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Amazing Halong Bay

2018-07-06T03:36:38Z

EffieDuCroz0:

�� We chose the Valentine since the pictures of the boat, rooms, and common areas looked stunning. At least they did in the pictures. We were told that some boats the look nice in the pictures are very old but they use the pictures from when they first sailed. We also liked that this boat [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html tour bắc kinh từ hà nội] only had 5 cabins for a maximum of 10 people when some alternatives had as many as 25 cabins and 50 people. One other positive was that the boat supposedly would be away from other boats when it was time to sleep and that it had it's own private dock away from the hoards. When we first boarded the boat I was in awe. The boat was just as promised and only a couple of months new. We took a small boat to reach the Valentine and I thought it was a little bizarre that no one else was on this boat. It turns out that Stacy and I were the only guests on the entire boat (there was also a travel agent inspecting the boat). As a result they gave us the Presidents suite which we were told was the biggest cabin in all of Halong bay. It was huge with a Jacuzzi tub and separate marble bathroom and rain shower. The walls were made of thatched bamboo and dark wood that glistened in the sun. The ceiling was almost high enough for a second floor! The top deck had 6 gorgeous teak loungers that we had to ourselves. Soon after we arrived on the boat the ship began to sail and we sat down to our 5 course lunch. I only wish I knew it was 5 courses so I could have paced myself. Delicious soup, papaya salad that looked too good to eat, perfect lemongrass shrimp, thai chicken, and [http://dict.leo.org/?search=dessert dessert] were some of the items. After lunch we visited an island that had several steps leading up to a sweeping view of Halong Bay. After snapping too many pictures we were soon back on the boat sailing some more and then off to a secluded bay for a little kayaking. Nearly the entire time sailing we only saw the 3 other boats the company owned (Ginger, Jasmine, Indochina) but at this bay it was just our boat. It was so great to be the only guests, they completely worked around our schedule and asked us what we wanted to do of all the options. [http://Blogs.Realtown.com/search/?q=Kayaking Kayaking] was a highlight of the trip. No one else around and the water so still that it looks like glass. The reflection of the rock formations and trees looked nearly identical whether looking at them straight on or it's reflection in the water. Back on the boat for some relaxation and then we had dinner. Another meal with too many courses, this time we joined the travel agent (Simon) and an employee of the company. Later after dinner we took the [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html du lịch Bắc Kinh] small speed boat to the Indochina sails to listen to some live traditional Vietnamese music and eat squid that was caught just 15 minutes before we arrived. May have been the best I have ever tasted. When we got back on our boat, I grabbed a fishing pole and tried my best at catching some squid. This is more fun than normal fishing because you can see the squid in the bright light that was shining on the water and once you see the [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html vtr.org.vn] squid close to the lure you pull up to catch it. I caught one but surprisingly it was during one of the only times I wasn't actually trying to catch one. It was nearly 12:30P when I went back to the cabin to sleep. I didn't want to go to bed since I knew that I would wake up with the main part of the trip already over. Plus, I wanted to make it to the 6:30A kayaking adventure. Source: TravelPod

Beyond the baguette: France s food legacy in Vietnam

2018-07-04T08:53:41Z

EffieDuCroz0:

It has been more than six decades since the end of [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html vtr.org.vn] French colonial rule in Vietnam, but when President Francois Hollande arrives this week he'll struggle to avoid a quintessential legacy of his country's rule: the baguette. Smeared with pate and loaded with fresh coriander and cucumber, or just enjoyed with a pat of fresh butter, "banh mi" are a delicious symbol of Vietnam's lasting links with its former occupiers. "The French were very proud of banh mi. I think French cuisine has had a lot of influence on Vietnamese cuisine," baker Nguyen Ngoc Hoan told AFP from his busy boulangerie in Hanoi's French Quarter. 'Banh mi' are displayed for sale on a sidewalk in central Hanoi �Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP) Hoan started baking banh mi -- which refers to plain bread or the popular "petit pain" loaded with meat, vegetables or fried egg -- in 1987 and five years later got a stint at the bakery in the storied Metropole hotel, built by the French at the turn of the 20th century. The sandwich has become a foodie favourite in hipster enclaves around the globe, sold from food trucks and sipped with craft beer in both its classic form and a flurry of new varieties. Hoan's father was also a baker but discouraged his son from following in his floured footsteps. "The baking profession chose me, it was not my decision," Hoan said, speaking in front of a wall of ovens as his workers tirelessly knead dough nearby. He started his career baking what he called Vietnamese bread -- airy on the inside, crusty on the outside -- but after training with a French baker in Shanghai decided to switch to the denser French-style. Now, he churns out thousands of warm baguettes daily, along with croissants, creme caramel and homemade pate. - 'Petit pain' - French bread was first made in Vietnam to feed hungry soldiers in Indochina, France's empire which spanned much of Southeast Asia from 1858 to its crushing defeat in the Dien Bien Phu battle in Vietnam in 1954. But the French became known for more than food, gaining a brutal reputation for crushing anti-imperialist movements and putting Vietnamese laborers to work in gruelling conditions on rubber plantations, while heavily taxing citizens during periods of drought and famine. Most French who came to Vietnam weren't interested in low-level jobs like baking. To fill the gap, Chinese and Vietnamese worked in boulangeries -- often hidden away in the back so customers wouldn't know who was baking their bread. "By 1910, little baguettes or 'petit pain' were sold in the street to (Vietnamese) people who were on their way to work," according to Erica Peters, food historian and author of "Appetites and Aspirations in Vietnam". In the years that followed, meat, vegetables or fish appeared in the bread -- precursors to the modern-day banh mi sold all over Hanoi, a city rife with French colonial architecture, bistros and cafes. Other culinary influences leaked in too. Local cooks used meat scraps and unused bones from French butchers to create pho -- the national dish of beef or chicken noodle soup, according to Peters. Coffee and creme caramel are some of the other French culinary leftovers. The ubiquity of those influences will not be lost on President Hollande, who arrives late Monday for talks with Vietnam's leadership and French businessmen. - Hybrid cuisine - Today, Vietnam's commercial capital Ho Chi Minh City is dotted with [http://en.Search.Wordpress.com/?q=chic%20cafes chic cafes] serving croque monsieur and macarons at Paris prices. But the $1 banh mi still rules Hanoi's street food scene. It is so engrained in Vietnam's culinary culture that few draw its lineage back to France. "I don't know and don't care whether it's French, I just serve it like this," said Nguyen Thi Duc Hanh, sitting in front of her shop as [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html du lịch Bắc Kinh] the lunchtime rush begins. She sells hundreds per day and keeps her menu simple: banh mi served with pate and a fried egg, [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html du lịch Bắc Kinh] beef steak or her very own version of "boeuf au vin" made with local spices. One of her regulars, Nguyen Van Binh, said he has been eating banh mi for 50 years, and unlike Hanh, thinks of it as a hybrid dish. "Banh mi came from France but it was changed and adapted to suit Vietnamese tastes," said Binh, before digging into his fried egg and pate served with a crusty roll. A street vendor sits in front of 'Hoan Boulangerie' shop in Hanoi �Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP) An employee prepares to bake croissants at 'Hoan Boulangerie' in Hanoi �Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP) Local Vietnamese cooks used meat scraps and unused bones from French butchers to create pho - the national dish of beef or chicken noodle soup �Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP/File) An employee prepares a 'banh mi' for sale at 'Banh Mi Phuc' restaurant in Hanoi �Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP) Advertisement

Ideal destinations in Vietnam this hot summer

2018-07-02T16:54:36Z

EffieDuCroz0:

Summer is coming in Vietnam. These days also welcome national celebrations taking place throughout the country. If you are going to visit Vietnam from April to May, there are plenty of options to vary your Vietnam holidays. Vietnam has been known as a beautiful country with a lot of wonderful, primitive, mysterious and charming landscapes and seascapes. April is the month when Vietnamese people through the country have national days off on Liberation of Southern Vietnam and Vietnam Reunification Day(April 30) and Labor Day (May 1). This year, the holiday lasts in several days, therefore tourism sites have the best preparation to welcome travelers. This is really an occasion for foreign travelers to join in the joyful time with local people. Northern Vietnam If you have Vietnam tour packages in Northern part, Hanoi, Halong Bay, and some places in northwest such as Sapa are great options. Sapa is a foggy town in the northwest of Vietnam, about 300km from Hanoi. Now, with the convenience of Hanoi - Lao Cai Highway, visitors can travel Sapa easier and faster by private car. There are some other ways to travel Sapa: by train and by air. If traveling by air, visitors will take flights from Hanoi to Dien Bien. Before approaching Sapa by taxi or private car (or coach), let's take a tour to famous historical sites in Dien Bien. In April, Sapa weather is portrayed by cool and fresh atmosphere. You will feel a beautiful Sapa town and four seasons in a day. There are many unique characteristics of local people reflecting through interesting and sophisticated brocade and silver jewelry. In Vietnam tours to Sapa, you can wander around famous attractions in Sapa such as Cat Cat village, Love Waterfall, Sapa Love Market, and Sapa specialties. It is sure that Sapa is an ideal destination with very economical travel expense. Traveling Halong Bay will bring unforgettable memories to visitors. The Natural Word Wonder possesses a stunning beauty that make visitors enraptured with "pearls" floating on the sea, delicacies of seafood, and local specialties. Coming to Halong Bay in April, you can easily explore pristine islands and beaches such as Titov Island, Co To Island, and Quan Lan Island. Such natural landscapes as Thien Cung Cave, Fighting Cocks Islet, and Tuan Chau Island will make your holidays in Vietnam more exciting and meaningful. Central Vietnam After traveling Hanoi, Sapa or Halong Bay in northern Vietnam, visitors may want to have more experiences and discover new lands. Let's come to famous destinations in Central Vietnam to enjoy pleasant weather and beautiful landscapes, which helps visitors to relax. In Central Vietnam, many fascinating destinations appeal a large number of visitors such as Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An. Each [http://Realitysandwich.com/?s=destination%20possesses destination possesses] interesting things looking forward to visitors' exploration. When traveling Hue City, you have chances to discover a unique cultural space of Hue Imperial court nearby Perfume River, and to take a boat [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html tour bắc kinh từ hà nội] on Perfume River to enjoy beautiful Hue traditional folk songs at night. Hue Citadel, royal tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Dong Ba Market will make you stay here longer and longer. As being one of the "hottest" points of interest in Vietnam with countless landscapes and charming beaches, Da Nang is an indispensable destination in Vietnam travel. You can drop by My Son Sanctuary, Linh Ung Pagoda, Non Nuoc Beach, Ba Na Hills, Vinpearl Land, My Khe Beach, and Bac My An Beach to admire the beauty of the worthiest city to live in Vietnam. Hoi An Ancient Town is another perfect choice. Being used to be an international busy commercial port with modern architectural features, the town will make your soul more blithe and mild. Coming to Hoi An, visitors have the opportunity [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html vtr.org.vn] to admire the romantic city by sitting on boat along Thu Bon River, to contemplate colorful shimmering lanterns at night, or ride a bike to explore lush green fields. Southern Vietnam You will have many interesting choices to explore a modern and dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, immense Mekong River Delta, or charming beaches in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Con Dao and Phan Thiet, or romantic Dalat. They are interesting options for the holiday. Depending on the interest of each people, they will have suitable vacation spot to [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html du lịch Bắc Kinh] visit during the great national holiday of Vietnam. In late April, Ho Chi [http://Www.guardian.co.uk/search?q=Minh%20City Minh City] will be the most exciting place in Vietnam, as it is the time when this city celebrates the biggest anniversary of Liberation Day of Southern Vietnam and Vietnam Reunification Day in this country. Choosing the modern and dynamic Ho Chi Minh City will be ideal experience for you. Coming here, do not forget to drop by outstanding historical sites such as Independence Palace, Vietnam War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Binh Tay Market, or Cu Chi Tunnels to know more about Vietnam history and people. On the occasion of Vietnam Reunification Day's anniversary, there are a plenty of cheap Vietnam tickets sold to meet the demand of domestic and international tourists. AloTrip - one of reputable travel agent with its official website of AloTrip.com, is providing all information and consultant about tours and tickets, along with many high-quality services to tourists to enjoy a perfect holiday. Let's quickly plan your trip and book flights to Vietnam now!

Kenny Dalglish and Emma Thompson lead honours list as Mark Carne´s...

2018-06-23T14:12:36Z

EffieDuCroz0:

Liverpool football great Kenny Dalglish has been knighted and Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson made a dame in the Queen�s Birthday Honours - while Network Rail boss Mark Carne has attracted criticism for his recognition. Mr Carne received a CBE against a backdrop of huge disruption for train passengers in recent weeks, with politicians and rail groups describing the award as a �slap in the face� for commuters. Labour MP Lisa Nandy called for his honour to be withdrawn, saying there was �absolutely no way that the Government should press ahead with this award�. (PA Graphics) She told The World Tonight on BBC Radio 4 that the decision was �just another kick in the teeth� for rail travellers. �It�s the most astonishing thing to have happened in a week when commuters have been suffering from rail chaos�, she added. Former Liberal Democrat leader [http://Www.internetbillboards.net/?s=Tim%20Farron Tim Farron] said the award �brought the honours system into disrepute�. He told BBC�s Newsnight: �We have the most dysfunctional rail system in the western world, I would argue, certainly when it comes to local and commuter trains, so anybody amongst the rail industry leadership - whether it be Network Rail or the Department for Transport - to be given an honour of this kind�is an insult, a slap in the face to millions of travellers up and down the country who are suffering because of the failure of that leadership.� The Department for Transport admitted the timing of the announcement of the outgoing chief executive�s award for services to the rail industry following timetabling issues was �unfortunate� but added that recent problems should not detract from his overall service. Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy also defended his �tremendous contribution to our railways�. He added: �It is right he is honoured just before he retires from one of the biggest and most challenging jobs in UK industry.� My comment on Mark Carne receiving a CBE in the Queen�s Birthday Honours pic.twitter.com/wXMjiAQ2mT - Sir Peter Hendy (@SirPeterHendy) June 8, 2018 But one union boss likened the timing of the honour to �rewarding the captain of the Titanic for jumping ship�. Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, said: �Frustrated passengers will see no honour in that at all.� Network Rail launches digital rail strategy And Emily Yates, of the Association of British Commuters, said: �It is a sign that the rail industry is badly out of touch with the real pain and suffering that people are going through - it is a pantomime.� Meanwhile, also among the honours list in this 100th anniversary year of women�s suffrage are remarkable females including a nun fighting modern slavery and a businesswoman who made her fortune in fake tan - although men outnumber women on the list. As the NHS celebrates 70 years since its foundation, medics are recognised for their dedication, with health sector workers making up 12% of the 1,057 [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html tour bắc kinh từ hà nội] people honoured. Helen Bamber Foundation funding Dame Emma, 59, who is described in the official citation of the honours committee as one of the UK�s most versatile and celebrated actresses, receives her honour for services to drama. The Remains Of The Day and Nanny McPhee star is joined on the list by fellow actor Tom Hardy, who is also recognised for services to drama, receiving a CBE, while Keira Knightley is made an OBE for services to drama and charity. Sir Kenny, who managed Liverpool at the time of the Hillsborough disaster and remained a steadfast support of the families in their lengthy quest for justice, said he was �hugely proud to have accepted the accolade� for services [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html vtr.org.vn] to football, charity and the City of Liverpool. The 67-year-old Glaswegian and his wife Marina have also helped raise millions of pounds for cancer treatment through the Marina Dalglish Appeal after she successfully battled breast cancer. `The Justice Collective: He Ain�t Heavy...� launch - Liverpool Joking that he thought the letter informing him of the knighthood had been from the taxman, he added of the achievement: �We only set out to do the best we possibly could, even through all the other stuff - the charity or Hillsborough, it was to help people because somebody helped us.� Following a wave of terror attacks which struck the UK in 2017, former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Mark Rowley, who led the national response, is honoured with a knighthood. On his retirement in March after 31 years in policing, Sir Mark was praised by Prime Minister Theresa May for his �dedication to protecting public safety and tackling the evils of terrorism�. Salisbury incident While there are no honours for local heroes involved in the response to the Grenfell Tower fire, the Cabinet has said it expects �acts of bravery and extraordinary community spirit� which emerged from the tragedy to feature on future lists, adding that its approach will be �time-appropriate�. The brother of aid worker David Haines, who was murdered by Islamic State extremists, is made an OBE for his work against terrorism. Mike Haines dedicated the honour, for voluntary service to tolerance and education in the UK and abroad, to his younger sibling, who was beheaded by Islamic State extremists in 2014 after being taken hostage in Syria. Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, the boss of chemical company Ineos who this year topped the Sunday Times rich list with �21.05 billion, receives a knighthood for services to business and investment. Projekt Grenadier Sporting stars are well represented among the recipients, with Premier League and England striker Jermain Defoe describing himself as �blessed and humbled� to be recognised with an OBE for his services to the charitable foundation set up in his name. The honour comes almost a year after the death of six-year-old football mascot Bradley Lowery, with whom the player struck up a strong friendship as the little boy battled a rare childhood cancer. Defoe said it was the �proudest moment of my life� and added: �But it isn�t for me or about me. It�s for Bradley and those he loved.� The proudest moment of my life to be awarded an OBE. I�m blessed to have received the honour, but it isn�t for me or about me. It�s for Bradley and those he loved. I�d trade it all for him to be back in our lives, forget the goals and awards, it�s the memories I�ll cherish...💙 pic.twitter.com/Dcxua0t7bC - Jermain Defoe (@IAmJermainDefoe) June 8, 2018 World heavyweight champion boxer Anthony Joshua is made an OBE for services to sport, while 20-year-old alpine skier Menna Fitzpatrick, Britain�s most successful winter Paralympian, is the youngest on this year�s list, picking up an MBE for services to Paralympic sport. In the musical world, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite is honoured with an MBE, under her real name Niomi McLean-Daley, for services to music, while Mobo Awards founder Kanya King receives a CBE for services to music and culture. Japan-born Nobel prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, knighted for his services to literature, said he was �deeply touched to receive this honour from the nation that welcomed me as a small foreign boy�. British Nobel Prize for Literature winner Former Second World War nurse Rosemary Powell, who at 103 is the oldest on the list, is made an MBE for voluntary service to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, having spent 97 years collecting for the charity. Renowned war correspondent Kate Adie is made a CBE for services to media, while Stacey Dooley, known for her BBC Three investigative series covering topics ranging from the fight against Isis to the abortion debate, receives an MBE for services to broadcasting. Among the politicians honoured are Conservative MPs Eleanor Laing and Bernard Jenkin, awarded a damehood and a knighthood respectively for their political and public service, while Labour�s Louise Ellman has also been made a dame for parliamentary and political services. Holocaust survivor Ber Helfgott, also known as Ben, is knighted for services to Holocaust remembrance and education, one of nearly three-quarters of those on the honours list deemed to have undertaken outstanding work in or for their local community. Stacey Dooley Investigates: Young Sex for Sale in Japan In healthcare, Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England Professor Susan Hill is made a dame for services to the 100,000 Genome Project and to NHS Genomic Medicine, while surgeon Nadine Hachach-Haram is awarded a BEM for services to surgery and innovation, having co-founded a company pioneering virtual access to surgery for people in remote areas. Veronica Donovan, a consultant midwife at Birmingham Women and Children�s NHS Foundation Trust, is made an OBE for services to midwifery, while palliative cancer care specialist Debra Smith receives a BEM for services to nursing. In the business sphere, Judy Naake, who made millions selling St Tropez self-tanning products, initially from the back of her car, receives an MBE for services to entrepreneurship, the community and philanthropy. Women: Inspiration & Enterprise Jo Malone, creator of the self-titled luxury perfumery brand who has since started the fragrance-centred Jo Loves business, is awarded a CBE for services to the British economy and the GREAT Britain campaign, which encourages people to visit and invest in the UK. Sister Imelda Poole, president of European anti-trafficking network Renate, receives an MBE for services to combating modern slavery. Howard Tucker is awarded a CBE for services to international justice for his past work as a member of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. A former policeman in South Wales, he went to work in Bosnia to help bring people to trial for war crimes committed during the conflicts there in the 1990s. Of the total number recognised in the Queen�s Birthday Honours list this year, 210 have been made an OBE, 392 an MBE, and 318 awarded a [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html du lịch Bắc Kinh] BEM. Forty-nine percent of the honourees are women, while 10% of all those on the list are from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Advertisement

User:EffieDuCroz0

2018-06-23T14:12:28Z

EffieDuCroz0: Created page with "I am Effie from Union Road. I am learning to play the Guitar. Other hobbies are Dog sport. Also visit my website ... [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-..."

I am Effie from Union Road. I am learning to play the Guitar. Other hobbies are Dog sport. Also visit my website ... [http://www.vtr.org.vn/cam-nang-du-lich-bac-kinh-5-ngay-4-dem.html tour bắc kinh từ hà nội]