The two spots have been officially nominated for biosphere reserve status by UNESCO’s Vietnam Committee.

The nomination will be part of the 21st session of the International Coordination Council of Man and the Biosphere Programme, to take place on the Republic of Korea’s Island of Jeju from May 25-29.

According to the UNESCO Vietnam Committee, the two sites are likely to be added to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves as conservation areas that focus on sustainable development as well as environmental protection.

Truong Van Bay, vice chairman of Hoi An and a member attending the session, said the recognition would enhance the appeal of nearby Hoi An, a World Heritage site.

The Cham Islands consist of eight small islands and are about 20km offshore from Hoi An City in Quang Nam Province.

In the seabed of the archipelago there are 135 species of coral, including six species that were first recognised in Vietnam, and nearly 950 other marine species, including many endangered species in the Vietnam Red Book list.

The southern point of Vietnam in southern Ca Mau Province is well-known for its bird sanctuaries and is home to the cajeput and mangrove ecosystems.

Vietnam currently has six UNESCO-recognised biosphere reserves, including Can Gio Mangrove Forest, Cat Ba National Park, Cat Tien National Park, Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve and the Tay Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.

(Source: VNA)

The Sang, member of the Vietnamese Photographers’ Association in Germany, brings to his photo exhibition opening on May 13 more than 50 photos out of a collection he made during his tours of Hanoi, Hue City, HCMC, and cities in the Netherlands, Italy and Germany.

The photos feature middle-aged Vietnamese women wearing traditional ao dai during their visits to pagodas, and young Vietnamese and foreign girls in innovated ao dai during festive days and beauty feasts.

The photo show will last until July 31.

(Source: VOV)

A host of activities will mark the run up to the event, starting with a musical show on May 19 to commemorate the birthday of late President Ho Chi Minh.

During the rest of the month, other performances will be held to herald the fest, including a show by ethnic children in Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Ninh Thuan provinces. An official campaign to clean up local beaches and an exhibition of metal work will also be held.

A grand fireworks display will announce the opening of the festival with musical performances sponsored by VinaCapital.

The seven-day programme includes 70 different events in culture, art, sports, economics and science.

Folk culture will also get a special mention, with the Cau Ngu Festival (fish worshipping ceremony) and Cham performances.

There will be coracle racing, an exhibition of calligraphy, art kite launching and a sand sculpture contest.

Organisers are also intending to break several national records, including the largest folk orchestra in Vietnam, the biggest wifi cafe at the seaside, the longest piece of embroidery work and the largest pho (noodle soup) bowl in Vietnam.

This year’s festival will feature a broad range of culture, sports and tourism activities, including street festivals, exhibitions of books, photos and calligraphy, French film screening, art performances and water sports competitions.

The fest has drawn art troupes from France, Ukraine, Japan and the RoK. The organising board will also invite beauty queens from the 29 countries with the most beautiful bays in the world to attend the festival. Other highlights include a national conference on urban planning, a beach football tournament, an international book fair and a joint Vietnam-RoK concert.

Nha Trang is one of the most important tourist hubs of Vietnam, thanks to its white beaches, clear ocean water and year-round mild temperatures.

The Sea Festival is held in Nha Trang City every two years. In 2007, around 250,000 tourists attended, according to the organising board.

(Source: VNA)

The festival, the first of its kind in France, will be jointly organised by Vietnam Airlines and the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and aims to introduce the country’s premier landmarks and tourist sites to foreigners, and realise the government’s goal to maintain economic growth, stimulate demand, and boost consumption and service exports.

Twenty-five tourism management agencies from sea tourism-rich provinces and cities, such as Khanh Hoa and Danang, will join leading hotel, travel and coastal resort businesses at the festival.

The France Chamber of Commerce and Industry and hundreds of investors and travel agencies from France and other European countries are expected to attend the event.

Local visitors will have the opportunity to better understand the traditional culture, land and people of Vietnam through a variety of performances, exhibitions and handicraft product displays, as well as activities featuring the daily life of coastal residents.

The festival is an invaluable opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to seek European partners, and particularly for BIDV to cooperate with the leading financial institutions of France and Europe

BIDV will host a seminar calling for investment in tourism projects in Vietnam. The bank has arranged more than USD2 billion for nearly 20 projects in popular coastal cities around the country, including Danang, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Haiphong and Quang Ninh.

Vietnam Airlines General Director Pham Ngoc Minh says the event will help promote Vietnam to the European community, thereby increasing investment efficiency and the number of visitors to Vietnam.

In early February, Vietnam Airlines participated in the annual Brussels Tourism Fair in Belgium, where experts forecast that Asia, and Vietnam in particular, remain attractive destinations for European travelers.