I think the government should have modern machinery to handle the waste in a scientific way and nurture the sense and lifestyle of environmental protection of the younger generation.

Thank you and we hope you come up with even more great ideas for the community!

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet