Ninh Thuan has been in the news recently as an ideal location for generating renewable energy. It was also in the news a few years ago as the site for nuclear power plants, plans for which have since been shelved. But this south-central province is notable for many other features that sets it apart from other locations in the country. One of the driest provinces in Vietnam marks the curve on the S-shaped nation’s coastline. Given its proximity to famous tourist destinations like Nha Trang and Da Lat, Ninh Thuan is surprisingly unspoilt. This arid land does not just boast a highly picturesque coastal route, it has a topographic diversity that situates it between the desert and the sea. It also carries vestiges of the Champa Kingdom, underlining the province’s historical importance. Two provincial routes are part of Ninh Thuan’s 107km long coastal road: DT701, from Ca Na to Phan Rang; and DT702, from Phan Rang to Binh Tien. One day on each route, visiting several … [Read more...] about You cannot go wrong, going to Ninh Thuan
Bao binh thuan
Colourful stones enchant at Binh Thuan beach
Kaleidoscope colours: Co Thach Beach and Co Thach Pagoda (called Cave Pagoda) in the province’s Tuy Phong District attract droves of photographers who arrive in the early morning to take shots of moss-covered stones that can look turquoise, purple, red or other colours, depending on the angle of the sunlight. But only 100 kilometres away is Co Thach Beach in the province’s Tuy Phong District, an unusual coastal site lined with seaweed-covered pebbles and rocks of varying shapes and sizes. In recent years, the area has seen thousands of people, mostly photographers, coming to visit between February and April to capture images of the rocks at sunrise and sunset. When the tide recedes, the green seaweed on the stones and rocks glistens in the morning sunlight and appears blue, but at noon it takes on a yellow hue. The stunning changes in colour can also be seen at sunset. For me, Co Thach Beach and Chua Hang (Cave Pagoda) nearby are part of my childhood memories with many … [Read more...] about Colourful stones enchant at Binh Thuan beach
Vietnam bans cars from stopping at BOT tollgates for more than 5 mins following protests
Transport authorities in Vietnam have ordered the operators of toll stations at BOT road projects to put up signs prohibiting vehicles from stopping at the stations for more than five minutes. The move comes in the wake of a series of protests at toll stations around the country that have led to serious traffic congestion. This solution aims to avoid traffic jams during the Tet holiday, and might be applied at toll stations across the country in the future, said Nguyen Van Huyen, director general of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam. "If drivers purposely plan to pay in small notes and take more than five minutes, they will be ordered to move to the side to complete their payments and allow other drivers through," added Huyen. The signs will also act as reminders that drivers should not disrupt services at the stations. Paying toll fees in small notes is not illegal, but drivers should prepare the notes in advance. If the payment process lasts more than … [Read more...] about Vietnam bans cars from stopping at BOT tollgates for more than 5 mins following protests
Co Thach Pagoda enjoys full range of landscapes
Co Thach Pagoda, or Hang Pagoda, located 105 kilometers north of Phan Thiet city in the central coastal province of Binh Thuan, is well-known for its elegant architecture and its perfect location.The pagoda was originally a thatch-roof hut constructed by the venerable Master Bao Tang in the middle of the 19th century and was rebuilt more majestically by Ho Cong Diem who named it Co Thach. It was recognized as a national landscape in 1993.Nestled amidst grottoes on a four-hectare rocky hill 64 meters above sea level, the pagoda is a complex of temples and towers that mingle with a pile of weird shaped boulders that form a natural work of art.The path and stairs leading up to the pagoda are made of stone and the balcony is decorated with dragons. On a nearby hill is a statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, and the pagoda has a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha.Hang Pagoda is surrounded by primitive trees and mysterious caves. On the winding way to the pagoda, tourists can see paintings depicting … [Read more...] about Co Thach Pagoda enjoys full range of landscapes
Ba Ria-Vung Tau clean up in national tourney
Vung Tau won two gold medals, two silvers, and one bronze in the national golf championship that was held at the Ocean Dunes Golf Club in the central province of Binh Thuan. The medals will count at the National Games to be held in Da Nang in December, with golf becoming a medal sport for the first time. Some other sports like shooting and archery will also follow their own schedule but their medals will be treated as a National Games medal. HCM City bagged two gold medals to finish second while golfers from host Binh Thuan won a silver and two bronze medals to finish third in the championship which ended on Sunday. Vung Tau's gold medals came in the women's individual and team events. In the former, it was a Vung Tau 1-2, with Tang Thi Nhung taking the gold with a score of 221 and Ngo Bao Nghi the silver. Their success also helped win the team gold medal. Vung Tau also won a silver medal in the women's team event and a bronze medal in the men's individual … [Read more...] about Ba Ria-Vung Tau clean up in national tourney
Announcing the results of Southeast art photo Festival 2014
(Cinet)- Examiner council of the 22nd Southeast art photo Festival recently announced winning works. The Southeast art photo Festival was launched by the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) and Tay Ninh provincial Literature and Arts Association. It received around 1,800 entries by 254 photographers from eight provinces including Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh and Lam Dong. The council selected 13 best works including: 01 gold medal, 02 silver medals, 04 Bronze medals and 06 consolation prizes. In which, photographer Ngo Dinh Hoa from Binh Thuan province won the gold medal entitled “To Quoc Goi Ten Anh”. The photo was highly appreciated by the judges as it captures the determined smile of young soldiers in naval uniforms, while reflecting their readiness to serve their motherland. Two silver medals went to Dang Kim Binh and Nguyen Bao Son, both from Ninh Thuan province, for their photos entitled … [Read more...] about Announcing the results of Southeast art photo Festival 2014
Vietnam to open 1st outdoor Sa Huynh cultural complex late this year
The central province of Quang Ngai will open the first outdoor Sa Huynh cultural relic preservation complex in Vietnam at the end of this year. The 20,000 square-meter area has been constructed under the project entitled “Bao ton va phat huy gia tri khu di tich khao co Sa Huynh” (“Preserve and improve the value of Sa Huynh archaeological relic site”). The complex is built in the area of Duc Pho District’s Pho Thanh and Pho Khanh Communes, where French archaeologist M. Vinet excavated and discovered 200 jar tombs and many objects related to Sa Huynh Culture in 1909. According to Dr. Doan Ngoc Khoi, vice director of the Quang Ngai General Museum, who has spent nearly his entire life researching Sa Huynh Culture, excavations since the beginning of the 20th century have proven that Sa Huynh existed in central provinces from Quang Binh to Binh Thuan. Two years ago, archaeologists also found traces of the culture in the northern province of Ha Tinh and Ho … [Read more...] about Vietnam to open 1st outdoor Sa Huynh cultural complex late this year
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 17/12
Customs signs agreement with banks for e-tax payment The General Department of Customs (GDC) on Tuesday signed a co-operation agreement with six commercial banks to implement a 24/7 e-tax payment scheme.The five local banks are Sacombank, VPBank, HDBank, LienvietpostBank, SCB and the foreign bank is Mizuho Bank Ltd. The e-tax payment through the six banks will be implemented from December 15.Speaking at the signing ceremony, GDC’s Deputy General Director Nguyen Duong Thai said the customs sector was required to upgrade its e-payment portal for the purpose of administrative reform.The e-tax payment would facilitate tax payment anywhere, anytime, reduce time and ensure immediate goods clearance. The customs authority will directly support enterprises to make payment documents from the original data and minimise errors in money transfer procedures.This could help shorten time to complete customs procedures for import-export activities to the average level of ASEAN-4 countries … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 17/12
Transportation via coastal shipping route surges 154%
Shipping volume through the coastal route of Quang Ninh-Quang Binh-Binh Thuan-Kien Giang in the first 10 months of the year rose rapidly.The increase in volume was pegged at 154 per cent to 21 million tonnes of cargo, as compared to the same period last year.The Ministry of Transport (MoT) revealed the information at a conference in Ha Noi on Wednesday.During the period, more than 23,000 river-sea compatible ships operated on the route, up 163 per cent, year-on-year.Head of the MoT’s Department of Transport, Tran Bao Ngoc, said that since its launch in July 2014, more than 46.8 million tonnes of freight, or 1,171 tonnes a month, had been transported through the route.At the conference, transportation businesses and localities stressed on the importance of the coastal shipping route, expressing hope that the MoT will support the development of coastal transportation.Lauding enterprises’ investment into the route, Deputy Minister of Transport, Nguyen Nhat, said this helped … [Read more...] about Transportation via coastal shipping route surges 154%
Social News 11/12
"Danish Week - Sustainable City Solutions" about to beginA series of events on sustainable city solutions will be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from December 12 to 17 within an initiative of the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam and co-organized by the National University of Civil Engineering in Hanoi (NUCE) and the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (UAH), with support from local authorities, organizations, and enterprises from Vietnam and Denmark.“Denmark is among the world leaders in green technology, and Green Growth is an important area of Vietnam and Denmark’s Comprehensive Partnership Agreement,” said Danish Ambassador H.E. Charlotte Laursen. “With this campaign we hope to create opportunities to exchange inspiration and knowledge with Vietnam on how to build green and sustainable cities.”With the theme “Danish Week - Sustainable City Solutions”, the campaign includes exhibitions, seminars, film screenings, masterclasses, and a … [Read more...] about Social News 11/12