Festival promotes culture, tourism

More than 10,000 tourists and locals gathered on Lang Co Beach in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on July 9 for the opening of the Lang Co Festival 2011.  The two-day event, which aims to feature the natural and cultural beauty of  Lang Co – Canh Duong and introduce its potential for tourism, is just one of the activities planned to prepare for the National Year 2012 which will be hosted by Thua Thien-Hue. Highlights of the event included beach football and volleyball, surfing, boat and coracle races and exhibits of miniature models of ships and aircraft. The event also aimed to review the contributions Lang Co had made to promoting tourism development in the province two years after it was recognised by Worldbays Club as one of the World's Most Beautiful Bays.  Lang Co Bay became the 30th member of the World's Most Beautiful Bays club (Worldbays Club) at a ceremony held at the club's fifth conference in Setubal , Portugal , from May 15-17. According to the club's General Secretary Bruno Borda, Lang Co was selected because it still maintained its natural beauty and was almost intact. Lang Co is Vietnam 's third bay, after Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh and Nha Trang Bay in the central province of Khanh Hoa, to join the Worldbays Club. Lying between the cities of Da Nang and Hue and in proximity to Hai Van pass, the Bach Ma Natural Reserve and an ancient fishing village in Thua Thien-Hue, Lang Co Bay presents a wonderful view of people living in harmony with nature. The bay is lined by a 13km long white sand beach and is filled with blue water. One of it's most beautiful features is the Lap An Lagoon, a brackish water lagoon covering 1,500ha which is rich in natural resources. Located on the Central Heritage Road, Lang Co is very close to several famous world heritage sites including the royal citadel of Hue, Hoi An Ancient Town and the My Son Cham Tower complex in Quang Nam province, and Phong Nha Cave in Quang Binh province.

Madagascar Travel Guide

 Madagascar Travel Guide

A jaw-dropping, wildlife-drenched hotspot, Madagascar is one of the most interesting places on earth and home to some of the weirdest and rarest animal species in existence.

The film Madagascar may have brought the island to the big screen, but seeing is believing, and with over 70 varieties of lemurs Madagascar is more colourful than even Hollywood captured.

Rome travel guide

 Rome travel guide

Rome is like a moveable feast of endless courses. No matter how much you gorge yourself on its splendours, you rarely feel you’ve made it past the antipasti.

Few cities offer such variety and few visitors leave without a fervent desire to return. As the seat of the Italian government and home to the Vatican, Rome is a city with genuine capital credentials. From the remains of its imperial glory days to the Renaissance and Baroque riches of its historic centre, Rome is a glorious architectural patchwork, a living masterpiece.

But while there’s no escaping Rome’s illustrious past, modern Romans embrace the present. So do as they do and throw yourself in to the life of the city. Walk the cobbled streets between centuries-old ruins, drink too much wine and coffee, browse heritage markets and grand museums, and eat too much gelato. After all, that’s what the dolce vita (sweet life) is all about.

Travel Guides 2012 

Japan Travel Guide

 Japan Travel Guide

Japan is swathed in natural beauty, from the snow festivals and lavender farms of the northern isle of Hokkaido to the sun-drenched beaches and turquoise waters of the subtropical islands of Okinawa. Whether climbing volcanic Mount Fuji, wandering the pine forests of Mount Koya, taking in the springtime beauty of the sakura cherry blossoms or the spectacular maple leaves in the autumn, a journey to Japan is a wealth of unforgettable natural landscapes. In recent years, the powdery snow of Japan’s ski fields has also been attracting international visitors.

Culturally, Japan offers a unique and exciting fusion of the traditional and the modern. The speed at which new technological developments are realised in Japan is as impressive as the longevity of traditional art forms and customs. Whilst it is no longer the economic powerhouse it was for the greater part of the 20th century, Japan is still a world leader in innovative design and fashion, and continues to offer superb customer service, clean and punctual trains and meticulously prepared and presented cuisine.

Brunei Travel Guide

 Brunei Travel Guide

Thanks to sizeable deposits of oil and gas, the tiny tropical sultanate of Brunei Darussalam has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Its two non-contiguous territories, situated on the northern coast of Borneo in South-East Asia, are home to some of the region's most pristine rain forest habitats.

The country only gained independence in 1984, but has the world's oldest reigning monarchy and centuries of royal heritage. At the helm of the only remaining Malay Islamic monarchy in the world, the Sultan of Brunei comes from a family line that dates back over 600 years. The current sultan, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, has been on the throne for 43 years and is one of the world's richest individuals.

Decoding Italy’s menu mysteries

 Decoding Italy’s menu mysteries

The search for common ground between food lovers and weight-watchers, bargain-seekers and luxury-lovers ends in the most unlikely place: Italy. The country has reached the end of the reign of culinary extremists like chef Elena Fabrizi, whose restaurant sign on Rome‘s Isola Tiberina commanded non solo primi (no first courses only) as mercilessly as any emperor’s edict at an ancient Roman bacchanal. Tourist menus may still try to convince novices that pasta, mains and dessert are essential to the Italian restaurant experience, but Italians are no longer buying the three-course mandate.

Italy’s modern meal plan

Never fear, Italy has not gone on a diet – che orrore! the horror! – only become a bit more practical over the past decade. In Italy’s urban centres, tighter budgets have made ordering ample first courses such as pasta or risotto a decadent yet sensible choice. Many modern Italian workplaces are following Milan‘s trend-setting example of reducing the traditional three-hour pausa (break) between noon and three to a more literal lunch hour (well… hour and a half). This abbreviated lunchtime is good for shopping, and bad for sobriety. Beware Milan’s stylish Quadrilatero d’Oro, where Franciacorta and espresso imbibed in rapid succession with a light pasta can induce a woozy, giddy state that make psychedelic Pucci-print halters seem like must-haves with Missoni zig-zag tuxedo pants.

New tour of historic sites in Thang Long-Hanoi

 New tour of historic sites in Thang Long-Hanoi

Domestic and foreign visitors will soon have the chance to learn more about Hanoi and its history by taking a “Thang Long-Hanoi city tour – a journey through history” specially designed to celebrate of the capital’s forthcoming millennium anniversary.

The tour will take visitors to destinations in Hanoi that have made a significant cultural, humanitarian, architectural or social contribution to the city during the country’s history.