Lam Dong was the most popular destination for tourists in the region, attracting 78.34% of total visitors to the whole region, according to the Steering Committee for Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) Region. Lam Dong has designed diverse tourism products such as mountain and lake exploration, adventurous tourism, and agricultural tourism. Dak Lak province came second in the number of tourists, thanks to unique attractions such as elephant riding, rowing a dugout canoe in Lak River, Don Village, and gong performance by ethnic minority artists. Along with promoting its strength in diverse terrain and rich culture heritage of ethnic minority groups, the Central Highlands region is also investing in building tourist sites and expanding transportation system serving tourism. Currently, the Lien Khuong international airport in Lam Dong has been operational … [Read more...]

A corner of Golden Valley in Da Lat city (Photo: VNA)    Dak Lak (VNA) – Central Highlands localities have welcomed nearly 1.9 million visitors since early this year, a rise of 9 percent year on year, with tourism revenue of over 2.9 trillion VND (127.57 million USD), up 14 percent. Lam Dong was the most popular destination for tourists in the region, attracting 78.34 percent of total visitors to the whole region, according to the Steering Committee for Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) Region. Lam Dong has designed diverse tourism products such as mountain and lake exploration, adventurous tourism, and agricultural tourism. Dak Lak province came second in the number of tourists, thanks to unique attractions such as elephant riding, rowing a dugout canoe in Lak River, Don Village, and gong performance by ethnic minority artists. Along … [Read more...]

A herd of seven elephants have re-appeared in a commune in the central province of Quang Nam after they were first spotted in February this year. The elephants re-appeared in Quang Nam Province  According to Nguyen Ngoc Nguyen, head of Nong Son District’s forest management board, some days ago, people of Que Lam Commune saw seven elephants at the area bordering Phuoc Ninh Commune. The area where the elephants were seen belongs to an 18,977-hectare forest where an VND128 billion (USD5.8 million) elephant conservation site is planned to be built. Besides elephants, the forest is home to many other rare wild animals such as langurs, gibbons and chamois. This elephant herd was spotted at Que Lam Commune’s Cam La Village in February this year. Earlier, in June last year, locals in Que Lam Commune also found six elephants wading through a stream in Cam La Village. Authorities of Nong Son District have … [Read more...]

The People’s Court of the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh on July 20 sentenced a man to death and gave two others a life sentence on charges of trafficking and transporting 30 bricks of heroin.  The People’s Court of  Hoa Binh province on July 20 sentenced a man to death and gave two others a life sentence on charges of trafficking and transporting 30 bricks of heroin Ngo Huu Tinh, from Cu Ni commune, Ea Kar district, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, was given the death sentence for drug trafficking. His accomplice, Pham Xuan Nang, 38, from Minh Dinh commune, Tu Ky district, northern Hai Duong province, received a life sentence for the same charge.  Both 22-year-old Pham Van Phuc, from Cu Ni commune, Ea Kar district, Dak Lak province, and 41-year-old Vu Van Nam, also residing in Cu Ni commune, Ea Kar district, Dak Lak province, got life sentences for drug transporting.  Vu … [Read more...]

At a VBSP transaction office in Ea Na commune, Krong Ana district, Central Highlands Dak Lak province (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - More than 1,473,000 ethnic minority households across the country have been benefiting from preferential credit programmes with total loans worth up to 40 trillion VND (over 1.76 billion USD), reported the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP). The VBSP said it has been providing loans totalling 166 trillion VND (7.31 billion USD) under 18 preferential credit programmes and other projects decided by the Government. Preferential credits have benefited all ethnic minority households in extremely disadvantaged, remote and isolate communes, hamlets and villages. Some households have borrowed capital from several programmes. The loans have brought in practical results, contributing remarkably to economic development and improving living conditions of … [Read more...]

The Rock Church of Sa Pa The Rock Church is one of the few colonial heritage sites in Sa Pa, and was built by the French in 1895. The building has been well preserved and stands out as an icon in the foggy mountain resort town. No cement was used in its construction, and it is held together by a mixture of sand, lime and molasses. The Big Church St. Joseph’s Cathedral, built in 1886, serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi for the nearly four million Catholics in the country, and thus is commonly known as Hanoi’s Big Church. The building is a popular spot for photography and can be seen in many locals’ wedding collections. The area is now surrounded by cafés. The Eclectic Church Phat Diem Cathedral in Ninh Binh Province, around 100 kilometers (62 miles) to the south of Hanoi, was built in 1892. It carries an eclectic … [Read more...]

VietNamNet Bridge – A two-hectare wild-orchid reserve in the Troh Bu Botanic Garden in Dak Lak Province has been recognised as the largest of its kinds in the country by the Viet Nam Record Organisation (ViệtKings). Currently the reserve has around 10,000 orchid plants, including many rare and valuable varieties. — VNS File Photo Situated around 12 kilometres from Buon Ma Thuot City, the reserve has around 200 species of orchids. The garden used to be a natural forest before being destroyed by local residents to grow crops. Nguyen Tuan Hung, now 45, decided to grow coffee and fruits to serve tourists as a homestay model. But after seeing trees thrive, he decided to develop it into a small forest with wild orchids. This was in 1995. Currently the reserve has around 10,000 orchid plants, including many rare … [Read more...]

Campaign activities aim to promote the pioneering role of youths in socio-economic development and ensuring social security and defense in remote, border, and island areas. The 2017 summer volunteer campaign focuses on activities like building or upgrading 550 bridges in rural areas; building or repairing 600km of rural roads; teaching science and technology to 60,000 rural youths; constructing 300 houses for social beneficiaries; providing free medical examinations, treatment, and medicine for 50,000 people; and upgrading 1,000 recreation areas for children. Le Quoc Phong, the first Secretary of the Vietnam Youth Union, says the vanguard spirit and working style of each volunteer are important factors. “Devotion is the key to volunteer youth movements. The spirit of the volunteers can help youth programs meet society’s expectations and young people’s … [Read more...]

NDO – Nam Dinh has officially been promoted to the V-League next season after beating Viettel with the close score of 1-0 in the second last round of the 2017 National First Division Tournament on July 15. Nam Dinh fans had been waiting for seven years to see their favourite football team return to the national top-tier league for Vietnam’s strongest clubs; and now their long-awaited dreams have come true. A solitary goal scored by Viet Tu in the 24th minute was enough to gift Nam Dinh the win needed to secure them a direct place in the 2018 V-League despite there being one round left to play. After 13 rounds, Nam Dinh won a total of 23 points, three points ahead of second-place team Hue FC, who still have one game in hand. Nam Dinh’s direct promotion will not be affected regardless of the result of the 14th clash between Hue and Dak Lak, as the northern team overwhelmed Hue in head-to-head meetings so far in the … [Read more...]

A customer receives a high-grade crystal gift set for free at Co.opmart Buon Ma Thuot in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak . — VNS Photo Saigon Co.op’s “Accumulating Stamps to Exchange for High-class Gift for Free” programme at all its Co.opmart, Co.opXtra and Co.op Food stores around the country has attracted a lot of customers. But to be able to own these premium crystal products, customers have only two weeks left (until July 30) to accumulate enough stamps and one month to exchange for free gifts (until August 13). Many domestic and foreign partners had wanted to co-operate with Saigon Co.op for exclusive promotion programmes, but to ensure it is a unique promotion with gifts of the highest quality and value, Saigon Co .op decided to co-operate with Brand Loyalty, the world’s leading company in developing loyalty programmes, to organise the programme. There are two weeks … [Read more...]

Vietnam's coffee exports fell last month by more than a fifth from the same period last year, extending a downward trend that started in March following a smaller harvest this season and a higher ratio of low-quality beans, government data showed. June shipments fell 22.7 percent from a year ago to 122,200 tons, or 2.04 million 60-kg bags, based on Vietnam Customs data released on Tuesday. Lower outflow from the Southeast Asian nation, coupled with falling exports from top producer Brazil, could reduce the downward pressure on prices created by ample stocks in importing nations, according to the International Coffee Organization (ICO). Vietnam's coffee export volume in May fell to its lowest in six months after growers finished harvesting 26.7 million bags from the 2016/2017 season in January, down 7.7 percent from the previous crop, based on a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report published in June. The exportable volume of coffee left in Vietnam at the start … [Read more...]

Police in the north-central Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa on Saturday detected more than 2.7 metric tons of contraband elephant tusks in a truck bound for Hanoi, which is the locality’s biggest interception so far. The truck with a Hanoi license plate was traveling on a section of National Highway 1A in Quang Phong Commune, Quang Xuong District on early Saturday when it was pulled over by traffic police officers for showing suspicious signs. According to Nguyen Van Sang, from the provincial Market Management Department, the inspection, made by his team in coordination with local economic and traffic police officers, exposed 2,748kg of alleged elephant tusks. Nguyen Truong Son, 36, the truck driver, who hails from the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, failed to present official papers to prove the legitimate origin of the items. Samples of these items were sent to the Tropical Biological Institute under the … [Read more...]

Artisan Ama H’Loan of Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province, can make and play the E De people’s musical instruments. When H’Loan realized that gongs, trumpets, and flutes had disappeared from local festivals, he began to recreate them, which he learned to do when he was young.  H’Loan said “I had been to many places but didn’t see flutes or the percussion instruments anywhere. In 1999, when I retired, I thought of reviving those instruments because I love them. My neighbors, especially those in their 80s and 90s, were delighted when I played these instruments, which, they said, reminded them of their youth”. Sharing the same passion for ethnic musical instruments, artisan Luong Xuan Nghiep of Con Cuong district, Nghe An province, has set up a Thai minority folk singing club, which now has 40 members. Nghiep spends a great deal of … [Read more...]

Police in Hanoi are set to investigate high-rise developer Muong Thanh Corporation, infamous for a series of law violations in localities across Vietnam. During a meeting with the Hanoi People’s Council on Wednesday, Major General Doan Duy Khuong, director of the municipal Department of Police, asserted that the agency will probe Muong Thanh Corporation, run by Le Thanh Than. Muong Thanh’s two subsidiaries, So 1 Dien Bien Construction Company and BEMES Production and Import Export JSC, are the two primary targets of the investigation. According to Maj. Gen. Khuong, Muong Thanh has carried out 12 construction projects across the Vietnamese capital, all of which show signs of tax evasion and housing law violations. “We received an order from the People’s Committee to review findings from the city’s inspectorate,” the police official said, adding that local officers will be in close … [Read more...]

Some Vietnamese officials are countering suspicions of their over-the-top personal fortunes with nostalgic evocations of the ‘good ole’ days’ when hard labor for a few extra pennies was the key to wealth. In 2014, Tran Van Truyen, former head of the state inspectorate, came under scrutiny for owning a luxury villa in the southern province of Ben Tre. Addressing the media, Truyen said at that time that he had “worked so hard that my thumbs were rotting” to save up enough money for the villa. In April this year, Nguyen Sy Ky, an anti-corruption official in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak made headlines when he claimed to have moonlighted as a xe om (motorbike taxi) driver to save up the cash for his luxury US$133,000 residence. In the latest incident of suspicious wealth, Pham Si Quy, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of the northern province of Yen Bai, … [Read more...]

Additional 90,700 hectares of forest were planted in the first six months of the year (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s new forest areas rose 4.5 percent year-on-year to 90,700 hectares in the first six months of the year thanks to favourable weather condition, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Of the total areas, 88,800 hectares were production forests, up 5.7 percent from the same time last year. However, only 312,600 hectares of forest were cared for, declining 10.2 percent year-on-year. Afforestation in the northern region is entering its main crop. Rapid tree planting has been seen in Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho and Nghe An provinces. Meanwhile, southern localities are rushed off their feet to grow more forests. Localities nationwide are preparing nearly 396.13 million seedlings for forest planting this year, up 45.7 … [Read more...]

Site support groups (SSGs) have been set up in Vietnam by BirdLife International since 2002, proving effective in conserving important bird areas (IBAs) of the country. A corner of Tram Chim National Park, an important bird area, in Dong Thap province IBAs are forest or wetland areas important for the conservation of bird populations and other fauna and flora species. There are 63 IBAs in 37 provinces and cities across Vietnam at present, covering nearly 1.7 million hectares or 5 percent of the country’s natural area. Each IBA in the country spans between 2ha and more than 100,000ha. Central Quang Binh province and the Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak, Lam Dong and Gia Lai are home to 19 IBAs – the most in the country – and were selected as prioritised areas for conservation. Current threats to birds are poaching and cross-border smuggling, which mainly … [Read more...]

Safe vegetable farming in Lam Dong (Illustrative image. Source: VNA) Dak Lak (VNA) – One district and 123 communes in the Central Highlands region have fulfilled all criteria of the National Target Programme on New-style Rural Area Building, according to the Steering Committee for Central Highlands Region. Lam Dong is the leading locality in implementing the programme, with its Dong Duong district and 59 communes, or 50.5 percent of total communes, recognised as new-style rural areas. Amidst limited State budget allocation for the programme, regional localities have mobilised capital from diverse resources to realize the programme targets. In Lam Dong, from 2010-2015, 33.58 trillion VND (.. USD) was raised for new-style rural area building, of which State budget covered 10.66 percent and the local community accounted for 27 percent. Regional localities have built … [Read more...]

A buffalo fighting festival in northern Vietnam has been cut short after an owner was killed by his own buffalo on the opening day. The city has been ordered to check for stimulants in the buffalo and others participating in the Do Son festival, held in the port city of Hai Phong. The festival is a tradition and the winning animal is offered as a sacrifice to pray for good crops and smooth sailing. Although there have been injuries in the past, the owner’s death on Saturday was the first fatality for over four decades. The buffalo which fatally gored its owner may be put down. “Officials and the victim’s family have decided that the final solution should be to kill it,” a city spokesman said. Dinh Van Huong, the owner, bought the animal to fight at the festival a year ago, and had 10 years experience caring for buffalos. The buffalo which fatally gored its rider has been tied up. Photo by VnExpress Trinh Thi … [Read more...]

A buffalo fighting festival in northern Vietnam has been cut short after an owner was killed by his own buffalo on the opening day. The city has been ordered to check for stimulants in the buffalo and others participating in the Do Son festival, held in the port city of Hai Phong. The festival is a tradition and the winning animal is offered as a sacrifice to pray for good crops and smooth sailing. Although there have been injuries in the past, the owner’s death on Saturday was the first fatality for over four decades. The buffalo which fatally gored its owner may be put down. “Officials and the victim’s family have decided that the final solution should be to kill it,” a city spokesman said. Dinh Van Huong, the owner, bought the animal to fight at the festival a year ago, and had 10 years experience caring for buffalos. The buffalo which fatally gored its rider has been tied up. Photo by VnExpress Trinh Thi … [Read more...]