The Bach Ma (White Horse) resort in Hue will welcome guests in April, 2013

After more than three years of expansion and upgrade the road to the top of White Horse, it is expected in April this year, the White Horse resort will reopen to tourists.

Mangers of Bach Ma National Park are working with authorities of the tourism industry of the Thua Thien - Hue province to agree on a plan for recovery of the tourism service here. The unit continues to re-invest and put the items into operation consists of 10 villas with 60 rooms, and one or two restaurants.

This resort was started in September 2009, the works for upgrading the road from the Phu Loc town (Phu Loc district) up to the top of White Horse with a length of 20km; the road surface is 6m wide by concrete; the work with total investment is 193 billions VND. After completion, the road may allow two biggest buses with 30 seats in the opposite directions to take over. It facilitates smoothly for the tourists and local people.

Top of Bach Ma Mountain

According to previous information, in December 2012, the process of upgrading and expanding the road to go up to be done by 70%; and Bach Ma National Park will be able to welcome visitors in the summer in 2013. And if it is in this April, the work is done based on schedule and announcements, it would be great news for everyone. My hope is also almost come true.

A sight in Bach Ma National Park

Bach Ma National Park is far from Hue approximately 50km to the south way with an elevation of 1450m above the sea-level. The White Horse resort is discovered in 1932 by a French engineer - Mr. M. Girard. And French people have turned the place into a resort area with a massive system of 139 villas, hotels, swimming pools, roads... However, its bulk has deteriorated.

Therefore, in addition to exploiting the existing infrastructure, Bach Ma National Park is called the organization or the domestic and foreign companies to invest in eco-tourism activities. Orientation is based upon the association or lease based on the way of the active state for tourism and national parks.

Moc Chau in Son La province

Moc Chau Plateau in Son La province is the most beautiful in the spring with a variety of flowers such as cherry, plum, floral wealth. They seem to bloom with white to cover the mountains... And in the highlands, there is a form based on the travel services to meet the needs of the tourists.

Go to Moc Chau to hear the romance of the hills and tea

I remember the beautiful memories with pictures of the tea hills that are green as the straight furrows in the delta. Hearing by many people say, when they came to North-West lands to hear about the love story related to the tea hills in Tan Lap (Son La). And there are more stories that, it was on the occasion of the season of cherry and plum; I'm more motivated to go to that place.

The heart-shape of the tea hill

The tea hills are planted with the heart shape. It is the tea hills of a boss, named Nguyen Phuc Hau. It is 30 hectares with called Moc Suong, which located in No. 3 sub-area, in the Tan Lap commune. The hill tea was grown from 1999 by Mr. Hau. He recalls the initial excitement of the days when he met his wife with a name is Nguyen Thi Luong. He immediately asked her: Do you marry me when gifts are just hills and tea with heart-shaped and green? She was touched by his sincerity and his heart. And she agreed to marry him. Therefore, the love story of the legendary hills of tea with shape like heart was born. After that, many young people in the area have known; and this place is now becoming a very attractive tourist destination.

The love story on the tea hill

Almost 14 years have passed, in the middle of the green hills – The Moc Suong hill tea in Tan Lap becomes a presence in a love story, which brings full high romance of the North-West. Mr. Hau encouraged everyone: Please come here with the cherry season is out of buds; although, it blooms late because of the cold weather, but of course, it will be beautiful. The cherries in the Northwest are always strong in color and flavor in fragrance. If you have the opportunity, you may enjoy a cup of hot tea in Moc Suong area. You will feel the taste of sky and earth in this place.


Spring – a new life

If the people arrive at Moc Chau on this season, they will feel the vitality of spring. At the time that the sun started warming up on the green prairie, the landscape like branches of plums, apricots and field of plants, which are racing to explode with great white flowers. Plums scattered throughout the highlands; and most of them stay on a path from the town gate leading to Long Sap (bordering Laos). The plum flowers are not only beautiful by a delicate and pure style, but they are great because when it was blooming, the flowers will expand to both sky and land in the highlands is "dyed" by a white, which is extremely pure.

The dairies

In these days of spring, the green prairies in Moc Chau are the busy life with the sound of musical instruments such as flutes and trumpets. They represent the voice of the couple of lovers and laughter. The boys and girls from the Hmong ethnic minority are together going on recreation in the village.

The Dai Yem waterfall

In Moc Chau, there are dairy farms, so visitors will enjoy milk, which is very fresh and deli
cious. The dishes are also delicious as the breast beef is crispy, but its inside is tender; and there are many other dishes from special beef at this place... Besides, visitors can come to the Bat cave, which there are many sparkling stalactites. Other sites such as the Dai Yem waterfall, the Ban Ang pine-forest... The locations surely create the charm for the visitors.

The Long Tong Festival (in Tuyen Quang Province) is the intangible cultural heritage of the nation

On February 21, 2013 (meaning on the 12th in January based on the lunar calendar), Tuyen Quang Provincial People's Committee and Lam Binh District held the Long Tong festival and received a National Intangible Cultural Heritage for "Long Tong Festival of the Tay ethnic people" in Tuyen Quang Province.

The fork dancing around the Con tree

There are many important people attended into the festival. They include of Secretary of Tuyen Quang Province – Mr. Nguyen Sang Vang, Ms. Dang Thi Bich Lien, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Leaders of the departments of the Tuyen Quang province, other visitors and the people of all nationalities in Lam Binh district.

There is the temple named Pu Bao, which is considered to be very sacred to the Tay ethnic people in Lam Binh district. Here, the main ceremony of the Long Tong festival is held. The worship products are offered, including 9 trays of Tong, which are the agricultural products and made by the indigenous people. The worship products are offered to the gods by nine girls in traditional costume. Then, the trays are brought to the Tong shelf in the middle of the stadium (at the mast foot of the Còn tree.

The ritual sacrifice to heaven-land and the divines is in order to give to the good things and be done by the priests. These people read the vows and begin the ritual to sacrifice the gods as the agricultural deity, the river’s deity, the mountain’s deity, the village's tutelary... These characters are considered to be the impact on production’s activities about agriculture and the life of the Tay ethnic people. Then, a special dance was performed with a means to dispel the dirty stuff to make the festival becomes clean.

At the festival, Ms. Dang Thi Bich Lien, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism has awarded the Certificate of the intangible cultural heritage of the nation for "the Long Tong festival of the Tay ethnic people" in Tuyen Quang Province.

A part festival began with going down field to plow; then, a dance named "Lam Binh’s color-fragrance" is represented by 400 pupils of the Thuong Lam secondary school in the Lam Binh district. Besides, there are the “Then” song and folk games were taken place exciting. They attracted tourists and people to get involved.

Long Tong in the Tay’s language means "going down the field". This is a festival of many factors on spiritual beliefs. This festival also happened a long time ago; and it is an opportunity for farmers to express our gratitude to the gods, ancestors and other people, who have reclaimed land to establish and grow rice and vegetables. The ritual is implemented to pray for better weather, happiness, doing well. The festival has become a beauty in the life of the community. It is a unique culture of the Tay ethnic people. It also contributes to enrich the national cultural treasure in Vietnam.

Plowing at the festival

Because the festival is recognized as the intangible cultural heritage of the nation, so it is an honor and pride, but it also poses challenges in the preservation and promotion of the traditional cultural values, which is popular in Vietnam and also widely promoted overseas.

Dancing

the tug game

Walking on stilts

Currently, the authorities in Tuyen Quang province are very interested in the preservation and promotion of the value of the Long Tong festival. It is contributing to the development of tourism and enhances the spiritual life of the people in this province.

Opening officially the Yen Tu Spring festival 2013 in Quang Ninh

In the evening February 18, 2013 (meaning on the 9th of January 2013 based on the lunar calendar), the Yen Tu festival, one of the biggest festivals in the Northern Vietnam was officially opened at the Trinh pagoda - Uong Bi City - Quang Ninh Province. It is a day earlier than the previous year.

The top of Yen Tu Mountain is over 1000m in height

On this occasion, the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province held a ceremony to receive special National Monument Certificate for Yen Tu History and Attractions. It increased the total number of special national relics in Quang Ninh is three relics. Participants also include many people who have the role of the State and government as Vice President – Ms. Nguyen Thi Doan, Deputy Prime Minister – Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, representatives of the Buddhist Church of Vietnam, the leading director of Quang Ninh province, numerous Buddhists and tourists to attend. On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister has given "the special National Monument Certificate" for Yen Tu land in Quang Ninh province. Vice President – Ms. Nguyen Thi Doan and representatives of the Buddhist Church of Vietnam in Quang Ninh province incense offering and open press for the Yen Tu spring festival 2013.

Vice President - Ms. Nguyen Thi Doan incense offering and open press

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister – Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan emphasized the virtues of the Buddha Emperor - Tran Nhan Tong King, who gave up the throne and power to go to Buddhism. He invented Yen Tu Truc Lam Buddhist in Vietnam.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister – Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan also suggested for Quang Ninh Province and the relative authorities, who do not only continue to restore and preserve the heritage, but people also learn based on spirit of Tran Nhan Tong King - Buddhist.

A worship ritual at Yen Tu Festival

Opening the Yen Tu had many rituals such as wishing for the peace nation and happy population, the procession ceremony, performing arts, dragon dance, unicorn vibrant, drama dance-singing, recreating the historical stories about Yen Tu Truc Lam Buddhism more than 700 years ago. Currently, it is being inherited and spread.

The Yen Tu festival will spend three months of spring, so the organization is expected to welcome more than 3 million visitors to this Buddha land.

Many ancient definitions in Phat Tich and Lim pagoda festival

In response to tourism in the Red River Delta, People's Committee of Tien Du district (Bac Ninh province) and the Board of the Buddhist Church of Bac Ninh province will host the traditional festival in the Spring of Traditional Snake Year with many innovative features. This information is organized Steering Tien Du district festivals announced at a press conference in the afternoon on February 5th, 2013.
According to Venerable Dr. Thich Duc Thien, Deputy General Secretary of the Council of Leaders of the Buddhist Church of Vietnam, Chair at Phat Tich Pagoda and Lim Pagoda, Phat Tich and Lim Pagoda festival this year will be highlighted with the traditional elite of the nation. Therefore, the festivals will bring the preservation and promotion of traditional values, but it is not the subject to influence or distort the core identity from the integration of modern times.

Venerable Dr. Thich Duc Thien

Going to the Phat Tich pagoda festival on the morning of Jan 5th, 2013 based on the lunar calendar, visitors were immersed in the music space crystallization and enjoyed a cultural exchange program of traditional arts. This is a place for visitors to learn about the intangible heritage of Humanity (recognized by UNESCO) like: Quan Ho folk singing, Ca Tru, Chau Van, Cheo singing, Xam singging...

Buddism statue has ever exhibited in Phat Tich Pagoda.

In the evening, at the Buddha statue square on the Phat Tich Mountain (in Tien Du district), there was a Buddhist event to pray for the people got rich and country got strong with the art display with the light to give out good luck to a whole of a year.

At 8:00 AM on January 13th, 2013 based on the lunar calendar, the Lim festival is on the main day for the most important events, but it is started before and ended after one day (from January 12th to 14th, according to the lunar calendar). On the main day of ritual, ceremony will begin by carrying some objects to worship the famous character of the village, who relate to many legends and history as a village’s god, the gods in temples and shrines... At the same time with these rituals, there are many rituals and customs of other famous folk games.

A worship anniversary in the Lim festival

According to the Vice Chairman of People's Committee of Tien Du district, Mr. Tran Quang Ung, Head of the organizing Committee for the festival in Tien Du District said: The Lim festival this year will not be singers give a hat out to receive money. Implementation of the direction of the Bac Ninh Province People's Committee, the organizing Committee for festivals in the Tien Du district have met to invite clubs, which operate the Quan Ho fork singing at the Lim festival’s space to sign about commitments not to receive money; This will be monitored by the district's Department of Culture and the Culture Boad of town.

A Quan Ho singer gave a hat out to receive money at the Lim festival last year.

In addition, to preserve the traditional culture of the festival and ensure aesthetics, this year’s festival will be only arranged four tents to sing. It replaces for six ones in the previous year. At the same time, the restaurant and entertainment points will be put away from the central area of the festival.

People's Committee of Bac Ninh Province has also direct the speaker to prevent the use of radio in the tent to sing (it will lose the traditional values). The singers just sing directly based on the method of the Quan Ho traditional fork.

Celebrating for a raise about the Hung Kings worship at the occasion of a festival

As expected of the Organizing Committee, on April 13, 2013 (meaning on March 4, 2013  based on the lunar calendar), Ceremony in recognition of "Religious Hung Vuong Worship" is a UNESCO World Heritage will take place on the occasion of the organization for Hung Temple Festival 2013.

Hung King and Festival

In preparation for the ceremony by the World Heritage and organization for the Hung Temple Festival 2013, many items in the historic zone of Hung Temple were completed as: Parking P2, the working house, the living house, the Lac Long Quan Temple area, campus, sidewalk’s port to the 5-cutting roads’ point to the Well temple...
Besides, many other items also are being finalized such as the way the ceremony, the Hung Vuong square... The administrations of the Hy Cuong and Chu Hoa communes are pushing strong about sense of community throughout the festival.
Managements of Phu Tho Province also ordered for the relative departments to concern and complete the space of the Hung Vuong square and the electrical system in the area to ensure that the organization of the important activities at the festival.
The province will strengthen the management to the Hung Temple Festival 2013 to get a benchmark in the organization and the consensus of the majority of people.
With only on the ceremony road project, Management Board is also rushing to complete to support for this year's festival.

A program in Hung King Festival

According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cac, Director of Regional Hung Temple historic said: The completion of these works plays an important role in the preservation and promotion of "the Hung Vuong worship religion of Vietnamese in the Phu Tho province".
“Hung Temple Festival 2013” is promised to be a festive pattern in the organization with a community.
On December 6, 2012, at the 7th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the 2003 Convention on the conservation for the intangible cultural heritage was officially recognized on "Hung Vuong Worship Religion" in the Phu Tho province in Vietnam is one of the intangible cultural heritages, which is representative of humanity.
The UNESCO’s decision recognized clearly that the dossier meets the criteria to be enrolled in the list of intangible cultural heritages, which is representative of humanity. The decision also specified: "Hung Vuong Worship Religion" expresses a reverence for ancestral rank; and since then, it raised the national pride and community cohesion.
This approve will contribute to the recognition of the importance of ancestor worship in many other countries. By doing so, it not only encourages the community, but it also acknowledges the similarities, and creates a condition for the promotion of respect for the diversity of cultures.
On the schedule, at the festival, there are always many great worship programs, especially,  UNESCO approved Hung Vuong Worship Religion to become the heritage of humanity on Dec 6th, 2012. It proves that. Do you know?

Dong Nai organizes the first festival for Ong Pagoda

According to information from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Dong Nai province, in the first month of the traditional Snake Year 2013, Dong Nai organizes Ong Pagoda festival is the first time from February 19 to Jan 22nd, 2013 (meaning from 11th to 13th / January in Snake Year).
Ong Pagoda (also known as seven-government ancient-temple) located at Nhi Hoa Hamlet, Hiep Hoa Village, Bien Hoa City, was built in 1684. This is the basis of the first culture of the Chinese community in Southern Vietnam. It marks a historical landmark for the coexistence of the Vietnamese and Chinese community in things like mining wasteland, established careers and protected the land called Bien Hoa - Dong Nai. It is also a cultural exchange for over 300 years. Located in the middle of the island city, the Ong temple has the historical value and unique architecture with its beautiful space (towards the Dong Nai River). In recent years, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, it has attracted thousands of tourists to visit.

Ong Pagoda in Dong Nai Province

According to information of Monument Management Board and Landscapes of Dong Nai, the Ong Pagoda festival is in the folk beliefs, so it also be organized based on the folk style. Activities of the festival will be in Dong Nai province handed to the Board of the pagoda to lead. The entire funds for the festival are expected to more than 2 billion VND, and it will be created based on a form of socialization.

A section in Ong Pagoda

Mr. Le Tri Dung, Director of Management Board, said: We expect during the three-day festival, there would be more than 100000 visitors attended. To ensure safe for the festival and save, the organizers have worked with authority branch to function well in terms of traffic management. The organizers will also give a public way on the price of some commodities.