Trà Chanh - the lemon tea

‘Trà Chanh’ – the lemon tea

Ho Chi Minh lemon ice-tea

It was a weekday night when more than 200 youths gathered at a riverside area on Ton That Dam

Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 to enjoy lemon tea, the drink which has been called tra chanh chem gio (lemon tea for chit-chat).

Spending VND10,000 (US$0.48) for a cup of lemon tea, taking a canvas or a plastic chair and talking from 7pm to 11pm: that’s what hundreds local youths have done over the last two months in the area.

Hanoi lemon tea and ice-tea

The drinks were first sold at some small street coffee shops and then spread widely in Hanoi in recent years. To many young people, you can’t say that you’ve been to the capital city without having a cup of lemon tea on Nha Tho, Ly Quoc Su or Dao Duy Tu streets.

Lately, Hanoi’s tra chanh chem gio, which is considered a local specialty, has come to the southern city.

There are several areas where many teenagers gather to enjoy lemon tea, including District 1’s Nguyen Trai Street and the area near Coopmart Rach Mieu supermarket in Phu Nhuan District.

Still, the most crowded place is the riverside area at the end of District 1’s Ton That Dam Street.

“I feel a joyful atmosphere since there’s a lot of people here and it’s also cool here,” My Duyen, 18, a freshman at the Industrial University of HCMC, said in explaining why she likes to come to the venue once a week.

“I like such a crowded place,” Thuy Giang, 18, a first year student from the HCMC University of Economics and Law, added.

Street foods in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city.

Besides lemon tea, a group of vendors are always willing to serve customers famous street foods, including banh trang nuong (barbecued rice paper), ho lo nuong (barbecued meat balls) and pho mai que (fried cheese stick). Since they originated in Hanoi, lemon tea shops in HCMC also bring their customers a taste from the northern city through specialties like sua chua nep cam (yogurt mixed with sticky rice), nuoc sau (melon juice), hat huong duong (fried sunflower seeds) and Nem nuong (barbecued fermented pork).

 “I’ve brought all the ingredients from Hanoi, except for the lemons from Da Lat, so the flavor of lemon tea here and Hanoi’s famous lemon tea are not much different,” Minh, a shop owner on Ton That Dam Street, said.

Danh, a teenager who sometimes visits the area seven times a week, preferred the diversity of food and drink as well as the reasonable price.

“I drink Hanoi lemon tea and feel the same flavor here, but the atmosphere here is much joyful than there, I think,” he added.

Sourced: Vietnamtourism.com.vn

Money in Vietnam - How much you should tips for services in Vietnam

Money in Vietnam - How much you should tips for services in Vietnam

Money in Vietnam

You will be using local currency Dong (Vietnam dong). The dong (VND) is Vietnam’s official currency. Paper notes come in denominations of 200VND; 500VND; 1000VND;  2000VND;  5000VND; 10,000VND; 20,000VND; 50,000VND; 100,000VND and 500,00VND. In 2003, coins were reintroduced in denominations of 200 VND; 500 VND; 1000VND; 2000VND and 5000VND but after one year, coins are hardly to accept by people so now Vietnamese use papper money only.

The government Banks check rate is Vietcombank the website for exchange rates: http://www.vietcombank.com.vn/ExchangeRates/, if you exchange money from other banks the rate will be a bit lower than head bank.

Money for spending or payment:

The shops in tourists places love to get cashthan credit cards (not in local area such as northern provinces). Credit cards you can pay and the bank will charge on your credit card 3% or 4% or you can take money from ATMs. The ATMs dispense dong in 50,0000VND, 100, 000 VND, 200,000VND, 500,000VND denominations. The limit of 5,000,000VND for each withdrawal. ATMs will charge a fee of each transaction about 75,000d – 100,000d.

The USD, the government’s crackdown on the use of foreign currency within Vietnam, but all the most of shops still get US$. But the use of dollars is less easy than it used to be in the country. Exchange your money at the banks or other authorized currency exchange centers such as at the airport or post offices.

The banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8AM to 4PM lunch time is from 11:30 to 1PM you can exchange money from the bank, they will charge from 3 – 4%.

Credit cards payment: Many hotels, restaurants and shops centered in tourist area honor Visa, American Express, JCB Cards or Master Cards. Each transaction will be charged an additional 3 – 4%. VietcomBank offers cashes advances against your Visa or Mastercards Credit card if you need cash in a hurry.

Please Note with Travellers cheques: 

The travelers cheques are accepted in larger cities in Asia but can only be changed at the money exchanges or bank (particularly in Vietnam). Should remember bring your passport to present. It will be charged 2 – 5% transaction fee.

This process of changing travelers cheques in Vietnamcan be quite time consuming. An alternative to Travellers cheques are prepaid Cash cards that are preloaded with amount prior to travel. Funds can be withdrawn through local cash machines. If you travelling in remote areas you bring adequate funds in cash.

Tipping in Vietnam:

Major hotels and restaurants add a 5% service charge to bills you can choose no tip at these places.

Small tips are always a good things such as for drivers, waiters, boat and the tour guides.

For small services: if possible you can exchange money in Vietnam dong should be easy for you to tip

For Waiter, boat and other services: you can tips about 50,000VND to 100,000 VND (= $2 - $5) should be great for them.

For drivers: it depends on your using day, you can devide into day each day you tips for him $2/day.

For guide:$2/day/person should be good for him (her).

Hotel services:Government run hotels will add a 10% services charge on bill

Taxi:  a small gratuity should be greatly appreciated, tips are not necessary.

Restaurants & Bars: normally 10% service charge is already added onto your bill so many restaurants do not require tippings.

Porters: A tip for them will be greatly appreciated about US$ 2 – 5 that depends on you.

Other tips for budget:

Low budget: you can expect to spend up 25$ a day on food and lodging.

Middle – budget:You can enjoy good restaurant food,  stay comfortable in good hotels, hire cabs you can pend about $65 - $100/day.

High budget:Staying at the luxury hotel, eat at the luxury restaurant and good goods pend about $ 180 - $250/day should be good.

Useful tips:

You should store cash, credit cards, and other valuables in a safe place (in your safebox in hotel), if you have to bring with you should put in your back –pack and wear it carefully and keep an eye on your stuffs.

To calculate currency conversions you shoul bring a small calculator.

When you visit pagoda, you should leave some small donation into donation box just before you leave.

Hanoi shopping you can find more in this site: http://myvietnamtravel.net/vi/bvct/id87/Hanoi-Shopping/

Have a great journey,

Sourced by Myvietnamtravel.net

HANOI ART GALLERIES

HANOI ART GALLERIES

Hanoi has many art galleries, if you are considered to Art you might want to find some galleries in Hanoi, maybe for shopping or maybe you just want to have look and admire art. There are some famous galleries:
Nguyen Art Gallery
Add: 40 Hang Manh - Hoan Kiem - Hanoi
Tel: 04 3561146 / Fax: 04 35561147
Email: order@nguyenartgallery.com
Website: http://www.nguyenartgallery.com

A Dong Art Gallery
61 Trang Tien - Hoan Kiem - Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 39361477
Art Gallery of Hanoi's potential artists and it often has new exhibitions.

Apricot Gallery
Add: 40B Hang Bong street - Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3828 8965   Fax: (84-4) 3828 7304
Where is presentation of Vietnam leading artists.
 Bauhinia Gallery
185 Hang Bong street - Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3828 8070 / Fax: (84-4) 3825 8905

Gallery Thanh Binh
25-27 Trang Tien - Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3825 1532
This place displays Modem art depecting the beauty of Vietnam in a comfortable and creative space.

Green Palm Gallery
Add: 15 Trang Tien street - Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
 Tel: (84-4) 3936 4756
Where is central location and it is close to The Opera House

Hanoi Art Gallery
Add: 36-38 Trang Tien Street - Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
 Tel: (84-4) 3934 7192
Where is central location close to Hoan Kiem lake

Kinh Bac Art - Dang Anh Tien
Add: 19 Trang Tien street- Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 9 366 199 Email: kinhbacart@yahoo.com
Which displays the Art of the past, the crossroads of art and culture.

Life Photo Gallery
Add: 39 Trang Tien street, Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi
Tel: (84-4)3 936 3886
Which is displayed 4,000 years of tradition and customs.

Mai Hien Studio
Add: 99 Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Dong Da district, Hanoi.
Tel: (84-4) 846 9614
Which is good outlet for decent Vietnamese art.

Ngan Pho Gallery
Add: 81 Hang Bong street- Hoan Kiem Dist- Hanoi.
Tel: (84-4) 3828 9484 -  Fax: (84-4) 3928 7365

Ngoc Mai Gallery
Add: 6 Hang Hanh street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3828 9979 / 0983 5678 62
NGOCMAl GALLERY brings original moments of Vietnamese life to people who appreciate arts.

Thang Long Gallery
Add: 41 Hang Gai street and at 12 To Tich street
Tel: (84-4) 825 0740

Vine Annex Art & Antiques- a Gallery of Fam Luc’s Arts:
45 Au Co street,Tay Ho District, Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3719 8757
Hanoi for Private Parties, Art and Antiques- Fam luc's painting, a venue for wine tasting, wine maker dinners,
cigar dinners, ladies nights, holiday buffets, that can fit 50 guests seated and 75 standing.
Sourced by: Dragonfly Travel website: www.myvietnamtravel.net

Homestay training in Lao Chai goes into the kitchen

Food safety is one of the important issues for homestay owners. Tourists from developed countries want to stay healthy in order to best enjoy their travels, and a high level of food safety is required in order for homestays to service their guests appropriately. During this trip, we took two opportunities to deliver food safety training in Lao Chai.

On our second evening in the village, Rachael and Trung hosted a food safety class and welcome dinner at Mr. Chinh's homestay. The food safety class was tied to the preparation of the welcome dinner, and the training was delivered while the meal was prepared. The participants learned about appropriate food handling and cleaning techniques. They also learned how to cook french fries. French fries are one of the common foods that homestays cook for guests here - commonly served with salt, garlic and chilis.

Ms. Dy (shown here with Rachael) was one of the participants at the first food safety workshop.

Trung teaching Mai about cooking french fries. Mai owns the Sapa O'Chau homestay in Lao Chai.

The second learning opportunity was at Mr. Cho's house. Mr. Cho is hoping to open an authentic H'mong homestay and is beginning to start learning the skills required. At Mr. Cho's house, Ms. Ngoc Anh delivered a cooking and food safety class, while Ms. Huyen and Trung taught some of their children English.

Mr. Cho cleaning his cooking dishes with his youngest child

Learning proper cleaning technique from Ms. Ngoc An

Ready to cook!

Preparing some vegetables

The CBT team from HOU enjoying lunch with Mr. Cho and his family

Into the schools of Lao Chai

Nic and Ms. Huyen heading to teach at the Lao Chai Elementary School

After some great relationship building with the Lao Chai Elementary and Secondary Schools we were invited to come into their class rooms to teach the children. Nic Alder (CapilanoU) and Ms.Huyen (HOU) went to the elementary school where they taught English to two classes. The language in Lao Chai is H'mong. The children are learning to speak Vietnamese, and have only just began learning the basics of English.


Hard at work!

Rachael (CapilanoU) and Trung (HOU) went into the secondary school to teach the grade seven class. The children were eager to learn and excited to work on the team activity Rachael and Trung had planned. It took a lot of team work and communication, and the students performed above and beyond their expectations.


Trung and a student hanging the class drawings

Rachael, Trung and the English teacher, Mr. C.

The staff at both schools were excited to have us there and can't wait for the next CBT team and HOU team to come back. We are very much looking forward to our next opportunity!

Practicing their new English words with Rachael

Ta Phin is open for business!

Meeting with homestay owners and CBT Management Board in Ta Phin

On Thursday morning, homestay owners and a few other residents with close ties to the tourism industry met with the Ta Phin CBT Management Board. It was a great meeting with incredible outcomes. The packaging and pricing that the Board had drafted was modified with feedback from the homestay owners and approved by everyone who was present. The group also approved a penalty in case of complaints to ensure quality control would be maintained. The group also prepared for Sunday’s private sector workshop.

Meeting with homestay owners and CBT Management Board in Ta Phin

Capilano U at the Ashoka U Exchange

Our Capilano Global & Community Studies Faculty Dean, Chris Bottrill is showcasing the PATA Foundation-funded tourism training project (CBT Vietnam) today at the AshokaU Exchange conference in San Diego today. Ashoka U is the University division of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public. AshokaU seeks out the and supports the worlds most innovative colleges and universities that are developing teaching, research, and collaborations to benefit society through social entrepreneurship. 

Kyle Sandilands has created yet another spectacular video and Chris will be using this in his 'Innovation Presentation'. The theme will be social entrepreneurship through partnership and demonstrates how Taphin is creating and managing its own tourism activities and building partnerships to sustain the community over the long term. 

The presentation is a concurrent session but the conference is attended by 650 delegates from over 150 universities and colleges around the world ranging from Ivy League to community college. All representatives have a common interest in facilitating social entrepreneurship and positive, proactive change making. 

CapilanoU has sent a team of six including students, faculty, our dean, and our President, Kris Bulcroft. Its great to be here!

CBT Management Board in Ta Phin taking great leaps

CBT Management Board meeting

On Wednesday evening, we held our second meeting with the Ta Phin Community-Based Tourism Management Board. The focus of this meeting was to make some decisions at the CBT Management Board level that would be brought to the homestay owners on Thursday morning. The Board worked through a number of issues, and the meeting was very productive.

We covered five key items:

1. Product pricing: The CBT Management Board was working on creating a list of tourism products available through the homestays in Ta Phin, and setting a fixed price for each. This will allow them to market themselves to the tour operators in Sapa and Hanoi more effectively, and be able to sell package tours through the Board. The group generated pricing for each of their products to be presented to the homestay owners for approval.
2. Fee for CBT Management Board: In order for the CBT Management Board to be sustainable, we are concerned that the work is being done on a volunteer basis. The group agreed on a percentage for each product offering that would be allocated to the Board in order to ensure ongoing operations and to contribute to community projects. This percentage will be presented to the homestay owners for approval.
3. Charity donations: In the past, the community had a box for receiving charitable donations from tourists for making improvements in the village, but it was not well managed. However, it generated quite a bit of revenue when it was in use. The Board would like to initiate a process for charitable donations.
4. Quality control: In this type of situation, it is important to have a strong degree of quality control. If a tour operator has a poor experience in one homestay, it negatively impacts every other homestay in the village. The Board discussed how they would manage complaints and also considered the creation of an exit survey to gain a better understanding of tourists’ experience in the village.
5. Regulations for tourists: In order to ensure a quality experience, a set of regulations was drafted for the process off tourists coming to Ta Phin. The possibility of creating a leaflet to share this information was discussed.

Building relationships in Lao Chai

Building relationships every way we can! Trung (from HOU) helping out.

Lao Chai is a small village of approximately 3,000 people about 7km southwest of Sapa. It is primarily populated by the Black H’mong ethnic group. As we posted in October, our project is just beginning the community-based tourism process in Lao Chai. If we were to compare Lao Chai to Ta Phin as a tourism destination, it is in a similar state to Ta Phin a decade ago when we began working there. At this point, one of our greatest priorities in the community is to understand the needs of the community and build relationships with the residents so that we can effectively assist the community in reaching their goals around tourism.

Two students, Rachael (Capilano University) and Trung (Hanoi Open University), were the first of the team in Lao Chai. While the rest of the team has been working with the CBT Management Board and homestay owners in Ta Phin, Rachael and Trung have been in Lao Chai making connections.

Meeting with the principal and another administrator of Lao Chai Secondary School

Their first day in Lao Chai was a busy one! They met with the local authority, visited some of the local schools to make arrangements to work with the children later in the week, arranged a food safety/cooking workshop for the following day, and made new friends.

At the secondary school for lunch

Lunch at the school

Reconnecting with the CBT team in Ta Phin

Mr. Xa, Chairman of Ta Phin and their CBT Management Board

On Sunday, February 23 we are hosting a workshop between the homestay owners and members of the Community-Based Tourism Management Board in Ta Phin and a number of tour operators from Hanoi and Sapa town. They are working towards developing a relationship in which the tour operators can book directly with the CBT Management Board, trying to increase the economic benefits the community retains from homestay guests.

On Tuesday afternoon, we arrived in Ta Phin and immediately met with six members of the Ta Phin CBT Management Board, as well as a few homestay owners and other residents. It is a difficult week to set up meetings and training, as all of Ta Phin is mobilized to get organized for the large festival that is scheduled for Saturday so we are taking any and all opportunities that come our way.

At this meeting, we discussed Sunday’s workshop to ensure that everyone is able to attend, and began to discuss what issues need resolution before the meeting. We decided to set up a meeting for Wednesday evening, after everyone’s workday was complete. Our agenda was lofty and we were hoping to work through five issues in preparation for our meeting on Sunday. We were hoping to set package prices that all homestay owners would agree to, so that they can present a united front to the tour operators on Sunday.

Initial CBT Management Board meeting in Ta Phin