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| A bowl of pho is served at Pot Au Pho Restaurant |
The restaurant first opened in 2023 and mainly specialises in serving the nation’s beloved pho noodle soup.
“At Pot Au Pho, Vietnamese banker turned chef Peter Cuong Franklin sets new standards for Vietnam’s beloved noodle soup, his 10-course tasting menu deconstructing phở and then reassembling the iconic bone broth,” says magazine Condé Nast Traveler.
According to details given by the US magazine, in addition to pho, it also serves mi quang, a traditional prawn and pork turmeric noodle soup prepared by Cuong’s mom.
The restaurant is located on the third floor of a building at 89 Ton That Dam street in District 1 and has been designed for just 14 guests.
Pot au Pho was also named among 'Asia's 50 Best Restaurants' list in both 2021 and 2023.
Rounding off the list of the top 30 is Maty’s in Miami, Yess in Los Angeles, Chishuru in London, Kiln in San Francisco, Datil in Paris, Trescha in Buenos Aires, Le Pristine in Tokyo, The Guild in Dubai, and Papa's in Mumbai.
Surge in visitors prompts Dien Bien to mobilise local houses for accommodation
According to VNA, a sharp surge in the number of visitors since the beginning of this year has prompted the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien to encourage local people to use their houses to accommodate tourists, who flock to the province on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-2024).
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| Tourists join cultural activities in Dien Bien. (Photo: VNA) |
The host of the Visit Vietnam Year 2024, Dien Bien has welcomed 845,000 visitors in the first four months of the year, a 1.86-fold increase year on year. It is estimated that 3,000-5,000 people travel to the locality each day.
The number is expected to peak in the coming days as a grand ceremony will be held to mark the Dien Bien Phu Victory.
As of April 20, over 140 households in Dien Bien Phu city and Dien Bien district have registered to accommodate visitors, capable of serving nearly 2,000 people. Those households have received guidance in ensuring security and order as well as fire prevention and fighting.
The list of households eligible to provide accommodation services has been regularly updated on the mass media and social network platforms.
Besides cultural tourism resources associated with key relic sites in the locality such as the headquarters of Dien Bien Phu - Muong Phang Campaign, A1, C1, D1 and E1 hills and the central area of the French stronghold, Dien Bien province is creating a highlight for the northwest region with various new tourism products, exploiting the strength of natural resources.
The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that in recent years, Dien Bien has worked with many travel agencies to building new tourism products with regional linkages, such as Caravan (self-driving tour) on Hanoi - Son La - Dien Bien route and Ban (Bauhinia) flower season tour.
Ninh Binh to organise various activities on upcoming holidays to lure more tourists
A series of activities will be held in the northern province of Ninh Binh on the occasion of the five-day holiday of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) from April 27 to May 1, reported VNA.
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| A tourist attraction in Hoa Lu ancient town (Photo: VNA) |
One of the events that residents and tourists are looking forward to will be the 10th anniversary of the Trang An Landscape Complex's UNESCO recognition as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site.
A grand ceremony to mark this anniversary is scheduled to take place on April 26 evening.
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| Visitors to Ninh Binh province (Source: baoninhbinh.org.vn) |
On this occasion, tourists to Ninh Binh can attend the Trang An Festival, also held on April 26, during which they will have a chance to experience the local culture and river rituals.
Sports lovers can take part in the cycling for a green environment on April 27, and the “Dau an Di san 2024” (Heritage Imprint) Marathon on April 28 on the Trang An-Bai Dinh heritage route. The events are expected to see 1,000-1,500 participants.
Those who love traditional arts will have opportunities to immerse themselves in water puppetry performances, folk songs, and a space to experience the culture of a typical village in the north in Hoa Lu ancient town.
Tran Thi Diep Anh from the Hoa Lu ancient town management board said that besides regular activities, a special art programme named “Ruc ro Hoa Lu” (Colourful Hoa Lu) will be held on April 30 evening, drawing the participation of more than 100 artists, including famous ones like singer My Tam.
It will be open for free to local residents and tourists who can also watch firework displays.
The provincial Tourism Department has sent a document to the management boards of tourism sites and accommodation service establishments to increase the quality of services, take concerted measures to ensure safety for tourists such as guaranteeing conditions for tourism business; and strictly implementing conditions on fire and explosion prevention, environmental sanitation, and food hygiene and safety.
It is also necessary to publicise prices and avoid raising prices and enticing or forcing tourists to buy food, the department stressed.
It said it will also coordinate with the Ninh Binh Tourism Association to mobilise and encourage local hotels to have policies to support service prices for delegations, people, and tourists on this occasion, thus contributing to promoting the image of the land and friendly and hospitable people of Ninh Binh to domestic and international friends.
Ninh Binh is striving to welcome 7.5 million tourists this year.
The Trang An Landscape Complex, which was honoured by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site in 2014, covers a total area of 6,226 hectares within the Trang An limestone massif and is surrounded by a 6,026-ha buffer zone which is mostly made up of rural land with rice paddy fields.
The site spans across 20 communes and wards in five districts and cities of Ninh Binh, comprising the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, the Trang An-Tam Coc-Bich Dong Scenic Landscape, and the Hoa Lu Special-Use Forest.
Hanoi among world’s 100 smartest cities
The capital of Hanoi was named the world’s 97th smartest city, moving up three places from its ranking in 2023, VNA reported data by the 2024 Smart City Index.
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| Hanoi's Tran Nhat Duat pedestrian bridge illuminated at night. (Photo: VNA) |
The index was produced by the Swiss business school Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Centre’s Smart City Observatory in collaboration with the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO). It listed 142 cities in all and graded them on the basis of how they use advanced technology to improve the lives of their citizens.
Hanoi has eyed fast and sustainable development in the direction of green urban area and smart and modern city by 2025, while aiming to cement its status as a smart and modern city and gradually connect with the regional and global smart urban area networks by 2030.
According to Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Ha Minh Hai, the city has reaped significant achievements in its digital transformation over the past time, with digital signatures being implemented and common database carried out at the grassroots levels to better serve the settlement of administrative procedures.
Together with accelerating the building of the e-administration, it has applied scientific and technological advancements to handle urgent issues, forming elements to develop a smart city, he said, adding that priorities have been given to infrastructure development in the areas of transport, tourism, healthcare and environment.
Ho Chi Minh City also made it on to the list of the world’s 142 smartest cities, ranking 105th.
Zurich took the lead in the index, while Oslo came in second, followed by Canberra, Geneva and Singapore.
Singapore remained the smartest city in Asia as it excelled in areas such as providing satisfactory basic sanitation for the poorest areas, public transport and public safety./.