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| Hot weather in early summer in Vietnam, temperatures rise above 40°C. (Source: VOV) |
Outdoor temperatures in Hanoi at noon on April 27 may rise to 43-45 degrees Celsius, several degrees more than the temperatures recorded at weather stations
The hot low pressure area in the west is increasing the intensity, causing the heat to spread across the northern and central regions, said meteorologists.
On April 27, the first day of the five-day holiday period, most weather stations in northern Son La and Hoa Binh provinces, and central Thanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces, recorded high temperatures of 38-40°C at around 13:00.
Several localities even saw noon temperatures rise above the 40°C mark, such as Dong Ha in central Quang Tri province – 42.1°C, Yen Chau in northern Son la province – 41.5°C, and Hue city in central Thua Thien-Hue province – 41.4°C.
Meanwhile, Hanoi capital and some southern localities documented daytime temperatures ranging between 37-39°C, or 2-3°C more than a day ago.
Meteorologists said outdoor temperatures may vary by 2-4°C, or even higher, depending on surface conditions such as concrete and asphalt.
As searing heat reaches its peak between 11:00 and 16:00, meteorologists recommended that people take protective measures to avoid direct impacts from the sun when they venture out. Prolonged exposure to high heat can also cause dehydration and heat stroke.
In addition, prolonged heat accompanied by low humidity also causes the risk of explosions and fires in residential areas due to increased demand for electricity, as well as the risk of forest fires.
The hot weather is forecast to last till April 30 before a weak cold spell hits northern localities to cause temperatures to drop by several degrees.
Food Festival underway in Ho Chi Minh City
A food festival kicked off at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City on April 26, introducing exquisite flavours of Vietnamese cuisine, reported NDO.
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| Visitors at the festival (Photo: baotintuc.vn) |
The event, the second of its kind, has gathered together more than 50 booths, which are arranged into three areas to introduce the respective cuisine cultures of Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi.
Festival goers are invited to taste nearly 149 traditional cakes and signature dishes from these three regions of the country, such as Hue beef noodle, An Giang fish noodle, and Hanoi ‘bun cha’ (rice vermicelli with grilled pork and fresh herbs).
The festival not only honours the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine but also provides an opportunity for locals and visitors to sample typical flavours from different regions across Vietnam.
The event, which is among the activities marking the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the National Reunification, will run until May 1.
Int’l Hot-air Balloon Festival enthralls thousands of tourists
Thousands of tourists across the country flocked to Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang on April 27 to attend the third International Hot-air Balloon Festival, reported VOV.
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| International Hot-air Balloon Festival enthralls thousands of tourists |
The visitors had the chance to admire scores of colourful balloons flown by pilots from Australia, China, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, the UK, and Vietnam.
They also had the chance to fly the balloons, see Tuyen Quang’s scenic spots from above, and talk to foreign pilots.
During the five-day festival, local residents and tourists watch hot air balloon light show nights and enjoy exciting music parties performed by famous bands and artists.
Other activities held within the framework of the festival include tours of local historical landmarks and craft villages, along with conferences on investment, trade, and tourism promotion in the province’s ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas.
A football tournament will be held among women of ethnic groups in Tuyen Quang and the national badminton club championship 2024.
The third International Hot-air Balloon Festival is part of the Tuyen Quang Tourism Year 2024 that aims to popularise its tourism potential and lure more international and domestic visitors and investors to the province.
This year Tuyen Quang is striving to welcome more than 2.7 million tourists and earn VND3.6 trillion, nearly US$144 million, in revenue.
Hanoi eco-farm excursions appeal to foreigner tourists
Duong Lam ancient village in the town of Son Tay on the outskirts of Hanoi, once renowned for its architectural charm and culinary traditions, has become a magnet for foreign visitors as it offers an authentic farm experience.
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| Foreign visitors try rice planting. (Photo: VNA) |
Along with touring the village for a glimpse into the rich tapestry of local cultural heritage, visitors have found it fascinating to try its staples and learn of the rigors of its agricultural practices.
Head of the Duong Lam Ancient Village Relics Management Board Nguyen Dang Thao said with a view to boosting sustainable tourism development, the board has worked to build a multitude of offerings, in which visitors could gain unique experiences such as making candies, cakes and fermented soybean paste, and engaging in agricultural practices.
International visitors take to the farm experience, as do students from internationals schools in Hanoi, he said, adding that farmers guide the tourists on how to plough and grow crops.
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| An ancient house in Duong Lam village (Photo: VNA) |
With a two-day one-night trip in Duong Lam, visitors have the opportunity to indulge themselves in the village’s heritage in the morning, prepare and taste traditional food in the afternoon, join in cultural activities in the evening, and explore a local bustling market the next morning, he said.
Last month, a delegation of 46 foreign tourists from Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore visited Duong Lam and experienced a day as a local farmer. They said as they were curious about Duong Lam, which was honoured for the ASEAN 2024 Sustainable Tourism Product Award earlier this year. The international group got a chance to try ploughing and rice planting.
Thao said the village has hosted 30 delegations of foreign visitors from the outset of the year, and the number of bookings is expected to surge in the time to come.
In the past, visitors often opted for short day trips since there were not many overnight accommodations available. However, these days many local families have opened their doors to strangers for an authentic home-stay experience.
An overnight stay is exactly what people need to fully enjoy what the village has to offer. They can spend the day working with farmers, or listening to traditional musical performances by the village’s artisans.
All of these make up an ideal tourism product, bringing in financial stability and helping the village preserve itself as a pearl in Vietnam’s unique culture.
Just 44km away from Hanoi’s centre, the village boasts typical features of a rural village in the Red River Delta with giant banyan trees, freshwater wells, a communal house, along with 956 old houses dating back 100 - 400 years.
In 2006, it became the first ancient village in Vietnam to be recognised as a national historical and cultural relic site.
In 2018 - 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, it attracted few visitors, only about 50,000 - 60,000 tourists a year. Last year, the village welcomed about 650,000 visitors - the highest so far./.