Mu Cang Chai’s terraced fields in harvest season

VietNamNet Bridge – Photographers flock to Mu Cang Chai district in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai--in the harvest season to grasp incredible moments of the terraced fields.

Mu Cang Chai is about 300km away from Hanoi, to the northwest. The location has been closer and more famous for domestic and overseas travelers. Overseas backpackers and photographers usually tramp to Yen Bai just to witness the terraced fields, enjoy fresh air, taking nice and splendid photos.

September and October are the finest months in Mu Cang Chai and also the most attractive month to tourists and travelers.

The rice terraced fields of Mu Cang Chai have been recognized as a national heritage site.

Hoang Hac

Vietnamese businesses run a race for the right to distribute super-cars

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese car trade companies are running a race to become the official Vietnamese distributors of some famous car brands which still do not have showrooms in Vietnam.

The result of the race for the right to distribute Toyota’s Lexus brand cars proves to be the most awaiting now in Vietnam. Though the door is opened widely to all Toyota Vietnam’s existing agents, it is not easy to catch the eye of the brand’s owner.

According to a car dealer, in order to become an official distributor for famous brands, agents must have the retail premises of no less than 3500 square meters which needs to be located on the roads, where the showrooms of other car brands are situated. Also, distributors need to have modern equipment and material facilities that serve and sale and marketing, worth up to hundreds of billions of dong.

“In general, it is not easy to satisfy the requirements set by the car brands’ owners,” he said. Especially, he said, the existing agents of Toyota Vietnam may have to join forces with other parents in order to satisfy the requirements.

“It will not happen that the existing agents of Toyota can display Lexus cars at their showrooms. Lexus distributors must set up completely new showrooms which can meet the strict requirements, like all other Lexus showrooms all over the world,” Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam quoted a source from Toyota Vietnam as saying.

However, Vietnamese businesses still cherish the ambitious plans to become the official agents of Lexus. Obtaining the right to open showrooms and provide maintenance services for Lexus brand is considered by the business circle as a “good deal”, because to date, Lexus still has not had any official showroom.

Unofficial statistics showed that in 2007-2010, about 5700 cars with Lexus brand were imported to Vietnam, the number which was higher than any number of imports of any super-car brands. The figure shows the fat profit businessmen would be able to make when becoming the official distributors of Lexus. Especially, money will not only come from the sale of brand new cars, but also from maintenance services.

In general, the owners of Lexus cars are high income earners, and they will not regret their money being spent on the genuine services provided by the manufacturer.

Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam has quoted its sources as saying that the selection of official distributors for Lexus may complete by the end of the year. However, it will take one year more to complete the construction and installation of material facilities for the showroom. If so, the brand will only be able to make its official presence in Vietnam by early 2013, with two showrooms to be opened in Hanoi and HCM City.

Besides Lexus, other luxury car brands are also moving ahead in the competition to expand their market share in Vietnam, a newly emerging attractive market. When introducing the Audi A7 Sportback in late August, Tran Tan Trung, General Director of Lien A International, the official distributor of Audi in Vietnam, said that 223 Audis were sold in 2010, while the figure is expected to be double this year.

In early 2011, Laurent Genet, General Director of A Chau Company, the official Audi importer, told the press that after three years of doing business in Vietnam, nearly 300 Audis were sold from October 2008 to the end of 2010, with the sales of the next year double that of the previous year.

The competition for scrambling for clients is getting stiffer among the car brands from Germany such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes or Lexus.

A director of a company which trades German cars has revealed that the company is considering the measures to compete with Lexus.

“Lexus would be a big name in the market segment of products worth less than 100,000 dollars. However, things will be different in the market segment of the more-valuable products. In the world, German cars are still more favored,” he said.

He went on to say that in the US market, which is considered the “battle field” of Lexus, Lexus cars also had to struggle with German brand cars.

Source: TBKTVN

European Commission proposes financial transaction tax

The tax would be levied on all transactions on financial instruments between financial institutions when at least one party to the transaction is located in the EU.
The exchange of shares and bonds would be taxed at a rate of 0.1 percent and derivative contracts, at a rate of 0.01 percent.
“Today I am putting before you a very important text that if implemented may generate a revenue of above 55 billion euros per year,” said European Commission President Barroso in his 2011 State of the Union address Wednesday in Strasburg, France.
The revenues of the tax would be shared between the European Union (EU) and its member states. Part of the tax would be used as an EU own resource, as anticipated in the bloc 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This would partly reduce national contributions.
The FTT would ensure that the financial sector makes a fair contribution at a time of fiscal consolidation. The financial sector played a role in the origins of the economic crisis and yet it is currently under-taxed by comparison to other sectors.
By proposing a financial transaction tax at EU level first, the commission intends to be in a position to promote such a tax at global level in the framework of the G20.
The commission has discussed the introduction of a financial transaction since 2009 on several occasions in the G20 (Pittsburgh and Toronto).
With the support of the current French Presidency of the G20, the introduction of a financial transaction tax at global level could be on the table at the next G20 summit in Cannes on November 3 and 4 this year.
“I am confident that our partners in the G20 will see their interest in following this path,” commented Commissioner for Taxation, Customs, Anti-fraud and Audit, Algirdas Semeta, in Strasburg on Wednesday.
As for the FTT implementation in the EU, the proposal now needs to be discussed and agreed unanimously in the European Council, following the opinion of the European Parliament.
The commission proposed that the tax should come into effect from January 1, 2014.
VietNamNet/Xinhuanet

Project to develop straw souvenirs for tourists

A project focused on developing rice straw-woven products aimed at tourists was recently set in place by the Scientific Union for Sustainable Tourism Development (STD).

In July, the STD collaborated with the Duong Lam Commune women's union and the relic management unit in introducing the potential of straw-woven products such as roosters, dolls, hats and boots to local residents.

Union President Nguyen Thu Hanh said: "To date, village products have been of a very poor standard. It has been our task to instruct residents in how to develop and design quality souvenirs woven from straw, both popularising the destination and helping in locals increase their incomes."

Duong Thi Lan, vice chairwoman of the commune women's union, expressed her support for the project, saying that local people used to have the tendency of burning straw and so polluting the environment.

"Duong Lam has its own materials and market. Everyone here is extremely keen on making things work out and finding sufficient sponsorship to benefit the maximum amount of people."

After being recognised as a national architectural relic in 2005, Duong Lam Commune has drawn many tourists, who have found buying keepsakes a rather arduous task.

According to veteran tour guide Pham Hoang Tuan, most visitors are attracted by the laterite architecture and ancient houses, there being no typical tourism product except for typical north Vietnamese cuisine.

Relic management deputy chief Nguyen Trong An, agreeing with Tuan, said that monotonous products have served as a barrier to the ancient village becoming one of the most attractive tourism spots in the country.

VNA

General procedure for Vietnam visa application

STEP 1: Send us your personal information as follows

- Full name
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Passport No. (Valid at least six months)
- Date of arrival
- Port of arrival: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) or Danang.
- Length of stay (one month for tourist visa).
- Place where you would like to get your visa (Name the capital or city where the most convenient Vietnam Embassy or Consulate are located in your country) Or you can download application form here. Then fill in this form and send to us.

STEP 2: Send us your personal information as follows

Confirm the information for processing your visa and pay the service fee.
- We will send you a confirmation email stating that we have received your Vietnam visa request. If you dont receive our email, please contact us by live support or confirm your information in your request (email address, phone number)
- Please read the payment guidelines before paying the service fee
- We will submit the information to the Vietnam Immigration Office in Vietnam to get the approval letter for you.

STEP 3: Get your approval letter

Vietnam Immigration Office will issue an Approval letter.
- For Visa Approval letter: After two (2) working days, the Vietnam Immigration Office will issue an Approval letter. This approval letter will be sent simultaneously to us and to the Vietnamese embassy or Consulate in your country.
- For the Visa on arrival service: After two (2) working days, the Vietnam Immigration Office will issue an Approval letter. This original Approval letter will be sent to us and simultaneously fax to the Immigration Department on your arrival at the airport in Vietnam. Then we will send a copy of the Visa Approval letter (via email or fax) to you before you take a flight to Vietnam. You just have to print it out and bring it to Vietnam.

STEP 4: Get the stamp (for your visa)

- For Visa Approval letter: You just take your Visa Approval letter with your original passport to Vietnam embassy or consulate in your country to get the Visa stamp. You have to pay the visa stamping fee. This visa stamping fee might be different between countries.
- For Visa on-arrival service: you just show the Visa Approval letter TWICE: to the airlines in your country when you check in, and to the Immigration officer at the Vietnams airport upon arrival to get the visa stamp. You are then required to fill out the visa form, attach photos and pay the visa stamping fee (see the visa stamping fee) to the Immigration officer.

Note: Please remember to bring along two (2) photos. Following is the list of regulations regarding passport-style photographs:
- Photographs must be 2x2 inches in size, identical, taken within the past 6 months.
- The image size from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head should be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches.
- The photographs may be in color or black and white.
- They must be full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background.
- Photographs should be taken in normal street attire, without a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline.
- Uniforms should not be worn in photographs with the exception of religious attire which is worn daily.
- If prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles are normally and consistently worn, they should be worn when the picture is taken.
- Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless required for medical reasons. A medical certificate may be required to support the wearing of such glasses in the photographs.

What is the "visa approval letter"?

"Visa approval letter" is the letter issued by Vietnam Immigration Department (Vietnam government ) that allows you to enter and exit Vietnam for a given period. With the approval letter you can get your visa at one of the three international airports in Vietnam

Getting Vietnam Visa Made Easy

For those who would like to avoid the perhaps lengthening visa procedures with their local Vietnam's Embassies, the service of Vietnam Visa on arrival is available for help. It is legitimated and supported by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. We recommend that you choose visa upon arrival, as picking up visa at the Vietnam int'l airport is quite simple, easy, no additional charges and no fail.

Embassy of Viet Nam in USA

Office	:	Embassy
Street Address	:	1233, 20th Street, N.W. Suite 400
Postal Address	:
ZIP Code	:	20036
City	:	Washington DC
State	:	Washington DC
Country	:	USA
Telephone	:	(+1-202) 8610737, 8610694, 8612293, 3322937
Faximile	:	(+1-202) 8610917, 8611297

13 movies to go to cinemas in September

VietNamNet Bridge – Thirteen new movies will be screened at cinemas in September 2011, including Hollywood blockbusters like 'Shark Night 3D', 'Johnny English Reborn' or ‘Lion King 3D’.

A scene from 'Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World 3D'.

1. 'Friends With Benefits,' starring Justin Timberlake (Dylan) and Mila Kunis (Jamie), opened the autumn movie season. It was launched on September 2. While trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan and Jamie soon discover however that adding the act of sex to their friendship does lead to complications.
2. ‘Monte Carlo’, staring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy was also launched on September 2. The film is about three young women vacationing in Paris find themselves whisked away to Monte Carlo after one of the girls is mistaken for a British heiress.

3. ‘Shark Night 3D’ will come out on September 9. Directed by David R. Ellis, with Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Chris Carmack, Katharine McPhee, the film is about a weekend at a lake house in the Louisiana Gulf that turns into a nightmare for seven vacationers as they are subjected to fresh-water shark attacks.

4. ‘Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World 3D’ will also be launched on September 9. Starring by Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven and Joel McHale, the new episode is about a retired spy who is called back into action, and to bond with her new step-children, she invites them along for the adventure to stop the evil Timekeeper from taking over the world.

5. ‘Johnny English Reborn’ will be introduced on September 16. Directed by Oliver Parker, with Rowan Atkinson, Rosamund Pike, Dominic West, and Gillian Anderson, in this movie, Johnny English goes up against international assassins hunting down the Chinese premier.

6. ‘My Kingdom’ will come out the same day with ‘Johnny English Reborn’. This is one of the four Asian movies that will come to cinemas in September. Directed by Xiaosong Gao. With Biao Yuen, Rongguang Yu, Barbie Hsu and Chun Wu, this is the story of two brothers' quest for fame, love and revenge in the heyday of Shanghai opera.

The three other Asian movies include:

7. ‘Pain’ (South Korea) starring Kwon Sang Woo, which will be launched on September 16

8. ‘Snow Flower and Secret Fan’, a Chinese movie, staring Li Bingbing, Jun Ji Hyun (Korean) and Hugh Jackman (Australian). The movie will come out on September 30.

9. ‘The Sorcerer and The White Snake’ (China) will be also launched on September 30. The film is starred by many famous Chinese actors, including Jet Li.

10. ‘Zookeeper’ will be launched on September 23. Directed by Frank Coraci, with Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb, Ken Jeong. In this movie, a group of zoo animals decide to break their code of silence in order to help their lovable zoo keeper find love - without opting to leave his current job for something more illustrious.

11. ‘Colombiana’, directed by Olivier Megaton, with Zoe Saldana, Michael Vartan, Callum Blue,
And Jordi Mollà will go to cinema on September 23. The film is about a young woman, after witnessing her parents' murder as a child in Bogota, grows up to be a stone-cold assassin.
12. The Change-up will be introduced on September 30. Directed by David Dobkin, with Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Olivia Wilde, Leslie Mann, this is a comedy in which a married father accidentally switches bodies with his best friend, leading to a series of wildly complex difficulties.

13. ‘The Lion King 3D’ is the most expected movie in September. The film will come out on September 9. The storyline will be the same as the version in 1994.

PV

The East Sea disputes

Tension in the East Sea has escalated due to China's provocative acts. VietNamNet reports:

The China marine surveillance ship coded 84 enters Vietnam territorial

waters on May 26, 2011.

Vietnam moves closer to ASEAN open skies

Vietnam has taken further steps toward joining an open sky market of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with an aim at supporting strong trade and tourism growth and regional economic integration.

Vo Huy Cuong, director of Air Transport Department at the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, said Vietnam had agreed to liberalize cargo and passenger services markets with many members of the ASEAN bloc, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

Cuong said Vietnam was now in the process of considering unlimited flights from Vietnam to destinations in other ASEAN nations after the country agreed cargo liberalization within the region as part of a regional open sky agreement.

“We are ready for the ASEAN open sky market,” Cuong said and added that Vietnam was preparing for necessary steps and following a roadmap to enter such a regional market by 2015 as scheduled.

However, he emphasized the country’s entry would depend on moves of other member countries and that the domestic traffic right would continue to be for Vietnamese airlines not for foreign airlines.         

Also regarding regional aviation cooperation, Vietnam signed a new bilateral air transport pact with the Philippines on providing more seats between these two countries.

The new deal, which was inked last week, allows 2,650 seats on the weekly flights between HCMC and Manila compared to around 2,000 seats stated in the old pact the two countries struck in 2003. “The new seats are almost the same to the number currently provided by Philippine airlines,” Cuong told the Daily on Tuesday.

Philippines Airlines and Cebu Pacific now perform daily flights between Vietnam’s economic hub of HCMC and Manila - the capital of the second most populous nation in ASEAN after Indonesia. None of Vietnamese airlines has scheduled service to the Philippines.

Cebu Pacific launched services between Hanoi and Manila in 2008 but had to suspend this route due to low seating capacity in order to focus on the HCMC-Manila direction. But, the new air transport pact grants a number of seats for the Hanoi-Manila route as outlined in a total package of 6,000 seats per week for the flights from HCMC and Hanoi to Manila and Cebu and vice versa. 

Currently, 46 foreign airlines conduct flights on 54 international routes to and from Vietnam, and four local airlines flew on 40 domestic routes covering 20 airports.

The country’s aviation market saw the number of passengers up by 15% year-on-year to more than 16 million and cargo reach 300,000 tons in the first eight months of this year.

CAAV general director Pham Quy Tieu reported 105 million passengers and 2.2 million tons of cargo in the past five years, with average annual growth of 15% and 12% respectively. He said local carriers were expected to transport 71.3 million passengers and 940,000 tons of cargo in the 2006-11 period.

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh approved a Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Air Services Engagement with Dialogue Partners. The Ministry of Transport was told to work with relevant agencies to implement the MoU, which was signed at the 16th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting in Brunei in November last year.

SGT

Dengue fever crisis in Pakistan deepens as deaths toll swells

Death toll from an epidemic of dengue fever, which has gripped Pakistan's most populous and eastern province of Punjab, has now reached 62 as another man died on Thursday, health officials and local media reported.

The fever, which has also been reported in other parts of the country, has infected nearly 8,000 in the last two months, they said. Till Thursday, 100,000 people have rushed to government and private hospitals in Lahore for medical test as every citizen is now wanting to get doctors' advice. Residents say that 50 percent people now avoid visiting parks and picnic spots in Lahore.
The Education Ministry in Punjab ordered change of school uniform, making it obligatory for all school-going children to wear full-sleeves shirts and pants.
Provincial Education Minister Mujtaba Shuja also said that the government had completed around 80 percent of the fumigation drive at educational institutions.
The minister warned private schools that they would be closed if they failed to fumigate their premises. The schools have also been asked not to hold any sports activities during evening timings.
The government had closed all schools, colleges and universities in Lahore for 10 days, while they are fumigated and sprayed as part of dengue prevention measures ordered by the provincial chief minister.
Shuja added that it is not possible to eradicate dengue in one year and said that information about dengue virus will now be included in the school curriculum.
In order to encourage the people to take precautionary measures, the Chief Minister of Punjab province, Shehbaz Sharif, Thursday visited several houses and himself sprayed inside the houses.
There have also been reports of dengue in southern Sindh Province, with the provincial Dengue Surveillance Cell reporting over 200 cases this year, most of them in Karachi.
Traders selling fake dengue medicines have had cases registered against them and levels of public panic are high, according to media reports, despite reassurances from medical experts that dengue is only rarely fatal.
The dengue epidemic has hit hard this year in Punjab, especially Lahore. There have been periodic outbreaks of dengue since 2006. But this time the panic triggered by the disease has disrupted lives.
A team of Sri Lankan experts called in by the Punjab government has been collecting water samples across Lahore and emphasized the priority right now was to control dengue deaths.
Several sports events including the national T20 cricket series have been shifted from Lahore to the southern port city of Karachi over dengue fear as all national players are playing from their regional teams in the championship.
According to the World Health Organization, dengue fever is spread by the bite of the striped Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Outbreaks of the disease occur typically in tropical and sub- tropical areas of the world. Symptoms range from a mild fever to an incapacitating high fever with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and a rash.
Dengue can be caused by four different but related strains of dengue virus. If a person has had one virus, there can be a repeat occurrence of dengue if a different strain is involved subsequently. Rarely people suffering from dengue bleed from the nose, gums or skin, an indication of the potentially fatal dengue haemorrhagic fever. There are no specific medicines to cure dengue.
 VietNamNet/Xinhuanet

Vietnam prepares for “four countries – on destination” program

VietNamNet Bridge – The fact that four countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar join forces to develop tourism is believed to bring new big opportunities to travel firms. However, there are still many things to be done in order to reap the fruits.

New opportunities

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

The participants at the 7th International Tourism Exhibition (ITE) held in HCM City several days ago all forecast a new wave of investments in infrastructure, hotels, resorts and entertainment complexes in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar in the time to come. Therefore, joining forces in the “four countries – one destination” program will clearly help attract more international investors.

The Lao General Department of Tourism said that the country now has 1028 tourism sites which are awaiting investments. Laos allows to have 100 percent foreign ownership ratio in hotels and restaurants, and 30-70 percent foreign ownership ratios in the travel firms. Tourism is the second foreign currency earner, just after to mining, in Laos, where the tourism growth rate has been stable in the last 20 years at 29 percent per annum.

In Myanmar, investors need to have at least 300,000 dollars to set up a legal entity in the service sector. Foreign investors can team up with domestic companies to set up joint ventures, while they have to contribute at least 35 percent of capital. Myanmar now has 36 hotel projects with 6560 hotel rooms, of which 31 projects have been completed.

The international tourism organization has forecast that the tourists in the world tend to flock to South East Asia and East Asia. In 2010, the region surpassed America to become the second biggest region in the world, just after Europe, in terms of the tourists, accounting for 22 percent of the world’s market share. Meanwhile, the figure is expected to increase to 27 percent by 2020.

Statistics show that ASEAN now attracts 36 percent of the total number of tourists worldwide, and 38 percent of the total revenue from tourism industry in the region.

Analysts have also pointed out that joining forces with regional countries to develop tourism is a wise move. The national flag air carrier Vietnam Airlines said that four out of every 10 international tourists to Vietnam tend to visit many different destinations, and three of them choose to visit Laos, Cambodia, or Myanmar.

Great efforts needed

This is not for the first time regional countries sit together to discuss the cooperation for tourism development. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia once put forward the idea of joining forces to attract tourists. A project on the tourism sustainable development in Mekong sub-region was initiated and funded by ADB, which aimed to develop infrastructure for tourism and push up the sub-regional cooperation. However, the initial achievements remain modest

Therefore, Vietnamese travel firms say they need to prepare well for the “four countries – one nation program). Tran Hung Viet, General Director of Saigontourist, said that the travel firm has conducted a program on surveying the trans-Indochina and Myanmar tours, and has released the publications providing information about the four countries.

Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines has increased the frequency of the flights on the air routes to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, and Vientiane in Laos to 106 flights per week from 59 flights currently.

Vuong Dinh Hai from CFIS Vietnam, a foreign investment research center, said that it is necessary to make heavier investment in infrastructure in order to pave the way for tourism development. More and more tourists travel to Vietnam by sea, while cruises still have to dock at cargo ports, because there still are no specific ports for receiving tourists.

Meanwhile, there has been no legal document on the development of the ports for tourism. The overall strategy on seaport development until 2020 also does not show the investment scale and the details of the tourism ports.

Source: TBKTVN

http://myvietnam-visa.com/

Comprehensive efforts needed to save coral reefs: Indonesia expert

Comprehensive efforts are needed to save coral reefs as their living compound is prone to environmental damage, an Indonesian expert told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

Nurul Dhewani Mirah Sjafrie, coordinator of Coral Reef Information and Training Center (CRITC) for western Indonesia at the Indonesian Science Institute, the government think-tank institution, said that currently only more than five percent of coral reefs in Indonesia are in "excellent condition." "Based on monitoring of the thousands of observation stations we have, the rest are in damage, bad and moderate condition," Sjafrie said in her office.
She said that it is not impossible to increase the number as long as all people are aware of the importance to save coral reefs.
"People should be aware that coral reefs live in sea with warm enough temperature of 18-25 Celsius degree with certain level of brightness, among others. If the requirements are fulfilled, we can see coral reef growing safely," said Sjafrie.
She also said it needs upstream-to-downstream arrangement to support the efforts.
"For example, in western Indonesia, we have many big rivers. If illegal logging practice keeps continuing, it will cause sedimentation in the sea. It means there is a decreasing quality. So, coral reef salvation is not only conducted in ocean," Sjafrie said.
She also expressed concern that many people dump garbage in rivers.
"They throw their garbage in plastic bags. For plastic only, it takes 100 years to be completely decomposed. Let's say 10-15 percent of our people do the malpractice everyday, you can imagine how many garbage entering the sea," she said.
Sjafrie said that the key to guard coral reef sustainability is in human habit.
"Coral reef destruction could be caused by nature such as tsunami, earthquake, crown torn (Acanthaster plancii) that consumes coral reefs. But the biggest factor is human with their destructive fishing using bombs," she said.
According to Sjafrie, people do the practice with three causes, namely ignorance, needs and greed.
She added that efforts have been conducted by the government, private sector and non governmental organizations (NGOs) to save coral reefs.
"We have a program called the CORMAP of Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program. The government uses instrument of National Program of People Empowerment while NGOs do their part. If we could combine the actions, we could reach the same goal," she said.
She added that the government train people to be productive by providing skills and in the same time, her organization and NGOs socialize and campaign the importance of coral reefs.
"When people have better jobs and activities and they are equipped with the awareness, they will do positive thing and stop destroying the sea," Sjafrie said.
VietNamNet/Xinhuanet

Hue culture festival key National Tourism event

Hue Festival 2012, titled Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development – A Rendezvous for Historical Cities will open on April 7 next year at the Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) Square in Hue City, organisers announced at a press briefing on Thursday.

The organising board said the festival would be a major cultural event of the National Tourism Year 2012, and a part of activities to commemorate the 325th anniversary of Phu Xuan (Hue) being chosen as capital of the southern region of Viet Nam by Nguyen Phuc Thai.

"It would also be a platform for the cultural exchange initiative of the Forum of East Asia and Latin America Co-operation," said Nguyen Duy Hien, director of the Hue Festival Centre.

The festival would showcase distinctive art performances from all parts of the country, especially the royal art forms from the city of Hue, Hien said.

Twenty leading art troupes from many countries would also perform at the event.

Other key events that would take place during the nine-day festival include the Imperial Night, Oriental Night, Nam Giao Offering Ritual, Ao dai Grand Show, royal dances on the theme A Peaceful World, music combined with lantern installations, a dialogue of drums and other percussion instruments called The Resonance of Vietmanese Spirit and the screening of historical films.

Installation art displays, a Children's Festival, the Hue Poetry Festival, and Gastronomy Days will also be held during the festival.

Meanwhile, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue will host events held under the auspices of the National Tourism Year 2012 for the north-central coastal area.

Called Heritage Tourism, the programme will take place in Thua Thien-Hue and cities and provinces of Ha Noi, HCM, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Thanh Hoa.

The event will feature activities during 2012, especially in January, February, April, June, July and last months of next year.

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 11 cultural, sport and tourism events will be held in the city during the festival, including Charming Viet Nam, Central Coastal Food Festival, the Southeast Asian chess contest, cross-country race, and the second International Choir Festival.

Phan Tien Dung, director of the province's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the province would also host a programme to discover its seas and lagoons; the Dien Hue Nam Festival; a programme to promote tourism products in the rainy season; a programme to develop spiritual, handicraft villages and sea tourism products.

The northern port city of Hai Phong will host National Tourism Year 2013.

VNS

Ha Tinh’s farmer catches giant loach

VietNamNet Bridge – A woman in Nghi Xuan district in the central province of Ha Tinh caught a 10kg, over 1.5m long loach in the morning of September 16.

In early morning of September 16, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huong went to the field to collect fish from do (a traditional device to catch fish) that she placed the night before. Returning home, she discovered a big loach in the basket.

The loach is black, 10kg in weight and 1.6m long. Some people are willing to pay VND5 million ($250) for the giant loach but Huong did not sell. Many people flocked to Huong’s house to see the loach.

The giant dragon beltfish (Trihiuruc muiticus).

In July 2011, a fisherman in Tinh Gia district, the central province of Thanh Hoa province caught a strange fish of nearly 4m long, nearly 30kg in weight in Nghi Son Bay. The fish was then defined as a giant dragon beltfish (Trihiuruc muiticus).

Le Ngoc

A “cultural death” threatens Vietnam’s tourism

VietNamNet Bridge – The tourism industry has developed robustly in recent years and it has tried to take advantage of Vietnamese landscape and cultural identity to serve tourists. However, unorganized and unfriendly exploitation has unintentionally killed “cultural beauties”.

Let’s analyze Lach (or Làc, Lat, M'Lates) ethnic group’s tourism project as a typical example.

Lach people have developed tourism based on their unique culture. However, their culture is being commercialized and Lac people are losing their cultural cream. This is similar to other ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Lach is a small group of Koho people who have lived in Lang Biang plateau, Da Lat city, for hundreds of years. “Lach” means “sparse forest”. The original name of Da Lat city (Da Lach) is sourced from this world. Da Lach means the land of Lach people.

A group of journalist paid a visit to the village of Lach people in Da Lat to learn about their “tourism business”.

Journalists were welcomed warmly at a small yard, covered by iron roof, with a pile of wood in the middle, surrounded by plastic chairs, in the sound of music. The rainy weather did not affect the meeting because Lach people are very experienced at welcoming visitors.

The program began when a man – an MC stepped out and spoke in local language. The MC translated his speech in Vietnamese. The meeting was very funny and jubilant thanks to the talent of the MC, who is very professional. Visitors also sang and danced with him. However, the meeting is similar as a show in Hanoi and the MC looked like an actor who plays the role of an ethnic man. This is the first line of an announcement about the death of “culture”.

Why do tourists visit Lach people’s village? They do not go there to watch a modern show with a professional MC, but to discover the life and culture of Lach people.

The culture of Lach people may not die in form when Lach people sing their folk songs or perform their traditional dances on a modern stage. However, the soul of these folk songs and traditional dances has been dead.

The culture of Lach people is losing in oblivion, though their life has been improved a lot, thanks to tourism services. Nowadays, tourists will no longer have a chance to enjoy original sounds of gongs, Kombuat, ceng korla – traditional musical instruments of Lach people, but only Lach people’s music from CDs.

The threat of a “cultural death” is obvious at the village of Lach people. This threat is also present at many other villages of ethnic groups in Vietnam, along with the development of tourism – the non-smoke industry.

Truong Hong Tu

Secrets of mummies in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Behind mummies’ hundred-year sleeps are great secrets. In Vietnam, many ancient tombs have been unearthed, revealing unique embalmment methods.

Dong Nai: 200-year-old mummy unveiled

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the southern province of Dong Nai has announced the discovery of a mummified woman in an ancient tomb in Cau Xeo commune in Long Thanh district on September 16, 2011.

The department was excavating an ancient tomb site for clearance, to facilitate construction of the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay highway road, when they unearthed the 200-year-old mummy.

The excavation team was led by Professor Pham Duc Manh from the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities and renowned archeologist Do Dinh Truat. The mummified remains of the woman as well as its coffin have been preserved and brought to the museum.

Scientists said that the tomb had a secretive rectangular chamber. The tomb was 8.5 meters long including its wall and 4.5 meters wide. The coffin was shaped like a semicircle. It was adorned with a floral patterned cloth and the mummy was wrapped in cloth of a lotus leaf print.

After studying the structure of the tomb chamber and the coffin, archeologists came to the conclusion that the mummy was of noble birth during the Nguyen Dynasty.

Archaeologists will now conduct further research on the mummy along with medical experts from the University of Medicine in HCM City.

Mummy of the later Le dynasty in Nam Dinh

On April 1, 2011, building workers discovered five tombs while building a road in Lien Bao commune, Nam Dinh province. Four of the five tombs are modern, with coffins being worm-eaten. The last tomb has special structure.

The tomb was excavated on September 15 by experts from the Nam Dinh Museum and Dr. Nguyen Lan Cuong, Secretary General of the Vietnam Archaeology Association. The excavation was finalized on September 17.

This is the smallest composite tomb discovered in Viet Nam so far, Nguyen Lan Cuong, said deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Archaeology Association.

The outer coffin was 107cm in length, 36cm in width and 40cm in height, while the inner coffin was 94.5cm in length, 27.3cm in width and 33.4cm in height. The compound was said to consist of lime, molasses, sand and charcoal with a piece of cloth used to enclose the contents.

Archaeologists found a skull and bones, affirming their thought that it was an exhumation tomb. Based on initial studies of the relics unearthed, Cuong supposed that the tomb was built around 300 years ago in the later Le dynasty (1533-1788).

This is the first time researchers have identified oil used to embalm the body. The archaeology crew took the oil and specimens in for research: the bones were put in an oblong earthenware container for reburial and brought to the regional cemetery, while the coffin was displayed at Nam Dinh Museum.

Ancient tomb destroyed in Hung Yen

In late 2007, a private company named Phuc Nga destroyed an ancient tomb in Yen My district, Hung Yen province. According to workers who were involved in destroying the tomb--this ancient tomb was built by a compound of oyster shells, lime, stone powder, etc. The company hired a dozen of workers and used drilling machines to work for three days to break the tomb.

There was a red coffin inside the tomb. The coffin was covered by liquid of over 50cm high. When the coffin was opened, the fragrance of perfume spread over a vast area.

There was the body of an old man inside the coffin. The man is around 1.60m tall. He looked like being buried for not a long time. His hairs and eyebrow were untouched. His skin was soft and ruddy. The mummy was covered by many layers of cloths and wore a long pair of booths.

Believing that the mummy was buried with gold and jewelries, people cut off cloths and clothes of the mummy to seek gold. They took many items buried with the mummy, including hundreds of ancient coins.

The body was then buried in a ready-made tomb build by the private firm. However, the ready-made tomb was built to contain bones while the body was intact, so workers broke off bones to put the body into the tomb.

According to locals, this is the tomb of a duke of the Le dynasty. The public was very discontented over the case.

Mummy in perfume in Hanoi

Ancient coins burried with the mummy in Hung Yen province.

This ancient tomb was also destroyed by a group of people without permission of the authorities. This tomb was discovered in April 2005 in a peach garden in Nhat Tan, Hanoi.

The tomb had three layers. The outer layer is 1.5cm thick, made by mortar, molasses, sticky rice powder and do paper. The second layer is the outer coffin, made of wood, 9cm thick. The coffin is made by canary wood of 10cm thick. The mummy was a man of 60 years old. The mummy was covered by cloths and soaked in perfume. The mummy was exposed by workers before archaeologists arrived.

The mummy was buried with three pillows, a pair of boots, four silk blouses, 10 brocade blouses, 9 ao liem (blouse for the dead), two cloth bags. Items show that the mummy is a rich man in the late 18th century. The mummy was buried at the Nhat Tan Cemetery in May 2005.

The ancient tombs in Hung Yen and Hanoi are two among many ancient tombs that were destroyed by poorly-educated people.

Le Ngoc

Get Vietnam Visa in New Zealand (NZ)

n New Zealand, passport holders who would like to get visa to Vietnam are normally required to refer to the Vietnam Embassy here, addressed in Wellington. You also have another option, that is, getting visa on arrival through an online visa service. Click http://www.vietnamsvisa.com for more information about Vietnam Visa on Arrival.

Get Vietnam Visa in NZ: 2 ways

Get Vietnam Visa directly at the Embassy:

• Issuing unit: Vietnamese Embassy in New Zealand

• Processing time: 4 to 6 working days

• Processing fee: 40 – 85 USD/person

• Additional fee: Postal cost

• With Passport requirement

• How to get it? You reach this Embassy in person and follow the required procedures.

Get Vietnam Visa on Arrival via visa service:

• Issuing unit: Vietnam Immigration Department

• Processing time: 2 to 3 working days

• Processing fee: 21.25 – 40 USD/person (stamping fee NOT included)

• Without Passport requirement

World’s best street food listed by CNN

Certain cities around the globe have cult followings built entirely around their street-food cultures. Below, a definitive guide to seeking out the best bites in the world’s most bountiful (and greasy-fingered) destinations.

1. Hanoi, Vietnam

The narrow alleyways of the city’s Old Quarter yield a treasure trove of breakfast delicacies for the jet-lagged traveler. Street vendors set up as early as 5:30 a.m. to prepare sweet green rice wrapped in banana leaves, sesame- and coconut-filled dumplings in ginger syrup, and rich coffee poured over sweetened condensed milk (but watch the ice).

2. Los Angeles, California

Near L.A.’s MacArthur Park (at South Park View Street between Wilshire Boulevard and West 7th Street) is old-school vendors trade with hundred of local feature food stores.

3. Ensenada, Mexico

It’s a rare city in Mexico that doesn’t have great street food, but the tacos de pescado in the Baja port town of Ensenada, demand a special pilgrimage. Join the masses at the city’s fish market for corn tortillas piled high with battered fried halibut, shredded cabbage, pickled onions, avocado, jalapeños, and sweet-tangy crema-mayonnaise sauce.

4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The nation’s first capital is also home to some of its oldest and most beloved portable fare: soft pretzels, Italian ices, and, of course, cheese steaks, now being reimagined in Vietnamese and Mexican versions. Locals get theirs at the century-old, seven-block-long Philadelphia’s 9th Street Italian Market.

5. Singapore

In its many hawker centers (or food courts), such as Chinatown’s Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore delivers a civilized street-food experience — complete with table service. Patrons can usually ditch their belongings at one of the marked tables, browse the offerings (ranging from Chinese fish ball soup to spicy Malaysian pork-rib prawn noodles), and give their table number at the counter.

6. Puerto Rico

The food stands along Piñones Road about 30 miles east of San Juan make some of the island’s best frituras, or fried snacks: coconut arepas, piononos (plantains stuffed with beef), and bacalaítos, a mixture of pancake dough and salted cod. If you hit the strip around sunset, you might even catch an impromptu salsa-thon.

7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Health-conscious Cariocas, as locals are known, hit up Ipanema’s Sunday market in Praça General Osório square, open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., for grilled-shrimp skewers and the occasional dessert splurge: churros stuffed with dulce de leche. The less guilt-inducing alternative: a fresh coconut drink or an açaí shake from one of the stands along Copacabana Beach.

8. Marrakech, Morocco

In the city’s rambling medina, grilled-meat hawkers will cook to order any cut you bring from one of the many nearby butchers. In the evening, head to the night market at Jemaa el-Fna and settle in at the communal tables for chickpea stew, boiled snails, and strong mint tea poured the traditional way: from a pot held perilously high above the glass.

9. Brussels, Belgium

Art nouveau architecture, the European Union headquarters: Who cares? Brussels is all about the frites (which, we assume, account for the bulk of the nearly 250 pounds of potatoes a typical Belgian consumes annually). At the city’s standard-bearer, the Maison Antoine kiosk in Place Jourdan, the secret to success is in the sauces: pineapple ketchup, beer-flavored carbonnade, and mayonnaise so tasty it’s almost a dish unto itself.

10. Vienna, Austria

Stroll the city center and you’ll encounter numerous Imbisses, stands selling sausages and sliced Leberkäse (a baked loaf of ground beef and pork) topped with mustard and folded into Semmel rolls. And to try the local caffeine fix of choice, head to the cafés of the 18th-century riverside Naschmarkt for a Wiener Melange, an espresso drink with steamed milk and whipped cream.

11. Istanbul, Turkey

Happily for all the travelers who make their base in the Sultanahmet district (home to the Hagia Sophia), the stalls beside the nearby Grand Bazaar can compete with any in this food-rich city. Have your pick of mussel skewers in garlic sauce, grilled corn, roasted chestnuts, and permutations of kebab too plentiful to count. (Feeling adventurous? Try the kokoreç, chopped lamb intestines seasoned with hot pepper and oregano.)

12. Tel Aviv, Israel

Mouthwatering falafel abounds throughout the Middle East, but this waterfront city is also home to a unique treasure: the Iraqi Jewish specialty of sabich, a pita sandwich stuffed with fried eggplant, chopped hard-boiled egg, and pickled cabbage and beets. To get right to the source, head to the stands of neighboring Ramat Gan, where the dish was invented.

13. Bangkok, Thailand

For centuries, Thai food sellers operated out of boats along the canals that formed the city’s main transportation system. In recent years, roadside cafés have all but supplanted the custom, but at Taling Chan floating market on the western edge of the city, vendors still grill fish and steam crabs directly on their boats every weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

14. Portland, Oregon

With more than 400 carts selling everything from Korean tacos to Carolina-style barbecue, Portland is a microcosm of mobile meals. Lunchtime crowds gather near SW 10th Avenue and SW Alder Street; later on, night owls head across the river to SE 12th Avenue and SE Hawthorne Boulevard for deep-fried cherry pies and savory crepes, served until 2 a.m.

Publish Post

Vietnam Visa In India

               

All residents in India want to go to Vietnam for tourism, bussiness as well as others; they are obliged to have a visa before arrival in Vietnam. And there are two ways to apply Vietnam Visa as following:

Option 1: Get Vietnam Visa directly through Vietnam Embassy in India:
You can get Vietnam visa at Vietnamese Embasst in India; you go to Embassy in person and follow the required procedures. You will get Vietnam Visa within 5-10 working days with fee from 55 to 120 US each person. This below is Embassy address:

Embassy of Vietnam in New Delhi , INDIA
Address: 17, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021, INDIA
Phone: (91-11) 2301 98
Fax: (91-11) 2301 05
Email: sqdelhi@del3.vsnl.net.in; ebsvnin@yahoo.com.vn

Consulate General of Vietnam in Mumbai , INDIA
Address: B-306 Oberoi chamber New Link road andheri (w), Mumbai 400 053, India .
Phone: (9122) 2673 668
Fax: (9122) 2673 663
Email: vietnam@mtnl.net.in
Website: vietnam@mtnl.net.in; tlsq.mumbai@mofa.gov.vn

Option 2: Apply Vietnam Visa Online:
Getting visa on arrival is the most effective and easiest way for residents to obtain a visa. The procedure is simple and free. Travel agencies will be responsible for this service.

You can check out one of them:
http://myvietnam-visa.com/

The best way to get a Vietnam Visa?

Many have asked us that what the best way to get Vietnam visa is. The fastest and easiest way to get a visa to Vietnam is applying online for a Visa on Arrival through a travel agent. You will get your Visa Approval Letter (or Visa Pre-approved Letter) after 2-3 working days (normal) or 1 working day (urgent). All you have to do is just to fill in this secure online form at http://myvietnam-visa.com/apply.html, pay the fee, and get your approval letter after 2-3 days. Remember to check you email after that as you will also receive 1 or two mails that instructs you how to use the approval letter later on.

The other way is to get normal Vietnam entry visa (to be received before traveling) directly at Vietnam Embassy in your country. This takes time (around 4-10 days) and requires many procedures. So the former is better!

The best way to get a Vietnam Visa?

Many have asked us that what the best way to get Vietnam visa is. The fastest and easiest way to get a visa to Vietnam is applying online for a Visa on Arrival through a travel agent. You will get your Visa Approval Letter (or Visa Pre-approved Letter) after 2-3 working days (normal) or 1 working day (urgent). All you have to do is just to fill in this secure online form at http://myvietnam-visa.com/apply.html, pay the fee, and get your approval letter after 2-3 days. Remember to check you email after that as you will also receive 1 or two mails that instructs you how to use the approval letter later on.

The other way is to get normal Vietnam entry visa (to be received before traveling) directly at Vietnam Embassy in your country. This takes time (around 4-10 days) and requires many procedures. So the former is better!

Saint Giong Festival – On the way to become an Intangible Heritage of Humanity

Following to the two former Intangible Heritages of Humanity, Nha nhac (the Royal Refined Music) and The Cultural Space of Gong, Giong Festival now “meets enough standards to be recognized as a new intangible cultural heritage”, affirmed by Katherin Muller-Marin, head of UNESCO’s office in Hanoi. At the present, Giong Festival passed the UNESCO’s first round.

Saint Giong Festival in Phu Dong Village, Gia Lam, Hanoi

Saint Giong Festival is a unique traditional event in Vietnam, held annually from the 6th-12th of the fourth lunar month in many places in Vietnam. However, the 9th of the fourth lunar month is the major day for the biggest Saint Giong festival at Phu Dong village in Gia Lam district of Hanoi where this national hero, called Emperor Phu Dong was born. Legend has it that, at the age of three, he smashed a powerful army of invaders and protected peace for the country (defeated the An invaders). After the victory, he rode his iron horse up to the sky. In order to show their gratitude to the hero of Giong Village who sacrificed his life to fight invaders, the people proclaimed him Saint Giong.

Saint Giong

Saint Giong Festival has the attraction in perfecting mankind’s personality, folks acknowledge about this festival by folk poetry:

“Ai ơi mùng chín tháng tư
Không đi Hội gióng cũng hư mất người”

(Known as: “If anyone does not join Giong Festival on the 9th April, he will not become a good person”)

The festival is a chance for attendants to watch the performance of traditional rituals and artistic activities which have been handed down from generations to generations./.

Six provinces and cities in Vietnam and cities selected for national tourism years

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has chosen six provinces and cities to host the National Tourism Year, including Thua Thien – Hue in 2012, Hai Phong in 2013, Lam Dong in 2014, Thanh Hoa in 2015, Kien Giang in 2016 and Lao Cai in 2017.

The 2011 National Tourism Year will be held in Phu Yen province and central coastal provinces.
The National Tourism Year has become the largest event of the Vietnamese tourism industry for several years and will feature different themes.
The event is also synchronous with popular events in Vietnam and the world in order to promote tourism, social-economic development, and Vietnam’s foreign relations.
A quick travel note: Before visiting Vietnam, you should apply for a Vietnam visa.

Who requires a visa?
The following persons need a visa for the United Kingdom:
(a) Nationals or citizens of the following countries or territorial entities:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape , Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, People’s Republic of China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea (North), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome e Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, The territories formerly comprising the socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(b) Persons who hold passports or travel documents issued by the former Soviet Union or by the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
(c) Stateless persons.
(d) Persons who hold non-national documents.
What documents will be required?
You should have the following documents when coming to the United Kingdom as a visitor:
- a letter from your employer granting leave of absence from your job for a specified period. The letter should also say how long you have been employed by that employer, in what job(s) and should indicate when you are expected back at work;
- if you are self-employed, evidence of your business activities and financial standing;
- evidence of any property you own in your home country;
- if you are a student, a letter from your school or college stating which course you are on, its start and finish dates and the dates of the holiday period during which you intend to visit the United Kingdom;
- it will also help if you can show that you have family or social ties and responsibilities to return to;
- evidence of any firm travel plans you have made;
- bank statements going back over a period of several months; and
- evidence of savings available to you.
You should check before you travel to see if you need a visa. If you regularly visit the United Kingdom for business you can apply for a multiple-entry visa as a visitor that is valid for two, five or 10 years. For more information on visas contact your nearest embassy or consulate.
Time required to issue visa:
Contact nearest Consulate for further information.
How do I apply?
You can apply in a number of ways, for example, by post, by courier, in person and online. Staff at the visa application centres will tell you about the ways in which you can apply.
Some visa sections will only accept applications made online. To find out if you can apply for your visa online please contact your nearest consulate.
If you cannot apply online you will need to fill in a visa application form. You can get a form, free of charge from the visa section of your nearest visa application centre.
You can apply for a visit visa or EEA family permit at any visa application centre overseas. If you are applying from within the EEA, you will need to show that you are living legally in an EEA member state. Living legally includes having a visit visa for the member state. For all other types of visa, you should apply in the country of which you are a national or where you legally live.
In some countries, if you are applying for a visa to stay in the UK for more than six months, you may need to be tested for active tuberculosis before we will accept your application. You can find out if you need to be tested by using our Do I need a visa? questionnaire on the homepage of this website, or by contacting your nearest visa application centre.
What is the cost of a visa?
Category – Visit
Single, double and multiple, valid up to 6 months £65
Longer term multiple entry (1, 2, 5 and 10 years) £205
Academic visitor, up to 12 months £65
Family £65
Business £65
Marriage/civil partnership £65
Medical treatment £65
Student visitor, up to 6 months £65
Child visitor £65
Agreed Destination Scheme (ADS), up to 30 days only £65
Joining ship/aircraft £45
Transit £45
Direct Airside Transit (DAT) £45
Visit Overseas Territory £44
Category: Study
Student £99
Student nurse £99
Prospective student £99
Writing up a thesis £99
Chevening Scholarship Free
British Marshall Scholarship Free
Rhodes Scholarship Free
Fulbright Scholarship Free
Chevening Fellowship Free
Exchange student £99
Resitting exams £99
Sabbatical Officer £99
Student dependant £99
Parent of a child at school £205
Category: Employment
Clinical attachment and dental observation £205
PLAB Test £205
Postgraduate doctor £205
Postgraduate dentist £205
Work Permit Holder £205
Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) £205
Training and work experience (TWES) £205
Overseas qualified nurse/midwife £205
Work permit dependant £205
How long is the visa valid for?
6 months or longer, depending on type of visa obtained
Other information:

What will I need to make my application?
This will depend on which category you are applying for entry under. In all cases you will need to make your application online or fill in an application form. You will also need the following.
- Your passport or travel document.
- A recent passport-sized (45mm x 35mm), colour photograph of yourself.
This should be:
- taken against a light coloured background
- clear and of good quality, and not framed or backed
- printed on normal photographic paper, and
- full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless you wear this for cultural or religious reasons (but             the face must not be covered).
- The visa fee. This cannot be refunded, and you must normally pay it in the local currency of the country where you are applying.
- Supporting documents relevant to your application.
What is ‘biometric’ information?
All UK visa applicants, save for those benefiting from a limited number of exemptions and exceptions, are required to provide biometric data (10-digit fingerscans and a digital photograph) as part of the application process.
You will have to go to your nearest visa application centre in person to provide your biometrics. In those countries where there is no visa application centre, you will need to go to the British mission.
Your visa application will not be processed until you have provided the necessary biometric information. The finger scans are electronic so staff do not need to use any ink, liquid or chemicals. You will have your digital photograph taken at the same time and the whole procedure should take no more than five minutes to complete. You should make sure that you do not have any decoration (such as henna), or any cuts or other markings on your fingertips before having your finger scans. You should also make sure that if you have any cuts and bruises on your face, they have healed or disappeared before you have your photograph taken. Digital photographs must be of your full face and you should not wear sunglasses, a hat or any other head covering (unless you wear it for cultural or religious reasons but the face must not be covered).
What will happen when I make my application?
The Entry Clearance Officer will try to make a decision using your application form and the supporting documents you have provided. If this is not possible, they will need to interview you.
Please check your visa when you get it. You should make sure that:
- your personal details are correct
- it correctly states the purpose for which you want to come to the UK, and
- it is valid for the date on which you want to travel. (You can ask for it to be post-dated for up to three months if you do not plan to travel immediately).
If you think there is anything wrong with your visa, contact the visa section immediately.
Can I extend my stay in the UK?
In some circumstances you may be allowed to stay longer. For example, if you are entering the UK to marry or to enter into a civil partnership with someone who is already present and settled in the UK, you can apply to stay as a husband or wife or civil partner after your marriage or civil partnership has been registered. The UK Border Agency will deal with your application and they can provide more information.
Can I work in UK?
If you are an overseas national who is not settled in the UK and you intend to work in the UK, you must have a work permit unless you are:
- an EEA national
- a Swiss national
- a family member of an EEA or Swiss national who is in the UK exercising their treaty rights or a family member of an EEA or Swiss national who intends to join them in the UK, or is travelling with them to the UK
- a citizen of Gibraltar
- a Commonwealth citizen with permission to stay in the UK on the basis of UK Ancestry
- a seaman under contract to join a ship due to leave British waters
- a person employed as a civilian in NATO Forces
- a person given permission to stay as the dependant of a person settled in the UK
- a dependant under another category (in some cases), or
- a student (in some cases).
If you are on a Student Visa, you can take part-time or holiday work, but you must not:
- work for more than 20 hours a week during term time unless your placement is part of your studies, has been agreed with your educational institution and leads to a degree or qualification awarded by a nationally recognised examining body
- do business, be self-employed or provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer, or
- work full-time in a permanent job.
Embassy contact information:
Please contact the nearest UK Embassy for information on what documentation you may require to enter the UK.
Disclaimer: The contents of these pages are provided as an information guide only, in good faith. The use of this website is at the viewer/user’s sole risk. While every effort is made in presenting up-to-date and accurate information, no responsibility or liability is accepted by the owners to this website for any errors, omissions, outdated or misleading information on these pages or any site to which these pages connect or are linked.
Source & Copyright: The source of the above visa and immigration information and copyright owner/s is the:
- The UK Border Agency – URL: www.ukvisas.gov.uk
- The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office – URL: www.fco.gov.uk
The viewer/user of this web page should use the above information as a guideline only, and should always contact the above sources or the user’s own government representatives for the most up-to-date information at that moment in time, before making a final decision to travel to that country or destination.

About 450 kilometers north of HCMC, on National Highway 1A, Nha Trang City is known for its eucalyptus trees, white sand dunes, lagoons, beaches and Islets. It’s the home of aloe wood trees and yen sao (bird’s nest).
Tourists to Nha Trang should not miss a cruise around Nha Trang Bay to explore the four islets: Mun Island, Mot Island, San Island and Mieu Island.
The Mun Island is popular for scuba diving. Formed by piles of giant black rocks, the islet looks amazing surrounded by pure blue water, white sand and millions of pebbles.
Tourists can dive to eight to ten meters to admire colorful corals and fish. Scuba diving, along with diving instructions and equipment, costs about VND500,000 per person.
A motor boat trip or a parachute trip costs VND300,000. For those unafraid of heights who have a bigger budget a balloon will take you up to see an amazing birds-eye view of the Bay.
The next stop is Mot Island where boats anchor together like a large floating raft. Tourists can enjoy some local specialties and attend a wine party. A wine party is a drinking game where you throw a buoy into the sea and put some bottles of wine on it. The aim is to get the bottles of wine out of the buoy. The game is usually played with loud music playing and is lots of fun.
After Mot island the cruise goes to Soi Island for a lazy break on the beach’s deck chairs. Wooden boats are available to rent to drift along the beach and collect colorful pebbles.
The cruise ends with a visit to Tri Nguyen Aquarium. For ticket cost of VND25,000, follow the tour around the mountain to a gate in the shape of a giant fish’s mouth. Designed as an eighteenth-century battle ship, the aquarium has a wide array of fish, corals and other marine species. The souvenir shop offers handicrafts such as mother-of-pearl encrusted paintings, pearl-made jewelry, brocade cloths and scarves.
Come to enjoy, you will like it very much. Please be kindly advised that  you should apply for  visa before coming to Vietnam.
VietNamNet/SGT

Latest news about Visa Fee Exemption

Agreements on Vietnam visa exemption has been signed with 55 countries (56 agreements), among 54 agreements has entered into effect except 2 agreements (With Angola and Brazil). Tourists in these countries will be exempted visa for entry, exit and transit. The duration of stay subject to visa exemption begins from the date of entry.
On October 10^th to create advantages for tourists come to Vietnam, the latest policy of the visa fee exemption took effect after the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) had issued guidelines on the policy over weekend.

Ngyen Manh Cuong, Director General of VNAT’s signed a document, said that visa fee exemption would be granted between October 10, 2010 and December 31, 2010 to foreigner visitors.
However, it is just granted for those tourists who buy packaged tours from international travel companies who have registered to join the country’s tourism marketing campaign named Viet Nam – Your Destination.
Last month the new policy for international travelers to the country following a request from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
was announced by the central Government.
The traveler purchase “Vietnam- Your destination” will not be entitled to Vietnam Visa exemption if they purchase “Vietnam – Your Destination” program’s tours but make their tours after December 31.
Last month, over 383,000 tourists in the entire world came to Vietnam, so the total number of foreigners’ arrivals rose more 3.73 million in January and in September it increased more 34.2% year on year.
Visa service:
http://myvietnam-visa.com/

Miss Earth contestants visit Vietnam

Maricelle Rani Wong from Singapore said she was surprised to see such as big waste treatment site. As the second-year student at the National University of Singapore, Wong has visited several rubbish dumps in Singapore but they are much smaller than the one in HCM City in Vietnam.

Other contestants and Miss Earth 2009 showed their interests in the introduction of Kevin Moore, general director of the Vietnam Waste Solutions, the investor of Da Phuoc rubbish dump, about the waste treatment process.
During the trip, the contestant from South Africa consistently took notes in her small notebook while the contestant from Guatemala raised many questions about the treatment process.
After the field trip, contestants met with local women.
Tonight, November 9, 20 out of nearly 90 contestants will perform their talents in the Talent Show at the Diamond Palace in HCM City.