Co Tu people’s insect dishes

Among the insects that are used to prepare dishes by Co Tu people are grub, flying termite, cicada, ant eggs, pupal bee and worm.

In order to catch grubs, which mostly appear after the flooding season, Co Tu people dig areas where soil is mixed with sand along the banks of rivers and streams. This insect is then grilled or fried. It can also be used to treat joint pain.

Dishes from ant eggs require a lot of effort to make. After finding an ant nest, people use flat bamboo baskets to screen to separate eggs from ants. The process sounds easy but must be done carefully to ensure that the eggs are not broken. Ant eggs are added to cake’s stuffing or served with sticky rice and sour soup.

There are different types of pupal bees. Apart from being an effective drug to treat certain deseases, pupal bees are used to wrap in lolot leaves for grilling, or fried with garlic, served with rice paper, or cooked with rice porridge.

One of the special dishes made from insects by Co Tu people is worm fried with cassava leaves. In spring, kassod trees start having new buds and lure a type of worm that is locally called “green worm”. The worm fried with cassava leaves is a specialty of Co Tu people and it is normally served in special occasions.

Another unique dish of Co Tu people is made from bamboo borer worm. The worms are found inside bamboo trees during the year before they become butterflies in the ninth and tenth months of the lunar calendar. After the worms are dipped in boiling water, they are mixed with pepper, chilly, salt and scallion heads in a bamboo cylinder before they are served as a special treat in winter.

Co Tu people’s insect dishes

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Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City

Notre Dame Cathedral is located in Paris Commune Square. After their conquest of Saigon (the former name of Ho Chi Minh City), the French settlers wanted to build their own church. Its construction lasted from 1877 to 1880 and drew heavily from the classic religious architectural style of Europe. Nguyen Huu Thai, an architect specializing in colonial buildings in Ho Chi Minh City, says French style buildings in Ho Chi Minh City were built in different periods, Notre Dame Cathedral being built in the first period: “Notre Dame Cathedral was built during the time of the French governors. During this period, all buildings were built in the military style which means the streets were straight and there were major buildings situated at major intersections. The main buildings of that period include Norodom Palace which is now the Independence Palace, and Notre Dame Cathedral”.

The Cathedral was designed by architect Jules Bourard, an expert in religious architecture. Based on the model of Notre Dame de Paris but smaller, it combines Romanesque and Gothic style. The building is considered the finest work in the 19th century. Thai again: “At that time, all the building materials were imported from France. The outer wall of the cathedral was built with red bricks made in Marseille. Although they are not glazed, these bricks still retain their bright red and are not overgrown with moss. “

The cathedral is 91 meters long and 35.5 meters wide. Its height is 21 meters. In 1895, two towers housing six bronze bells were added. Crosses were also installed at the top of each tower. The six bells are named according to their musical note: sol la si do re and mi. The sol is the largest bell. It sounds only once a year on Lunar New Year’s Eve, when other five also echo. Their sound can be heard in a radius of 10 km.

Inside the cathedral, the nave contains 12 columns that represent the twelve apostles. The chapel’s white marble is carved with six angels. In front of the cathedral is a square where the intersection of four streets forms a cross. In 1959, a 4.6 meter sculpture representing the “Virgin of Peace” was carved out of white marble imported from Italy in the center of the square by the Italian sculptor Ciocchetti.

More than a century after its construction, Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City retains its incredible beauty. It is a place of worship for local Catholic and expatriates and also a major tourist attraction.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City

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Tourist boats seek to return to Bach Dang Wharf

The six firms are Tau Ben Nghe Co. Ltd., My Canh Travel Service Co.Ltd., 168 Floating Restaurant Co. Ltd., Ben Du Thuyen Co. Ltd., VinaExpress JSC and Quang Hung Transport Service Co.

They said in a document sent to leaders of the city in mid-June thatthey had been struggling with a host of difficulties since the citydecided to not renew the operation license of Bach Dang Wharf andordered boat operators to leave the wharf from March 30.

Restaurant boats have not found new berths while hydrofoil operatorshave had difficulty looking for appropriate piers to pick up theirpassengers. Some have had to go to other provinces or sold their boatsto cut losses.

Tau Ben Nghe, My Canh Travel Service, 168 Floating Restaurant and BenDu Thuyen have asked the Saigon Port Authority for assistance but to noavail. These firms said they would have to dismantle their boats if theyhit the dead end.

They proposed the city government and relevant agencies considerpermitting boat operations at Bach Dang Wharf. They wanted the localgovernment, the HCMC departments of transport and planning-architectureto help them find a passenger pier for their boats in the daytime and aplace for restaurant boats to operate at Bach Dang Wharf at night untilwork starts on an upgrade project at the wharf.

At the end of last year, the transport department informed theoperators of tourist and restaurant boats at the wharf that the citygovernment would not renew the wharf’s operation license upon expiry onDecember 31. However, the city government later told the department toallow the boats to stay until the middle of January.

The department said the decision was to upgrade Bach Dang Wharf in linewith a zoning plan for the area. After the upgrade project is finished,the government of HCMC will decide whether to let tourist boats operateat the wharf or not.

Tourist boats seek to return to Bach Dang Wharf

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Renowned Vietnamese Pho restaurants in foreign countries

The restaurant owners keep the traditional flavour of the Vietnamese Pho as if they were in their homeland.

Pho Bang in the US

The restaurant is located at Chinatown-the most crowded neighbourhood in New York City.

It is also listed as the best 10 Pho spots in New York City by Thrillist-a leading US food, drink and travel website.

According to the website, Pho Bang attracts visitors thanks to cheap price (about US$7-US$10 per bowl) with meaty and herbaceous flavour.

Customers can only pay an extra buck or two to request a super-sized bowl.

Maisond’Asie in Switzerland

Maisond’Asie (Asian House) has lured a huge number of international tourists and overseas Vietnamese living and working in the country.

The restaurant, located near the Geneva Train Station, is decorated with many Vietnamese traditional musical instruments.

Each bowl costs 17 francs (VND400,000).

Little Saigon in RoK

Little Saigon is one of the first spots in Seoul to serve Pho.

The service is friendly, abundant and responsive even on busy Saturday afternoons. Waiters stand around waiting to help at any time.

The price of each bowl is around 8,000-12,000 won (VND150,000-VND230,000).

Restaurant An in Australia

The restaurant serves traditional Vietnamese rice noodle soup, northern style -Vietnamese Pho which is prepared with rice noodles topped with beef or chicken, fresh picked herbs and bean sprouts.

Each bowl costs AUD18 (VND 300,000).

Renowned Vietnamese Pho restaurants in foreign countries

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Breathtaking scenery in Ba Be National Park

It was officially recognized by UNESCO as the third Ramsar site in Vietnam and boasts being one of the 20 most beautiful freshwater lakes in the world— overflowing with wildlife, springs and caves.

The Tay ethnic people live there and tourists can say overnight at their house for the cost of VND150,000-200,000 per night.

An ideal ecological tourism site An interesting place for children in summer Ba Be Lake in early morning

Breathtaking scenery in Ba Be National Park

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Travel agencies updated on entry laws for foreigners

The law, which took effect onJanuary 1, 2015, includes 9 chapters with 55 articles regulatingdetailed issues related to visas, entrance and exit, transit andresidence as well as the rights and obligations of foreigners andagencies, organisations and individuals in charge of providing theabove-mentioned services to foreigners.

The regulation onfixed- and long-term visa exemptions stated in the law has attractedattentions from travel firms. It is expected to make tourism promotionactivities more effective and draw more foreign tourists to the country.

LuuDuc Ke, Director of Hanoitourist, said visa exemptions for citizensfrom five countries – the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain – is animportant measure contributing to promoting tourism development.

Theevent offered a good chance for travel firms to share their experiencesin creating favourable conditions for foreign visitors in followingentrance and exit procedures.

Previously, the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism (VNAT) worked with the Embassies of Belarus,the UK, France, Spain and Italy in Vietnam to introduce information onthe country’s policies and tourist attraction activities. It alsorequested assistance from agencies in promoting and providinginformation on Vietnam’s tourism to their countries’ communications andtravel firms.

A plan to attract arrivals from the exempted countries will be implemented this year, VNAT revealed.

With active support from the Government, ministries and sectors, thenumber of international tourists to Vietnam is expected to surge in thecoming time.

Travel agencies updated on entry laws for foreigners

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Stop-overs on the journey to Truong Sa

To get to the islands or reefs in the Spratlys, tourists have to undergo short journeys by canoe.   The islands in the Spratlys such as Truong Sa Lon, Sinh Ton and Phan Vinh will appear in front of you with the greenery of trees, or buildings. To have full views of the floating islands, visitors should climb up the lighthouse.   Meanwhile, the reefs appear only with concrete blocks amid waters.   It is very common to see naval soldiers standing solemnly to defend the country’s sovereignty.   Those who love photography have the opportunity to take beautiful photographs of everyday life in Truong Sa.   During their free time, soldiers are busy planting vegetables or taking care of poultry.   On reefs, every space is utilized to grow vegetables.     Pagodas were built on islands in the Spratlys to serve the spiritual needs of people.   Relaxing moments for soldiers.   Many reefs have inhabitants living on them.   The square almonds are a “specialty” in Truong Sa.   A flower tree created by naval soldiers from snail shells.   Watching the sunrise in the Spratlys.

Stop-overs on the journey to Truong Sa

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