Vietnam's unique horse races

Following an annual tradition, a horse racing festival will take place this summer on June 19 in Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province. Perhaps, nowhere in the world such a unique, pristine and genuine event such as this is held. An image of last year's horse race. The jockeys are of Dao, Mong and Tay ethnic descents and race without any kind of protection. The only things they are equipped with are a plastic hat in replacement for a helmet and a pair of plastic slippers, not even a saddle is used. The man and his horse will use all their skills and determination to win the race and bring pride to their village. The winner of the 2009 race, jockey Vang Van Thuc (30 years old, of Tay ethnic descent, from Na Hoi Tay Hamlet, Na Hoi Commune) shares, "We don't use a saddle on our horse. We use a rectangular piece of linen that we bind across their back and a rope that we use for their rein. It's impossible for us to whip the horse since we have to use both of our hands to control the horse and keep our balance. As easy as this may sound, it's not easy to do. There is only one spot on the back of the horse that allows us to keep our balance. Our two legs would have to grip tight to the sides of the horse and we have to adjust our body up and down according to the horse's running rhythm. If we accidentally fall, we have to know how to fall to avoid serious injuries." Since the beginning of May, Bac Ha District has been busy preparing for the 2010 Horse Race and it was reported that organisers for this year's event have been selected. The race this year is going to be held on a larger scale. It is estimated that over 150 horses will participate in the march before the race and about 100 will compete in a 1,500 metre race. The horse race is an annual event of Bac Ha District in response to the tourism program of 3 provinces: Lao Cai - Yen Bai - Phu Tho. It has been considered a highlight tourist attraction. According to the district's statistics, the 2009 horse race welcomed 15,000 visitors both domestic and international. Festival Hue | Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Free Properties Management System introduced in Vietnam

Thien Minh Travel JS Company has set up a joint venture with Wotif Group, a leading provider of online accommodation bookings in Pacific Asia. The joint venture named ViVu LLC will first introduce free Properties Management System (PMS) in Vietnam. This is software used to automate the operations of small and medium sized hotels (under 25 rooms). Thien Minh – Wotif will provide support for this software free of charge. Facilities from guest houses to 3-star-hotels throughout Vietnam can benefit from the system. The PMS will be also convenient for tourists while, among other things, making room reservations or checking in or out. It also helps hotels with revenue management and keeping track of their room conditions. The free PMS will also be integrated with iVIVU.com, an online accommodation bookings website of VIVU LLC. "Considering the popularity of Internet in Vietnam, we see high potential for the online travel industry. In fact, there are only 500-700 hotels that can handle online accommodation services in the country," said Mr Tran Trong Kien, Chairman of Thien Minh Group Festival Hue | Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Festival honors war hero Nguyen Trung Truc

A Cultural Festival commemorating the 143rd death anniversary of national hero Nguyen Trung Truc opened in Rach Gia City in the Mekong Delta Province of Kien Giang on September 23. Festival commemorating the 143rd death anniversary of national hero Nguyen Trung Truc opened in the Mekong Delta Province of Kien Giang. (Photo: Sggp) An incense offering ceremony honoring the national hero for his great patriotism and glorious sacrifices during the first year of the anti-French Resistance War was held on September 24. The festival includes various cultural activities from September 23 to 25, such as a parade, kylin and dragon dances, exhibitions, food fairs, folk games and other ceremonial offerings that will take place throughout the city. An exceptional feature will be a display of a replica of the French warship 'Esperance' that was destroyed on the Nhat Tao River in 1861. The replica will be brought to life with an enactment by a film crew who will relive the glorious exploits of Nguyen Trung Truc as took place during the war. The event is expected to attract more than 800,000 visitors. Nguyen Trung Truc (1839-1868) was the leader of the anti-French colonial uprising in South Vietnam and is remembered for his famous quote, "Only when all the grass in Vietnam has been pulled out then only will there be no Vietnamese person to fight the aggressors." Festival Hue | Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Hanoi sets to expand tourist electric bus fleet

Hanoi's local government has approved a plan to expand the operation of electric powered tourist buses to the city's famous beauty spots. The buses will be allowed to operate in the entire Hoan Kiem District, instead of just the Old Quarter. The new routes will include stops at the Temple of Literature, the citadel, One-pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square. Other places include Quan Thanh Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, Turtoise Tower, Presidential Palace, West Lake, Truc Bach Lake, and Bach Ma Temple. The city earlier granted the Ho Tay One-liability Limited Company the right to import 30 buses for a pilot project around West Lake. In July 2010, Hanoi began operating tours of 40 streets in Hoan Kiem District to serve tourists who want to travel around the Old Quarter. The buses have capacity for eight to 10 people and charge of VND15,000 (USD0.7) a person. Festival Hue | Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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A beautiful painting of nature

Sa mu, known as Cunninghamia lanceolata trees, shrouded in a thick mist of the mountain and forest looks like a water-colour painting.

Local people in the pictureque Sapa resort district of northern Lao Cai Province have grown these trees called 'Samu' or 'Samoc ' to cover bare hills and decoarete tourist sites.

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Hanoi, Hoi An among Asian top ten best destinations

Hanoi and Hoi An's Old Town are rated among the top ten best destinations in Asia for 2011, according to an online poll conducted by Smart Travel Asia magazine. Hanoi is ranked sixth, while Hoi An in Quang Nam Province was jointly rated seventh, according to votes by millions of voters in the poll organised by the magazine which is regarded as a leading authority on the regional travel industry. The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and the Nam Hai in Hoi An shared top billing as Asia's best leisure properties for 2011. The destination shortlist was compiled by travel journalists. Hanoi Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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Co To offers pristine beach getaway for weary tourists

If you are tired of crowded beaches like Do Son in Hai Phong city or Sam Son in Thanh Hoa province, the beaches of Co To Island may offer you an ideal destination for your holidays. Co To Island Co To, one of the farthest inhabited islands from the mainland, is over 100km from Ha Long city in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Still far off the beaten tourist path, the island retains its natural beauty. A 1.5-hour journey on high-speed boat will bring you there. On the northeast of the island is Hong Van. It's hard to put into words. White sandbanks stretch away to the horizon. Coral reefs are easily to be seen in the limpid water. With an islet nearby blocking winds from the sea, the water is as calm as a clear pond. Tourists visit this expansive beach to swim as well as to see locals catching oysters. Van Chai Beach on the west of the island, appeals' to visitors with rocks of different shapes at either end of the beach. The middle of the beach is flat, the sand clean and smooth, and it offers the best place on the island to watch the sunset. To get another panorama of Co To Island, visitors should go to a lighthouse built in the 19th centur, from which one could see nearby Little Co To and Thanh Lan islands. At the centre of town, standsthe statue of President Ho Chi Minh built in 1968 to commemorate the day he visited the island. This is the only place the late president gave permission to erect a statue of himself while he was alive. A temple was built in 2005 on the occasion of his 115th birthday and to mark the 50th anniversary of his visit, and the site was recognised as a national historical and cultural vestige by the culture ministry. Some tourists visit the site and light incense to the late president when they first set foot on the island. Co To Island is one of the best choices for a getaway from noisy and crowded city life, suited to people looking to enjoy a holiday swimming, taking photographs, walking along the beach, cooking a beach BBQ and singing karaoke with friends. Spending three days on the island, Vu Thu Ha of Hanoi said it was a place worth visiting but the site could be promoted better. "It's a paradise for backpackers but tough for people who want to relax in comfort," she said. "They need to develop infrastructure here such as hotels and entertainment areas. I know that natural beauty is good, but most tourists want hotels with modern conveniences." Island resident Nguyen Khanh Linh said tourism on Co To has developed over the past two years. "Co To received hundreds of visitors over the summer, especially during the busiest times – national holidays and weekends," he said. "In 2010, there were only two guesthouses on the island and most of the tourists had to stay in local people's houses. This year, five new guesthouses have been opened to better meet the demands of tourists." Hue Da Nang | Da Nang Hoi An | Hoi An Hue | Du Lich Hue | Du Lich Hoi An | Du Lich Da Nang | Du Lich Sapa | Du Lich Da Lat | Du Lich Phu Quoc | Du Lich Lao | Du Lich Cambodia | Du Lich Thai Lan |Du Lich Singapore | Du Lich Malaysia | Du Lich Trung Quoc
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