Ho chi minh City names best tourism brands

Posted by admin on April 16, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info | Be the First to Comment

HCMC, the country’s biggest tourism center, last Saturday announced the best travel firms, hotels, travel websites, shopping venues and tourism service providers in the city.


Four businesses – Saigontourist Travel Service, Fiditourist, Ben Thanh Tourist and Vietravel – are all included in the lists of the top 10 inbound companies, 10 outbound companies and 10 domestic companies.

All these companies but Fiditourist are in the top five with the best e-commerce websites, together with Viet Media Travel and TST Tourist.

In the hotel category, there are five best five-star, five best four-star, and 10 best three-star hotels. The five-star Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers is the best hotels ho chi minh city for businessmen, and the InterContinental Asiana Saigon is the best hotel for meetings.

The top ten shopping venues include Tax Plaza, Vincom Center, Zen Plaza, Miss Aodai, Parkson, XQ Saigon, Khaisilk and PNJ jewelry shops.

Tourist parks, restaurants and transportation service firms in the city are also selected for their outstanding services.

The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism collaborated with the HCMC Tourism Association to organize the selection joined by tourism experts, customers and media to mark HCMC Tourism Day.

The four-day HCMC Tourism Day at the September 23 Park closed on Sunday. Around 80 tourism service providers occupy 140 of the 172 booths at the seventh annual event. Around 24 other provinces and cities joined to the gathering as well.

Source: SGT

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Stilt house, local artifacts preserved

Posted by admin on under Vietnam Culture, Vietnam Travel Info | Be the First to Comment

To many people, stilt houses are just a distant memory, but Roda Nai Linh from Don Duong District in the province of Lam Dong lives in one of those unique houses, full of Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) artefacts.


The house was built more than 60 years ago by Nai Linh’s father, and still has many of the original architectural features of the Co Ho ethnic group. Sitting 2m above the ground and split into two rooms, the house faces southeast and is 60 sq.m in area.

Many of the artefacts in the house are still used in the everyday lives and customs of the Co Ho, such as decanters, gongs, wooden trays, fishing-tackle, blankets and papooses, including one that belonged to Nai Linh’s great grandmother. There is also a valuable jar more than 100 years old through which ruou can (rice wine) is drunk out of a jar through pipes.

“All of them are from my great grandmother’s era. The Co Ho people in our M’ Lon Hamlet like to look after their antiques and maintain their cultural values. I hope the next generations will continue to uphold the traditions of our people,” said Nai Linh.

Her eldest daughter has spent over VND100 million (US$4,700) restoring the rear of their house.

Nai Linh’s house attracts many tourists. It is also the venue for family gatherings and ceremonies. However, there are very few stilt houses left in Lam Dong, due to the Co Ho tradition of dividing their property when their children marry.

The Co Ho people have a long history of traditional culture, but with the development of the economy and society, many of these traditions are gradually being buried. Nai Linh realised this, and was determined to preserve the house and artefacts that were handed down to her from her father and sisters. In her efforts to preserve and promote national cultural identity through her stilt house and artefacts, Roda Nai Linh deserves to be praised.

Source: VNS

Collected by Vietnam hotel

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