All About World Heritage Sites
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The central coastal province of Quang Binh has attracted 14 investment projects with nearly VND3 trillion (US$129 million) in total capital into its industrial parks and economic zones so far this year.
Source: Quang Binh attracts 14 investment projects in five months
Ripe rice season at Tam Cốc-Bích Động tourism site inside the Tràng An Landscape Complex in northern Ninh Bình province is a highlight of the ongoing Ninh Bình Tourism Week.
1: Halong Bay, Vietnam
The Vietnamese call it the ‘Bay of Descending Dragons’. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site in 1994. Most visitors regard it as a highlight of their trip to Vietnam. There’s no denying that Halong Bay is one of the most breathtaking bodies of water in the world.
The bay is dotted with thousands of towering limestone pillars and tiny islets, which rise from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Fishermen still ply their trade here, living on floating villages and casting their nets between the karsts, and a variety of tourist vessels ply the waters every day. An overnight cruise is best.
2: Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
Imagine a Norwegian fjord plonked down in the sunny Adriatic, and you have a rough idea of the immense beauty of the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and dotted with ancient villages and medieval churches, it is an irresistible spectacle. Perhaps that why the locals simply call it ‘Boka’ – the Bay.
La Han Bay, Vietnam
You can’t travel to Vietnam without visiting the Halong Bay Area, which is comprised of three bays. Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s top tourist destinations and a World Heritage site. That means it is teeming with tourists who wait in line for cruises that showcase the bay. We recommend heading out to the 300 islands and limestone outcrops of Lan Ha, which are just as beautiful as Ha Long Bay. They also include beautiful white-sand beaches that tourists miss out on by opting for the more popular cruise. The Lan Ha Bay area has few tourists, and it’s an easy day trip to organize kayak or sailing trips from Cat Ba Town.
Champagne Pool, New Zealand
A terrestrial hot spring located on North Island, the volcanic Champagne Pool was formed after a hydrothermal eruption over 900 years ago. It’s called “champagne” because there is so much carbon dioxide that the pool bubbles up, similar to champagne. Mineral deposits cause its unusual colors. The pool will wring you out, however – it tops off around 163 degrees Fahrenheit. Swim at your own risk.
Read more from source: 6 Amazing Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations for Photographers -DesignBump
Vietnam is one of my favourite countries to visit. From my first few days in the country, I was absolutely hooked! There are so many beautiful places in Vietnam, amazing things to see and do, not the mention the delicious food and the epic coffee (make sure you try it iced!).
It’s been a little while since I visited, and I’d love to go back to Vietnam, so I asked my fellow travel bloggers to tell me what they think the most beautiful places in Vietnam are to see what awesome places I haven’t yet been to.
And here’s what they think should be on your Vietnam bucket list!
Mai Chau
By Elizabeth from Compass and Fork
Beautiful green rice fields dominate the Mai Chau valley in Vietnam. With a little elevation, the heat and humidity which can zap your energy in Vietnam is not as oppressive in this lush, picture postcard perfect valley.
About 4 hours’ drive southwest of Hanoi, the Mai Chau valley provides a perfect way to experience rural Vietnam.
Read more from source: 21 of the Most Beautiful Places in Vietnam – Migrating Miss
Captain Tho Pham first went out to sea when he was 14 years old. Now, he’s been a junk skipper in Halong Bay for more than a decade.
He knows his way through the tangle of islands that cover Halong as well as anyone alive.
“Long ago, our forefathers were fighting to resist an invasion — just one of the many we’ve fought off over the centuries,” says Captain Tho as he guides his 55-meter junk boat between rearing limestone outcrops.
“Legend has it that the gods sent a family of giant dragons to help us. The dragons spat great blocks of jade, the size of mountains, which formed this barricade of islands and blocked the invasion.”
Wherever you travel in Vietnam, complex legends and myths are commonplace, so it doesn’t surprise me to hear there’s more to this tale.
“Once the invasion was repelled, the dragon family decided to settle in the bay,” the captain continues. “Halong means ‘where the dragon descends to the sea’, and this is where the mother dragon came to live.
Hue city was Vietnam’s capital during the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. Its imperial relic site was listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1993.
The name Hue first appeared at the end of the 15th century during the reign of King Le Thanh Tong. In 1636, the Palace of the Nguyen Lord was located in Hue and later moved to Phu Xuan, now Hue’s inner city.
In the early 18th century, Phu Xuan was the political, economic and cultural center of the region then dominated by the Nguyen lords. From 1788 to 1801, the city was the capital of the Tay Son regime.
Historian Le Van Lan said, “The first two Nguyen emperors, Gia Long and Minh Mang, decided to transform Phu Xuan into the capital of Vietnam, thus the Hue Citadel was born. The city has played an extremely important role as the country’s political capital. Having become the imperial residence and the seat of the court, Hue acquired great prestige and great refinement”.
From 1802 to 1945, Hue was the capital of a reunified Vietnam under the rule of 13 Nguyen kings. During this period, many architectural works of great value were built.
Authorities have rejected an investor’s proposal to build a chemical factory near the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hạ Long Bay in the northern province of Quảng Ninh.
The project was proposed by Tân Tiến trading business and production limited company, which is headquartered in Hà Nội.
The economic zone management committee of Quảng Ninh Province’s People’s Committee rejcted the construction of the factory which was projected to annually manufacture 20,000 tonnes of Sodium hydroxide along with 20,000 tonnes of powder Poly Aluminium Chloride (PAC) and 3,600 tonnes of Javen (Natri hypochlorit) bleach.
The project was proposed to be located near Cửa Lục River which flows into Hạ Long Bay. Tourism agencies and planning, environmental experts have been worried that environmental incidents might occur and hurt the province’s tourism and service sector.
The committee will carry out investment procedures at another location if the company is still willing to invest in the factory.
The decision was made after the provincial economic zone management committee worked with the project’s investor, the ministries of natural resources, environment, industry and trade, scientists and local authorities.
Read more from source: Quảng Ninh scraps chemical factory plan
A project to encourage more people to cycle and help the environment has won an award.
The ‘Establishing Comprehensive Bicycle Plan and Free/low-cost Bicycle Sharing Programme in Hội An city’ project scooped the Global Urban Mobility Challenge Award of the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative.
Head of the city’s Culture and Information Office, Nguyễn Văn Lanh said the project, which was proposed by HeathBridge Việt Nam and the city with funding from German development agency (GIZ), will pick up the prize at an official ceremony for the 10 winning proposals in Leipzig, Germany on May 22-25th.
Lanh said the scheme aims to build up a master plan of ‘green’ and sustainable traffic development with two focuses on road traffic safety and community heath.
He said the project plans to launch the first free and low-cost bicycle for lease in the Public-Private Partnership co-operation and sharing with current similar services at hotels and resorts in Hội An.
The project also includes the development of a safe infrastructure for bicycle riders, offering opportunities for residents and tourists to cycle easier.
Read more from source: Hội An bicycle project wins global award
Whether you sit by them, swim in them, or sail on them, these beautiful bodies of water will refresh your senses and soothe your soul
1: Halong Bay, Vietnam
The Vietnamese call it the ‘Bay of Descending Dragons’. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site in 1994. Most visitors regard it as a highlight of their trip to Vietnam. There’s no denying that Halong Bay is one of the most breathtaking bodies of water in the world.
The bay is dotted with thousands of towering limestone pillars and tiny islets, which rise from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Fishermen still ply their trade here, living on floating villages and casting their nets between the karsts, and a variety of tourist vessels ply the waters every day. An overnight cruise is best.
2: Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
Imagine a Norwegian fjord plonked down in the sunny Adriatic, and you have a rough idea of the immense beauty of the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and dotted with ancient villages and medieval churches, it is an irresistible spectacle.
Read more from source: Bay watch! 9 of the world’s most beautiful bays
