http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/ en-us Nucleus CMS v3.24 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.saigontouring.com/blog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/ http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=57 null


null]]> General http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=57 Tue, 9 Dec 2008 18:47:25 -0500 http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=56 By Tri Dung
Early November a group of 26 students and 4 teachers from Northview secondary school, Singapore paid a week long tour to HCMC. The trip was conducted by Sapio & Vietcircle in Hanoi and HCMC. In HCMC they took a city tour and an excursion to Cu Chi and then, a day tour to My Tho, Mekong Delta. The special thing with this group is that the staff of Northview school aimed their students to learning the history of Vietnam and the hardship the Vietnamese had to paid in the past for regaining their independence as well as in framing today’s life. There are; thus, two lecturers in HCMC and one more in My Tho for embedding them with necessary information.
Initially at the History Museum of HCMC the group was briefed by Mr. Phan Xuan Anh, MBA, well-known travel service advisor in HCMC, lecturer at the International school for Tourism and Marketing, HCMC. The 4,000-year long path of national defense and reconstruction was recalled. The resettlement of the people in all places by no means lessened their unity and support for each other especially at risk of danger or being invaded. The nation’s thread binds everyone and all siblings will stand up arm in arm straight forwarding for salvation.
At the Cu Chi tunnels relic located some 65 km NW from downtown Saigon the group first met with Mr. Nguyen Tri Dung, a senior tour guide in HCMC. Named expert on smoke and fire Mr. Tri Dung gave the audience a 45 minute presentation on Vietnam war history threading from the first steps of the French in Indochina to the American involvement in the theory of Domino effect, from the ascalation of wars in Vietnam to the history-making moment of 11:30 hrs, April 30th, 1975 when the NLF troops marched onto the Independence Palace ending the war.
And, on the background, Cu Chi came up with a flame honoring the sacrifices and perseverence despite of land-shaking bombings and tunnel rats' ferocious attacks.
The hardship experienced by the local people was once again highlighted the day after in My Tho, Mekong Delta by Mr. Dang Van Thanh, Deputy Rector of the International school for Tourism and Marketing, HCMC. The mud coloring earliest settlers in the rice granary of Vietnam is now the mud in which the students stood half-legged in water catching fish, learning how to grow rice.
More than normal tourists’ enjoyment, the students learnt about humanity and the teachers were very pleased. Danz, one of the teachers, revealed the target of this kind of tour. Singapore is a high developed country. The young generation now have everything for a modern life. They have cell phones at hand; they have cyber games to be absorbed in. But, they only see sky scrapers blocking the blue sky; they enjoy comforts but know hardly anything about losses and sufferings taken by their parents and previous generations for their happiness today. The schools feel worried and need a change. They contacted and decided to go to Vietnam. They at last selected HCMC and Mekong Delta since this region has lots of things to see and learn in service of the targets aimed.
History and Hardship tour is not a new thing abroad but for the Vietnamese market, it is. Vietnam has been preferred by foreign travel companies thanks to its long history of fighting the invaders and the hard working people along with their efforts in struggles across the country. Through those above-mentioned activities and even military training lessons or field attack rehearsals on request the students will learn about team building, hardship sharing spirits and eventually, love their family, society and nation more.
Vietcircle has been known for its success in mapping and operating this kind of tour. This time saw another fulfillment of commitment for this pioneer company.
For contact:
Vietcircle, 53C Ho Hao Hon, Dist.1, HCMC
Tel: 08.38389069
Website : www.viet-circle.com

null

]]> General http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=56 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:23:13 -0500 http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=55 Saigon Times Daily
While walking on downtown roads tourists, from guide books or accompanying guide’s explanation, learn that the French were first developers of this land by late 19th century whose heritage was the title “Pearl of the Orient or Paris of the Far East” being given to Saigon. One might thus wonder where the town of Saigon was first started in the French construction.
Two cardinal directions planned by the French architects are now Le Duan and Dong Khoi. The Norodom Palace built in 1873 and the Botanical and Zoological garden built in 1865 marked the first one, Avenue de Norodom. The road now connects the Reunification Conference Hall with the Zoo and History museum. It used to be called the Ambassadors’ road since for a time, the Embassies of the US, the French and Great Britain were located on the road. We can now see those reminders which are now the US Consulate General , French Consulate General and British Council to HCMC.
A walk on Le Duan Ave. has first photo opportunities from the palace itself and the scene of college students browsing on the internet in the park lining French-style cafés. In front of those historic buildings read more from the book or listen more to your guide about the presence of the French and the American in Vietnam. The tallest building in town, Saigon Trade center, 33 floors high, is also worth-photograghing. Just a few meters away, the History museum of HCMC should not be missed. Be in there for a visit to the museum, watch the water puppet show and take a rickshaw ride to the Central Post Office for the second cardinal direction.
La rue de Catinat, a ninety degre angle with the first one, stretches from the complex of Notre Dame de Saigon and Central Post Office, built in 1880 and 1871, to Majestic hotel, built in 1925. Spend half an hour for the church and the post office. Timing is best from 8-10 am for taking photos and a church visit. Do not forget to come and say hello to Mr. Ngo, an old retired postal clerk in this majesticly nice post office. He is now serving as the only and unique existing letter writer in Vietnam. That service was started by the French in 1871 when Saigon Post Office ( GPO ) was inaugurated.
The land marks on la rue de Catinat are the Continental hotel, the Opera House and Majestic hotel. The Continental is Vietnam’s oldest hotel built by in 1880. La rue de Catinat ( then Tu Do and now, Dong Khoi street ) was designed for a colonial French atmosphere of such a place teeming with monsieurs ( sirs) having fun with ladies in wine bars or casting eyes over cups of coffee to the pulled cart drivers to and fro whose lifestyle was another French heritage. Added to their enjoyment, Givral and Brodard cafés gave the road a more special flavor. The superior image of the road with more French buildings than any other road gave a prestige to itself. “ I saw him on Catinat yesterday” usually referred to high respect.
After 45 minutes of leisure walking from Notre Dame down to the Saigon river, one should be relaxing at Majestic hotel. Standing at 3 - 4 pm at the 8th floor restaurant promises a broad panoramic view of the Saigon river. Poke your camera to the ships, boats and people down there and achieve good photos.
The sun is going down ending a happy tour day. Nguyen Hue and Le Loi Avenues, in parallel with these two, have their own stories to tell visitors on next walking which always entertains people more with history on each stop.

]]> General http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=55 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:43:23 -0400 http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=54 For viewing a video clip ( 1'46" ) on mid-autumn lanterns visit :

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0URIX9XFbm4

Thank you!]]> General http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=54 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:15:04 -0400 http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=53 Every year busy or not at the beginning of the 8th lunar month I have to ridefour or five times through the quarters of Luong Nhu Hoc and Phu Dinh – Dist. 5. I stopped there gazing at the lanterns of various types and styles, Ðèn ông sao ( star lantern), ðèn býõm býớm ( butterfly ), ðèn kéo quân ( Parade ), to ðèn xếp ( Chinese lantern ) or battery lanterns brought a whole childhood back to me. The scenes of children shown by parents to the lanterns for a happy look and choice gave me a complete pleasure of coming back to the time when we were nine or ten.

My family was then a month-wage civil servant. My father earned just from hand to mouth so an expense for buying moon cakes was unaffordable. He saved to buy them by handing in a small amount monthly and two weeks before Tet Trung Thu ( mid-autumn festival ) he could come and take eight cakes wrapped in papers seen through with the oil absorbed from inside the cakes. And, every evening, after dinner, my father cut one into 4 pieces. One for my Dad, one for my Mom and I always had two pieces as the only son. Ðậu xanh trứng ( Cake with green bean and eeg ) is most tasty. I melted bit after bit in my mouth running about in the old small house dreaming of another half the next day.

One week before our kids in the hamlet talked about making lanterns. We came to Ton Tho Tuong st collecting extra bamboo tube; then cut into splints and shaped the frame. We bought cellophane and glued it to the bamboo frame. On the evening of the 14th of the 8th lunar month my mother prepared chè kho ( soft green lentil cake ) a special dish for me and my friends in the same hamlet. We played in the outer yard, hanging all the self-made lanterns from planes, stars, butterflies… on the wall, singing and eating che kho and then, with a lantern in hand, we strolled out to the street in the practice of ruoc den Trung Thu ( lantern parade on mid-autumn festival ) until late. Back home I still found half of the moon cake in the dish cover on the table. That late night I felt happier than any other day, never expecting that moment of the day would never die in the next fifty years.

Ups and downs of life came to me but the images and the contentment on Tet Trung Thu remain intact. Every time I see a lantern or a moon cake shop or hear the melodies of the song Ruoc den Trung Thu ( mid-autumn lantern parade ) I fret with obsessive memories of the past. Love from my poor parents seen through the cakes saved month to month and preparation of che kho sometime generously allows tears from the corners of my eyes. My parents both passed away; my childhood friends are now scattered. The lights and the warmth of those live in me and return every year when the calendar counts the 8th lunar month. In the childhood of my son, on this occasion, while tasting the sweetness of moon cakes I did not forget to retell him this story. He’s grown up from such a past & background and memories on his father as well as his grand parents. Soft education is thus successful and successive from generation to generation.
]]> General http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=53 Thu, 4 Sep 2008 21:08:57 -0400 http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=52 www.youtube.com
and search zoomsgn
and you'll find my video clips on Saigon and Mekong Delta.]]> General http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=52 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:00:38 -0400 http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=51
Le Loi Ave. was inundated on August 1. ]]> General http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=51 Sun, 3 Aug 2008 04:07:29 -0400 http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=50

With warmest thanks from Nguyen Tri Dung to all visitors. With special thanks to Pham Ngoc Than, USA and CVAs who from the very beginning have been constructive and cooperative in designing and building this website. With heartfelt dedication to my family who has been sharing the bitterness and happiness of a Tour guide's and realistic Writer's life. With deep sympathy to true Guides and Operators who have been at least once worried about Vietnam's tourism.



]]> General http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=50 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:57:48 -0400 http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=49 By ZOOM

Charles Percy was a US Senator from the State of Illinois in 1967. Vietnam war was then escalating. Percy came to Saigon in a Senator’s responsibility. In such commitment Percy flew to a village northwest of Saigon to investigate the sufferings of the local people. He was pressed down by fierce shelling to an underground shelter just after the helicopter landing. Fifteen minutes under heavy fighting and shelling was a century for that brave and proud Senator. Percy survived with living memory about war astrocity and that would be presented later to the Senate hearings in efforts to end the war.

Roger Dickerson Percy and his wife & son landed at Tan Son Nhut airport earlier this month in their father and grandfather’s utmost wish from across the ocean. Former US Senator Percy is very old now; he cannot come back to Vietnam; therefore, his next generation has that commitment. The special request had been delivered to Saigontourist long time before and a senior guide who is specialized in Vietnam war history has been reserved.

Dak Son, that was all given to Tri Dung, Saigontourist guide in preparation for such an excursion. The family arrived with no military map and relied all on Dung. That late night he burnt the midnight oil in search for the location of the geographic name. Even the telephone operator of Binh Phuoc province failed to pinpoint it as the guide tried earlier. Anyhow, Dung browsed the internet as well as reviewing his memory and at last, he found it. One mile from Phuoc Binh town, Binh Phuoc province. The clients burst out happy laughing in knowing that and early next morning they headed northwest with Dung sitting briefing on all events related to the situation from the Geneva Accords to the Paris Peace Agreement and the ending of the war.

The town of Phuoc Binh is 150 km from Saigon. Upon arrival, the group had a late lunch at TMT café on a red-soil road winding in immense rubber trees. Two young men there were earger to show the way. Five kilometers more on the way from Phuoc Binh to Buon Me Thuot the Percy saw an ethnic people village of the S’tieng and that was the place.

In a peaceful environment families were sitting outside, peeling off the cashew skin. Cameron Percy, the grandson, took a lot of photos as his parents bumped their hands onto the children’s in a greeting manner, Roger Percy was more curious on an old man who said he was born in 1931 and spent his time with the villagers. He nodded his head on hearing Roger’ s memory from his Senator father’s stories. Roger then shook Dung’s shoulders , “ You are fantastic. Your kindness will be remembered by our family”.

It rained on the way back but the clients did not care. They just waited for a stop. And that stop would be at a café with free wifi internet at town of Thu Dau Mot. A message was sent to the family briefing on the day’s itineraries. That evening, Loraine Percy, the former Senator’s wife called the young Percy congratulating on finding the place.

The visiting time at Dak Son village was only an hour but that gave pleasure to the family. It is an act of keeping the family’s fire of encountering hardships. They did come and they did win. His grandfather and now his parents showed the spirits, Cameron will be well educated by those shining examples. In serving the requests related to veterans and hardship-encountering and overcoming, Vietnam is an ideal destination. The return of Percy family is also in the scope of a hardship tour. Its success meets the utmost desire across the ocean and the need to show the next generation how difficult and challenging it has been with their predecessors. Fulfilling their jobs that way, the local travel agent is proud in being serviceable to top-notched clients who visit the country with nostalgia.
null

]]> General http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=49 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:43:24 -0400 http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=48

The Vietnamese learnt the planting and drinking pleasure of coffee from the French. It’s now , more than a habit, a lifestyle for almost everyone from town to country, from men to women, from a cyclo driver to an entrepreneur. One of the world’s largest coffee exporters, Vietnam is also home to a rather discriminating connoisseur of the bean : the civet cat, a relative of the mongoose that looks like a little fox. The cat chooses the beans through its complete digestive system. Later, after the cat has returned to its traditional forest habitat, human connoisseurs of coffee retrieve the undigested beans at the base of forest trees for recycling into what is said to be amongst the world’s best cups of coffee, ca phe cut chon or fox-dung coffee. One of the recipes is to dry the reclaimed beans in the sun for months. After the outer skin peels off, the beans are mixed with salt, butter, and sugar sometime, and a glug of French red wine. Then the beans are roasted.
Early in the morning, flavor of coffee occupies many kitchens. Urban officers get up and mix themselves cups of hot black coffee before opening the door to pick up morning papers or checking mails on the Internet. Two to three spoons of coffee before drops of boiling water warm up the powder in a single minute. A filterful of boiling water is to make best coffee if one drop after another counts in the cup and in this, there should be no haste. Also counting the drops of coffee but on a pavement is a motorcycle repairer. Sips after sips he takes and feels more and more ready for quick paces of a new day.
Having coffee is not only to be awake from sleeppiness but also and actually an invitation for pleasure. “Let’s go for a cup of coffee”, that sentence reveals friendship and openess. There are many stories and matters that cannot be smoothly spoken about at an office or in a big family environment but out there, in a free wifi internet café or just with a small broken table and two hard plastic stools on a sidewalk, the clients feel eager to get them clearly understood. In that sense people are enjoying the place rather than the drink. They need to wait for somebody, then, “ coffee, please !” or they are buying seats. But, there are other people who are different in taste. They are writers, they are lovers or they are true drinkers of coffee. The shop keeper might not know their names but remember their habits very accurately. They come punctually for an usual seat at a certain corner. Casting their eyes to busy life around they seemingly bury their minds in the level of the black susbstance in the cup. For them, a glass of iced coffee is just a mere and easy drink to fight the thirst, but a failure in tasting coffee. A cà phê ðen nóng ( black hot coffee ) is a must since they believe any mixture with coffee is to give wrong flavor of this black bitter drink . Coffee with milk is a compromise, they say.
Saigon is with not much rain and the heat from the sun can be blown away with the breeze. Of course, a good café on the pavement is not the one where you are to suffer dust, smoke and noise. Come to Han Thuyen street and have coffee there one early afternoon to experience cà phê vỉa hè ( café on the side walk ) in Saigon. Coffee along with breakfast at Givral or Gloria Jean’s ( formerly Brodard ) is really great at the beginning of a day. Having your day started that style there you can imagine la rue de Catinat once upon a time. On the same street many decades ago, on the verandah of Continental hotel, the Saigonese upper class mixed the flavor of the French beans with the pride of being on the nicest road of Pearl of the Orient and Paris of the Far East . Many decades have passed but the Saigonese and the Vietnamese in general are still “loyal” and prefer the patience in waiting for coffee drop by drop made in the cup to instant coffee. “I am not doing business; I am indulging myself in the pleasure of seeing one more inch of my mind opened as one more sip of coffee taken in”, commented many followers of this lifestyle.
]]> General http://www.saigontouring.com/blog/index.php?itemid=48 Mon, 7 Jul 2008 18:44:54 -0400