The last church was too small. Thus, in 1863, Admiral Bonard decided to build a wooden church on the bank of Charner canal (Kinh Lớn). Lefevre put the first stone for construction of the church on 28 March 1863. The construction was completed two years later and was called "Saigon Church". When the wooden church was damaged by termites, all church services were held in the guest-chamber of the French Governor's Palace. This palace would later be turned into a seminary until the Notre-Dame Cathedral was completed.

After the design competition, bids were accepted for construction. Again, J. Bourad was the successful bidder and became supervisor of constructions.

Originally, there were three proposed sites for construction:

On the site of the former test school (today, this is at the corner of Le Duan Boulevard and Hai Ba Trung Street).

At Kinh Lon (today it is Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard)

At the present site where the cathedral is situated.

All building materials were imported from France. The outside wall of the cathedral was built with bricks from Marseille. Although the contractor did not use coated concrete, these bricks have retained their bright red color until today.

On 7 October 1877, Bishop Isidore Colombert laid the first stone in an inaugural ceremony. The construction of the cathedral took three years. On Easter Day, 11 April 1880, a blessing ceremony and ceremony of completion were solemnly organized in presence of the Governor of Cochinchina Charles Le Myre de Vilers. One can see the granite plate inside the main entry gate commemorating the start and completion dates and designer. The total cost was 2,500,000 French francs (at that time price). At the beginning, the cathedral was called State Cathedral due to source of the construction cost.

In 1895, two bell towers were added to the cathedral, each 57.6 m high with six bronze bells with the total weight of 28.85 metric tonnes. The crosses were installed on the top of each tower of 3.5 m high, 2 m wide, and 600 kg in weight. The total height of the cathedral to the top of the Cross is 60.5 m.

In the flower garden in front of the cathedral, there was a bronze statue of Pigneau de Behaine (also called Bishop of Adran) leading Prince Cảnh, the son of Emperor Gia Long by his right hand. The statue was made in France. In 1945, the statue was removed, but the foundation remains.

In 1959, Bishop Joseph Pham Van Thien, whose jurisdiction included Saigon parish, attended the Holy Mother Congress held in Vatican and ordered a Peaceful Notre Dame statue made with granite in Rome. When the statue arrived in Saigon on 16 February 1959, Bishop Pham Van Thien held a ceremony to install the statue on the empty base and presented the title of "Regina Pacis". It was the same bishop who wrote the prayers "Notre-Dame bless the peace to Vietnam". The next day, Cardinal Aganianian came from Rome to chair the closing ceremony of the Holy Mother Congress and solemnly chaired the ceremony for the statue, thus the cathedral was then-on called Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The bay covers a total area of 15,783 hectares, including 6,125 hectares of land, and is home to 1,090 species of fauna and flora. The park is considered a priceless national treasure according to Vietnam travel guide.

According to Dr. Bui Tat Thang from the Strategic Development Institute of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Bai Tu Long includes all three fundamental ecosystems: forest, wetlands and sea – a diverse area for different species to live and develop.

In the park, 102 rare and precious species, including 72 species of fauna and 30 varieties of flora listed in Vietnam’s red book of endangered species can be found.

The park also has 1,000 hectares of wetlands, which includes mangrove forest, sandy and rocky tidal banks and seaweed that provide food and shelter for animals.

The wetlands ecosystem, with its impressive scenery and biodiversity, has attracted many eco-tourism, environmental education and research activities.

The area of coral accounts for only a minor section of the park, but has an important role to play as an aquatic resource. It has high biological productivity and is a gene bank for many types of sea species.

Besides the extremely diverse biological environment, the park also has archeological value, with evidence of ancient Viet people residing here 14,000 years ago.

Operational since April, 2002, Bai Tu Long National Park is a stunning tourism spot with a rich ecosystem, therefore it should receive sustainable protection, conservation and development.

The provincial Culture, Sport and Tourism Department’s recent survey showed that the reasons the travellers gave for returning are improved services, stable prices, beautiful landscapes and a wide range of attractions.

Visitors from Russia , the Republic of Korea , Australia , and US account for the largest portion of foreign arrivals in Khanh Hoa. Russia has risen from the fourth position in 2010 to lead all other foreign tourism markets of the province.

In addition, Russian visitors stay longer and spend more than those from other countries.

“Russian tourists usually stay for an average 7 to 10 days, some even stay for a month to learn water sports. They like resorts and spa, sea bathing, mud-bath, and water sports,” said Phan Thanh Truc, Vice Director of the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism.

So far this year, Khanh Hoa received 171,000 foreign visitors, an increase of 27 percent compared to the same period last year, of whom 35,000 were from Russia.-VNA

The festival will feature a wide range of cultural and sporting activities, including a display of flowers and ornamental plants at Van Hoa Park, an art photo exhibition themed “ Sapa Colour” and folk cultural festive days at Ham Rong tourist site.

A Cat Cat village culture festival and a Mong ethnic pan-pipe competition will also be held.

This year’s Reunification and International Labour Days holiday is expected to bring a large number of tourists to Sapa. The district asked relevant agencies to ensure security and food hygiene and safety. VNA

Babe lake is covered by the tropical and semi-tropical evergreen Thai monsoon forest with the rich bio diversity of about 50 animal species, more than 400 plants and so many species of insects, reptiles and birds. The ten seriously endangered animal in the park include two primates, the Black Gibbon and the Tonkinese "snub-nosed" monkey.

Sitting on a flat-bottomed boats slide across the still water and see the natural landscape around is a feeling hard to describe. The latter is one of the world’s rarest species and on the brink of extinction. Flora and Fauna International is working with the park authorities and other agencies to save this attractive creature.

Actually, Ba Be Lake includes three separate lakes connected together by wide channels. In total, it is about 7km long and 1km wide. This giant lake is home to about 50 species of freshwater fish. The surface of the lake is nearly always still that makes a boat trip a smooth experience. Moreover, you can also visit caves and islands here.

Living in the National Park area are a lot of small villages of ethnic minority inhabitants such as Tay, Red Dao, Coin Dao and White H’Mong people. There are just a few chances for travellers to see the colorful traditional costumes of those groups excepting in the performances and demonstration for tourists.{itpsharepoint}

After two years of construction, the mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh was officially inaugurated on August 29,1975. The facade of the mausoleum faces the historic Ba Dinh Square.

The mausoleum is divided into three layers with a combined height of 21.6 meters. The lowest layer forms a terraced stand exclusively used for the presidium of grand meetings organized at the grassy Ba Dinh Square. The second layer is the central piece of the mausoleum where the remains of the president is kept in a chamber accessible through a series of passages and flights of marble staircases. The upper part of the mausoleum is the roof resembling a three terraced steps. The facade of the upper part bears an inscription "President Ho Chi Minh" made of dark violet precious stone.

The mausoleum is the place to keep the remains of President Ho Chi Minh, the great patriotic who had been conferred the title "World Cultural Activist" and the national hero. The conferment was made on the occasion of the centenary anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's Birthday (1890-1990).

The mausoleum project was the results of artistic labor of both Vietnamese and former Soviet Union scientists in respect for President Ho Chi Minh.{itpsharepoint}

As a unique mix of the variety of culture features from Chinese, Vietnamese and European, Ho Chi Minh City includes a plenty of splendid building and beautiful sightseeing. After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas...). Ho Chi Minh City is definitely a symbol of a combination between the traditional national values of northern and western cultures. {itpsharepoint}

Diem Phung Thi (1920-2002), a Vietnamese – French sculptor, returned to Vietnam in 1993, is a member of the prestigious European Academy for Science, Literature and Arts. Her villa, where exhibits 50 artworks shipped from France shortly before her death, 36 works created in Hue after her return to Vietnam and another 60 works, is now a museum dedicating her life and proprietary of Hue City Museum.

At the time of this press, the local authority is preparing a proposal to upgrade this Phung Thi Museum to attract more visitors, not only local art students. {itpsharepoint}

The marketplace, which formerly positioned outside the citadel’s Chanh Dong Gate and burnt down in the summer of 1885, was restored and named Dong Ba in 1887 by

King Dong Khanh. In 1889, it was shifted to the crossroads of Huong River and the west bank of Dong Ba Canal – a small canal linking the bazaar with the busy river port of Bao Vinh, Lo Street and Thanh Ha.

Dong Ba Market is not only popular for being a symbol of Hue’s civilization but also a place for tourists to enjoy and buy such specialties and traditional crafts as:

· Phu Cam conical hats

· Hien Luong scissors

· bronze articles of the Duc guild

· Phuoc Tich pottery

· Bao La rattan and bamboo products

· Ke Mon jewelry

· Nam Thuan sweets

· Tuan tea

· Huong Can mandarins

· Luong Quan-Nguyet Bieu shaddocks - pomelos

· Tinh Tam lotus

· Everyday Hue dishes: clam rice, beef noodles, shrimp cakes, pancakes, bean puddings, sour shrimps, and My Lai shredded

In addition, the locals maintain growing betel trees and building houses in traditional style. The local people's love for martial arts, self-sacrifice for just motherland and mutual affection differentiate them from the others. This land is also famous for the heroic struggles of its people against the French and American invaders.

Growing betel is the commune's biggest currency earner. In the commune, travelers will see a carpet of everlasting green of betel leaves. If you stand under the betel trees' foliage, you will rarely get wet in the rain because they grow so thick. Using horse-drawn cart, tourists can have a sightseeing tour of the whole commune, talk with the locals. They are open and hospitable so that they will always tell you something such as the heroism of their ancestors during the two resistance wars.{itpsharepoint}

It is becoming increasingly difficult to reduce your air travel costs, but there are certain things to bear in mind to ensure that you get the best possible price.

Planning and Research

The first thing to do is to try to plan as far ahead as possible and begin to research flights as soon as you have your confirmed travel date. Travel comparison sites are a good place to start. Don’t book your flight too early, but start to get an idea of the initial ball park figure so that you have something to compare against. Check back regularly to see if prices are reducing.

Frequent Flyer and Membership Schemes

Like all businesses, airlines prefer to retain existing customers and build a list. If you have a particular airline that you regularly fly with, check for frequent flyer and membership schemes. Not only will you be on the email list for price alerts, but in some cases you can qualify for an instant price discount of up to 10% just by registering as a member.

Flexibility

Being flexible about when you can fly will often help secure you a better deal. The days that airlines have the most difficulty filling seats are Tuesdays and Wednesdays so fares will often be reduced on these days. If at all possible, avoid school holidays. Airlines are businesses and they are there to make money. As unscrupulous as it seems, demand for seats rises at times when families want to travel and airlines will put the price of seats up accordingly.

Many flight prices also depend on which airport you fly from. Being prepared to travel a little distance away from your local airport can often secure you a much better price.

Timing

Understanding how airlines work can help you buy your ticket at the best price. Flights are released and available to book around ten months before the departure date. Airlines will price tickets quite high initially and then sit back and gauge the response. They will then introduce sale prices usually around 6 weeks before departure for any seats left. This is the optimum time to book your flight as prices will then begin to creep back up nearer to the departure date.

Flight prices are unlikely to come down in the near future. Following this advice may help you to reduce your air travel costs. Flexibility, advance planning, and a little knowledge on how airlines work, should help you to find cheaper air tickets.

Getting visa on arrival at Vietnam airport for air traveller

Getting visa on arrival at international airports of Vietnam is also preferable option to reduce cost for air travellers. The fee to get visa on arrival Vietnam is much cheaper than getting visa at embassy or consulate. Many people choose to come to embassy or consulate to get visa because of their trust in the embassy, that’s why they ignore Vietnam visa on arrival.

In fact, Vietnam visa on arrival is very trustworthy and legitimate. There will be no one who dares to make a fake approval letter to cheat you some dollars to be accused of a serious crime.

Another thing that you need to be aware of is the immunization requirements that may be needed. Australia doesn't require them but will recommend certain ones if you haven't had them done. Of special concern are mosquitoes that can carry diseases like the Ross River virus and the Murray Valley encephalitis. They recommend carrying a mosquito repellant.

Check with your health insurance to see if they will cover you in a foreign country. If there is no coverage, you may seriously want to obtain travel insurance just to be on the safe side. If you should happen to have an accident while abroad and don't have coverage, you are expected to pay for your medical costs upfront and with cash or a credit card.

You also need to be aware of what you can bring into the country as you will have to declare items in customs. Firearms, drugs, fruit, vegetables, wildlife and plant life are examples of things that are usually not allowed into a country. You will have to declare any prescription drugs, herbal and vitamin supplements. A doctor's note may also be required.

Baggage requirements on overseas flights are different than domestic. In some cases, carry-on baggage is restricted to one and can be a lot smaller than what is allowed on domestic flights.

Your curling iron, phones and computers will need adapters for that country in order to be able to plug them in and use them. Curling irons and hair dryers especially will not only need a plug adapter but also a voltage converter. Newer electronic equipment may not need the converter if it says 100-240V.

Check on whether you can use your debit card or credit card abroad. Some ATMs overseas require longer pin numbers, so you will need to change it before you leave.

If you use your smart phone abroad , it can cost a lot, so be careful. You can check to see if your phone plan offers global messaging or if there are phone apps that offer international texting for reasonable fees. Use SKYPE instead for free service.

Familiarize yourself with the driving rules of the road for that country. Things will be in kilometers instead of miles. In Australia, driving is on the left side of the road.

As a visitor, you are to abide by the laws of that country. Remember you are a guest in a foreign land, not the United States. You will not have the protection of U.S. laws on your side.

On your return to the U.S., you are required to declare everything that you bought overseas. If you exceed your personal exemption limit, you are expected to pay taxes and fees on those purchases when you go through customs.

It pays to do the preparation for your bon voyage, otherwise you may find yourself in a difficult situation that you could have easily avoided.

Budget Travel vs. Traditional Vacationing

Standard package vacations and budget travel adventures represent two separate ends of the travel spectrum. The differences between the two are so great that people usually fall into one camp or the other. Someone who loves all-inclusive Caribbean vacations would most likely hate the life of a budget traveler. The opposite is also true. What exactly are the differences?

The most noticeable difference is in accommodation types. Standard vacations typically involve a plush hotel, resort, or cruise ship cabin, with swimming pools and room service and exotic frozen drinks. The budget traveler makes a great sacrifice here, opting instead for cheaper options such as hostels, guesthouses and beach-side bungalows. While package vacations offer hotel rooms from a hundred dollars upward per night, a dorm bed in a Thai hostel can go for as low as five dollars. This difference is huge, and allows budget travelers to travel for much longer for a fraction of the cost.

Other small differences are numerous. Budget travelers typically carry everything in large, high-capacity backpacks to allow them to move from city to city in a practical manner. Package vacationers, since they are usually in one hotel for their entire stay, tend to pack everything in one or more suitcases. Dining is also quite different for a budget traveler, who seeks cheap, local cuisine or street food over the tourist restaurants found near resort areas.

Going Long Term: The Costs of Budget Travel

The costs of a long-term budget excursion varies widely depending on the region. Southeast Asia and Latin America are on the low-end of the scale, and daily costs can be as low as $10-20. Japan, Australia, New Zealand, North America and Western Europe are at the very top of the scale, with daily costs ranging anywhere from $50-100. West Asia, China and Eastern Europe fall somewhere in the middle.

Passports, visas and travel vaccinations should also be taken into account. A United States passport can be obtained for less than $100 and tourist visas, depending on the country, can range from $20-100. There are also many countries that grant tourists a free visa upon arrival at the airport. Recommended vaccines vary wildly depending on the region, with some costing over $500. Tropical and developing countries carry higher risks for infectious diseases such as malaria and Japanese encephalitis.

A New Outlook On Life

Traveling long-term on the cheap is almost always a very rewarding experience. Since budget travelers are away from the big resorts, they experience more of the local culture and in the process learn much more about the world. The budget travel community is huge, and many lasting friendships have been made by people from different countries meeting each other along the way. A six-month trip abroad is something that will leave a lasting impression, with countless memories and a fresh outlook on life.

Marriage Process

First, you should check with your Vietnamese intended spouse to make sure they know where to file the application for marriage. If they live in Ho Chi Minh City, it should be the Principal Registrar's Office located there. You will need: an application for marriage (this form is available at the Principal Registrar's Office), and notarized photocopies of your passport, birth certificate, and visa registered at the entry/exit control office. You will also need medical certificates for marriage and any death certificates or divorce decrees issues. Finally, you need an authenticated statement from your state's local registrar of marriage that says there is no record of a previous marriage for the past two years.

Instead of a certificate of no impediment to marriage, which does not exist in the USA, you will need to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry at the US Embassy in Vietnam, which is located in Hanoi at 7 Lang Ha, Ba Dinh District. The signature and Embassy seal must also be authenticated by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 6 Chu Van An Street, Hanoi, which is only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 AM to 11:30 AM.

Finally, the authenticated statement from the registrar of marriage must also be authenticated by your state Secretary of State's office, by the US Department of State's authentication office at 515 23rd Street, NW SA-1, in Washington, DC, and by the Vietnamese embassy at 1233 20th Street, NW - Suite 501, also in Washington, DC.

Helpful Tips

* The original registrar's statement from your local state cannot be more than three months old, or the Vietnamese authorities will not accept it. This may take some prior planning!

* The easiest way to ensure you can get the paperwork to and from where it needs to go without omitting anything (as you may be able to complete parts of the process by mail) is to phone the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, DC, at (202) 861-0737 ext 122.

* Don't forget the psychiatrist's evaluation as part of the marriage process! You need a certificate of good mental health to confirm that you have no mental illnesses, or a mental problem that will not lead to you losing consciousness of your own actions.

The process of marrying a Vietnamese national can seem long and overly complicated, so don't be afraid to ask for help along the way. Make sure you have all your paperwork organized and double-check deadlines and waiting or processing times so you can be sure the marriage process will go ahead smoothly.

The United States became a chaotic, divided nation during the height of the Vietnam era, fueled by the loss of young American lives without reason. What caused this division in American society? What happened to American patriotism during Vietnam? What were the goals that warranted such loss of American lives? The answer to many of these questions mainly lies in the advancement of American journalism from the Korean War to the Vietnam Era (1951-1965). For American journalists and broadcasting networks, the Vietnam War was a hot news topic during the 1960’s and the early 1970’s. With the advancement in film technology and “on location” footage, the press quickly reported all successes and failures resulting from the war. This allowed Americans to experience more combat reporting and news coverage than any previous American military action in our nation’s history. The American public forged strong opinions as a result.

Every evening during the 1960’s and early 1970’s, the Vietnam War was brought into the homes of millions worldwide. The press, in many ways portrayed the Vietnam War as polarized in both the military and political spheres. Reporters would ask questions to American soldiers concerning the legitimacy of the war, sometimes forcing the soldiers to make a political stand. This tactic could easily influence those viewing back home, forming opinions both positive and negative toward the war. The press easily influenced viewers through the expression of one’s emotions, namely the American soldier who was caught in the middle asked to make a choice during the heat of battle. The political motives behind the Vietnam War were constantly analyzed in the American press. The “Domino Theory” of Communist proliferation was the nucleus of political debate. The official government reasoning behind American military action in Vietnam was to prevent the spread of Communism throughout Southeast Asia. As the war stretched throughout a decade, many questions arose concerning the legitimacy of our military involvement in Vietnam. The loss of American lives was astounding, and caused many in the press to ask if the ends justified the means. Although it would seem that this type of questioning by the American press was an organized plan to influence the American public, the networks were never so organized to hatch such a plan. Network reporters did much of the reporting from “the field” during the Vietnam War. These reporters had no time for network influence or political slant in their footage. Though their dialogue would sometimes seem anti-war in their reporting, there was too much detachment for organized media propaganda. Freelance reporters were the most independent, usually reporting for documentaries, they entered the Vietnam War and became entrenched with the soldiers in the bush, in their base-camps, and in the major cities. They reported exactly what they saw and usually excluded question that were leading or served an agenda politically. These were the reporters who faced the same risks as American solders in combat. The American public formulated its opinion from both sources as the Vietnam War went on.

The Vietnam War brought radical changes in the American public’s view of American soldiers in combat. It has remained so since; every conflict involving the use of American soldier, both men and women, since the Vietnam War has received the highest scrutiny. Would the American involvement in WW2 be different if Americans were able to view the battle of Iwo Jima on national TV? It is possible, as well as every American conflict prior to the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War ushered in a new age of journalism. The American public used the press as a basis for their opinions. This was not due to the press intentionally influencing the American public, but mainly because this was a new era in journalism that caused Americans to react in different ways. The American people formulated their own beliefs concerning the Vietnam War based on the reports they received from the press throughout the entire conflict. The negative reactions from the public concerning America’s involvement in Vietnam resulted from the United States government’s official policy concerning the spread of Communism through Southeast Asia. These reactions were not necessarily fueled by the press through influence or propaganda, but were the result of growing resentment by the American people concerning the staggering loss of American lives in the Vietnam War.

Written by: Jssescribe - Freelance Writer

These tourist attractions are a significant source of income for Vietnamese citizens who are likely owed the money as reparation for the millions of Vietnamese who have perished during these international conflicts. Tourists are now flooding sites that once served as prisons, escape routes, and major battlefields. As history buffs hunger for more information and a firsthand experience of this war-torn land, the popularity of these attractions belie the horrors that took place there and are fresh enough to be painful memories for many native Vietnamese citizens.

Vietnam’s place as a tourist destination has been the result of an increasing friendliness to foreign visitors. Certainly, Vietnam has a cultural history equally as rich of its Asian neighbors, including historical palaces and picturesque backdrops, but the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) tours remain the most popular destinations for tourists. These tours include bouncing along dusty roads in search of abandoned battlefields where American tanks, guns, and skeletal structures destroyed by bombs are found. The surrounding fields even still hide unexploded land mines that occasionally claim another local life.

The Vietnamese themselves, wracked by centuries of warfare, appear to be far too accepting of the flooding of tourists mainly interested in their national misery. Perhaps this is because International tourism, as morbid as it seems, is good for the Vietnamese economy. The Vietnamese have even adopted an attitude of enhancing the war tourism industry by preserving these reminders of death and war for viewing by their international visitors. One of the most popular destinations is the former Museum of American War Crimes in Ho Chi Minh city which has been renamed the War Remnants Museum where gory representations of torture and execution have been staged using life-like mannequins and bleak prison scenes.

The renaming of such attractions is highly representative of the Vietnamese willingness to make the best of their history. Certainly fewer tourists are as inflamed by the name War Remnants as they would likely be by the War Crimes reference. Representations of war have even become politically correct in Vietnam. The Vietnamese have also collected and preserved hundreds of war remnants that include tanks, bombs, shells, and the twisted wreckages of many a downed war aircraft, in addition to such memorabilia as soda cans, dogtags, cigarette lighters, and other discarded possessions. The Vietnamese have even made an industry out of selling copies of these “antique” items.

Of course, the Vietnamese war insults didn’t start with the Americans. The Vietnamese have also chosen to showcase their long history of revolutionary conflict by preserving war memorabilia that dates all the way back to the early 19th century. It is possible that the Vietnamese are displaying a highly adaptive behavior by marketing their war-torn history. Certainly they are entrepreneurial enough to realize that a market definitely exists for their product.