HCMC officially debuted its first-ever night tour on December 6 as part of activities in the HCMC Tourism Week, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
The tour offers visitors the opportunity to engage in cultural and artistic experiences, enjoy sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping activities, as well as explore cuisine and healthcare services at night. It is set to cover key destinations in District 1, including the Saigon Opera House, Ben Thanh Market, and the HCMC Museum of Fine Arts.
This is also one of the new products aimed at tapping into the potential for nighttime economic development and entertainment tourism in District 1 and HCMC.
Mai Thi Hong Hoa, vice chairwoman of District 1 People’s Committee, said that introducing night tourism products will boost visitors’ demand for commercial services in District 1, thereby contributing to promoting the city’s economic development.
Ha Nam – world’s leading regional cultural destination 2023
Among the World Travel Awards won this year by Vietnam’s tourism sector, the northern province of Ha Nam was, for the first time, honored as the “World’s Leading Regional Cultural Destination 2023,” overcoming other nominees such as George Town (Malaysia), Gjirokastër (Albania), Kathmandu Valley (Nepal), and Oaxaca (Mexico), according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
Ha Nam is endowed with such tourist attractions as Tam Chuc National Tourist Site, Dia Tang Phi Lai Pagoda, and Ba Danh Pagoda. The province is also well known for its specialties like Nhan Hau braised fish, Dai Hoang Lady Finger banana, Cheu Village spring rolls, Voc Village and Beo Village rice wine.
Covering 5,100 hectares in the limestone mountain range, the national tourist site of Tam Chuc has beautiful and majestic natural landscapes. In 2019, Tam Chuc Pagoda was selected to host the 16th Vesak Day, also known as the Buddha’s Birthday, attracting millions of Buddhist followers and tourists, local and international alike, thanhnien.vn reported.
Farmer finishes marathon under three hours
On November 19, at the first time participating in the Halong Bay Heritage Marathon held in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Nguyen Van Hong, 48, a farmer in Uong Bi City (Quang Ninh Province), arrived at the finish line after two hours, 51 minutes and 53 seconds, or sub 3 marathon, a result that can often be attained by professional runners.
Hong often gets up at 4 a.m. every day to run about 10km. Back home, he makes rice wine, feeds the pigs and takes care of his family’s litchi trees. He told thanhnien.vn that he has done so over the past three decades.
In 2020, Hong took part in the first 10km running competition held in his home province. In 2022, he participated in a 21km run held in Ha Long and finished it in one hour and 28 minutes. In November last year, at the same distance run held in Hanoi, he shortened his running time to one hour and 26 minutes.
Hong’s sub 3 marathon (running 42.195km in less than three hours) result at the Halong Bay Heritage Marathon went viral on social media. According to statistics of Vietnam’s Best Marathons, as of November 29, the country had 195 male runners and 15 female runners attaining sub 3 marathon.
Three decades making and selling masks
Bay, whose nickname is Bay Mask, is a 60-year-old man, who was born in the central province of Binh Dinh, and is now living in Go Vap District, HCMC.
As Binh Dinh is a cradle of hat boi, a genre of traditional theater, Bay fell in love with many hat boi’s characters when he was young. Seeing that few people earning a living by making masks of hat boi’s characters for sale, he decided to leave for HCMC to make and sell such masks there.
Bay told dantri.com.vn that it took him 3-6 hours to complete a mask. At first, he had to make a mold with clay; the mold was then covered with silicone; the mask was then formed in the mold using stone powder or synthetic plastic powder; he then used brushes to paint all the details on the mask and let it dry.
Over the past 30 years, Bay has ridden his old bicycle hawking his masks around the city. A small mask sells for VND185,000, a medium one VND480,000, and the biggest one VND520,000. The man said he could sell 4-5 masks a day.
