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| Mix Pho (Phở trộn) is placed in 25th position of the list. (Photo courtesy of TasteAtlas) |
VOV reported that the TasteAtlas, a website dedicated to discovering fresh ingredients, traditional dishes, and authentic restaurants from all over the world. The results of the voting were based on evaluations given by both culinary experts and readers globally.
Stick rice balls in ginger syrup (chè trôi nước) and black chicken hotpot (lẩu gà đen) are among the four local dishes to feature on the list of the 100 best rated dishes with ginger from across the world.
The list was announced on September 17
In 23rd position among the world’s 100 best rated dishes with ginger was sticky rice balls in ginger syrup (chè trôi nước).
The soup is usually sweetened with palm sugar and is sometimes additionally flavoured with pandan leaves, while the filling inside the glutinous rice balls traditionally includes a combination of coconut milk and mung bean paste, according to the website.
Elsewhere, Mix Pho (Phở trộn) was placed in 25th position of the list. The sliced meat is marinated in salt, ginger, pepper, garlic, lime juice, and a five spice powder. The dish is typical of Hanoi and is especially popular during the summer, the website wrote.
TasteAtlas also ranked boiled chicken (gà luộc) and black chicken hotpot (lẩu gà đen) in 38th and 68th positions, respectively.
Taste Atlas was originally founded in 2015 and has its headquartered in Zagreb in Croatia. It is best known for its global map of traditional dishes. The rankings on Taste Atlas are based on opinions and reviews offered by culinary experts and critics, thereby ensuring the reliability of the awards.
Vietnam Airlines to launch direct air route from Hanoi to Milan
Vietnam Airlines will inaugurate a direct air route between Hanoi and Milan starting from July 1, 2025, thereby making it the first Vietnamese carrier to set up a direct connection to Italy, reported VOV.
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| Vietnam Airlines to launch direct air route from Hanoi to Milan (Source: VOV) |
The Hanoi-Milan route will make use of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and will have three flights per week running on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
To mark this special occasion, Vietnam Airlines is offering various promotions such as round-trip tickets priced from VND14.8 million, including taxes and fees. This promotion will be applied to customers who purchase tickets between September 17 and November 12 for flights departing from July 1 to July 31 in 2025.
Tickets for the routes are now available on Vietnam Airlines’ website, mobile app, and official ticket offices and agents nationwide.
Furthermore, national flag carrier is also poised to launch direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Milan beginning from 2026.
With the addition of this new European destination, Vietnam Airlines will operate a total of nine international routes linking the nation to Europe.
Currently, Vietnam Airlines is the only Vietnamese carrier to operate direct flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Paris of France, Frankfurt of Germany, and London of the UK.
Moreover, the national flag carrier also has plans to begin its direct services from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Munich, one of the largest cities in Germany, from October this year.
Ecotourism - a new direction for Da Nang
Hoa Vang District accounts for nearly three quarters of Da Nang’s land area, boasting many agricultural production zones and breathtaking natural landscapes that are suitable for the development of ecotourism, agricultural tourism, and community tourism, reported NDO.
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| Tuan Le Glamping - A bright spot in combining agriculture with ecotourism in Da Nang. (Source: NDO) |
Le Thi Sanh was meticulously cutting grass at the Nong Trai Sen Ecotourism Area in Truong Dinh Village, Hoa Lien Commune.
Wiping away the drops of sweat from her face, Sanh said: “This area belongs to Dang Van Tung, a local resident. In the past, it drew a large number of visitors. The other side was his neighbours’ land, which was leased to Tung for visitors to stay overnight. But later the authorities reviewed the regulations and did not allow overnight stays because the land belongs to many households.”
She added: “Initially Tung only ran the business on his land and then hired adjacent plots for tourism. Villagers also benefitted because the rent is higher than sheer agricultural production. Local people had greater income from taking care of the trees and flowers or working at the tourism area. It is regrettable that the area is being suspended until a license is granted.”
One of the successful models of developing tourism along with agriculture, forestry and aquafarming in Hoa Vang District is An Phu Farm in Hoi Phuoc Village, Hoa Phu Commune. The project has been implemented since 2019 on an area of nearly 2 hectares.
After receiving the permit from the authorities, An Phu Farm began to build 15 camps which can accommodate 40 guests. Duong Hien Tu, investor of An Phu Farm, shared that in recent years there has been an increased demand in ecotourism combined with agricultural experiences such as planting trees, harvesting crops, and fishing in hilly areas not too far from the city centre.
Tu’s farm has attracted many visitors from central Da Nang since he began offering camping services. However, overnight stays are still a problem because it is not allowed in camping areas, while many visitors wish to stay and have fun all night because it is not easy and safe for them to get home after finishing, eating, and having fun in the evening.
Sharing the same view, Nguyen Van Diep, owner of Son Phuoc Tourism Area, stated that after the city issued a policy on combining tourism with agriculture, he invested 15 billion VND to improve the soil quality. Next, he applied for a license to build a picnic area with 15 camps that can accommodate nearly 100 visitors.
He said that under the revised land law, people can now use agricultural and forestry land for tourism purposes. To attract visitors to stay overnight, it is necessary to have firmly built structures such as toilets, kitchens, and dining rooms. He expressed his expectations that the government would soon introduce specific guidelines for implementation.
In fact, revenue from using agricultural and forestry land for tourism purposes can be twice or three times higher than that from sheer agriculture. City residents’ demand for ecotourism is growing while Da Nang’s suburban areas hold great potentials. The only problem is the mechanism at the central level to unlock the potential of agricultural land.
Tuan Le Glamping in Hoa Bac Commune has more favourable conditions because among more than 3.4 hectares of land, nearly 1,500 square metres are residential land. Therefore, owner Le Van Tuan had some buildings constructed firmly for tourists to stay safely overnight. As a result, Tuan Le Glamping has drawn a great number of tourists from central Da Nang and neighbouring areas to visit and have fun overnight.
Tuan shared that if other areas are also given permission to build residential units, more and more tourists will come to Hoa Bac. Right at Tuan Le Glamping, if part of the perennial land can be converted to residential land, there will be more well-appointed residential units that meet visitors’ demands, which is a favourable condition to develop ecotourism in this remote and poor part of Da Nang.
Hoa Bac Commune Chairman Thai Van Hoai Nam shared that in the past local residents relied on forests for their livelihoods. But since tourism began to develop, their mindsets have changed. They now understand that once they protect forests, water sources, and fruit orchards, more and more tourists will come and their income from tourism services will also be higher than farming or illegally cutting trees and trapping animals in the forests.
According to Hoa Vang District Chairman Phan Van Ton, the district currently has many agricultural production areas suitable for developing ecotourism and community tourism. As of August 2024, Hoa Vang District received 61 dossiers on piloting the combination of tourism and agricultural production, 15 of which have been approved for implementation while 45 are pending due to legal issues.
The demand of developing tourism on agricultural land in Hoa Vang is huge. Therefore, the district wishes that the city and central government will soon allow overnight stays at existing agricultural tourism zones in order to offer more services for visitors and increase revenues for investors.
Discovering La Vuong Plateau in Binh Dinh Province
According to NDO, La Vuong, a pristine green plateau about 120km north of Quy Nhon City, attracts great interest from tourists to Binh Dinh Province thanks to its fresh, cool climate. Sitting at an altitude of more than 700 m above sea level, this place provides a different space for those who love to explore nature.
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| An aerial view of La Vuong Plateau (Photo: tuoitre.vn) |
Located in the north of Hoai Son Commune, Hoai Nhon Town, La Vuong Plateau is like a valley surrounded by impressive limestone ranges and rows of green trees of all kinds.
The name La Vuong is derived from the French word “La Voul” meaning “the will”, evoking memories of the early 20th century when the French set foot on this land.
La Vuong Plateau impresses visitors with the colourful flowers growing on both sides of the road and its long lines of green trees. The bright red of the jungle geranium, the lovely pink of the bougainvillea, the shimmering yellow of the golden shower trees, which are dotted with the fresh green of the rice fields and the newly sprouted trees, make the road to La Vuong Plateau more poetic in the eyes of travellers.
With diverse vegetation and forest ecosystems, La Vuong has great potential and advantages to develop different types of tourism
Visitors to La Vuong can experience four seasons — spring, summer, autumn, and winter — in a single day.
Must-see places to explore La Vuong eco-tourism include the Hoa Binh intersection, Da Lua curve, Dong Duong intersection, Doi Thong Airport, Bang Lac Beach, Cau Lay Lake, Nui Chua Mountain, Co Tien Stream, Heaven Gate, Ba Tang Waterfall, and Dong Vuong Grassland.
With diverse vegetation and forest ecosystems, La Vuong has great potential and advantages to develop different types of tourism, such as eco-tourism combined with sightseeing and relaxation, cultural - sports - picnic tourism, and culinary tourism.
Visitors to La Vuong can taste indigenous dishes such as ‘bun day’ )string noodles), ‘banh xeo’ (pancake), ‘banh it la gai’ (ramie leaf sticky rice cake), ocean tuna, and many other specialties from the land of Hoai Nhon.
Currently, Binh Dinh Provincial authorities have paid attention to improving infrastructure in La Vuong Plateau with the aim to turn it into a new tourist destination, contributing to developing eco-tourism of Hoai Nhon Town and Binh Dinh Province in general.
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| Visitors join a bamboo pole dance at the tourism festival held on La Vuong Plateau from August 31 to September 1 to celebrate the National Day holiday. (Photo: tuoitre.vn) |
With the message ‘La Vuong – The Call from a Green Plateau’, La Vuong strives to become an attractive and interesting destination for those who want to get back to nature and enjoy rich cuisine.
Recently, the Hoai Nhon Commune hosted a tourism festival in La Vuong Plateau to celebrate the National Day holiday.
Taking place from August 31 to September 1, the festival included various activities, including a parade, a fair displaying local products, folk songs and dances, sporting events, and many exciting folk games.
The highlight of the festival was a running competition Fleur De Lys La Vuong Trail 2024, co-organised by Secret Sport Events Joint Stock Company and the People's Committee of Hoai Nhon town. The event challenged more than 1,000 runners to compete in four distances of 7km, 15km, 35km, and 55km./.