Easy to Indochina Tours: February 2012

10 công cụ tìm kiếm có thể bạn chưa biết

Bạn đã nghe đến thuật ngữ “tìm kiếm hướng đối tượng” chưa? Đó là những công cụ chuyên dụng cho từng mục đích tìm kiếm cụ thể, đôi khi còn hữu ích hơn cả Google. Dưới đây là 10 trong số đó.

1. Topsy (http://topsy.com/)

Mạng xã hội ảo “mini” Twitter ngày càng phổ biến. Với số người dùng rất đông đảo, thông tin do người sử dụng đưa lên Twitter rất đa dạng và hữu ích. Topsy cho phép tìm kiếm những thông tin được mọi người chia sẻ trên mạng xã hội Twitter. Kểt quả tìm kiếm trên Topsy được sắp xếp dựa trên mức độ phù hợp với thông tin mà bạn tìm và những nhận xét về những thông tin đó. Từ đó bạn sẽ tìm được những thông tin phù hợp nhất với mình.

2. CrowdEye (http://www.crowdeye.com/)

Tương tự như Topsy, CrowdEye cho phép bạn tìm kiếm những thông tin do người sử dụng cung cấp trên Twitter. Kết quả tìm kiếm là một biểu đồ thể hiện mức độ phổ biến của từ khóa tìm kiếm, các đường link và qua các tag. Điều này nghe có vẻ như sẽ có một lượng thông tin khổng lồ đang chờ đón bạn khám phá. Nhưng cách trình bày trên CrowdEye rất dễ dàng để bạn có thể truy cập và chọn ra thứ bạn cần.

3. Collecta (http://www.collecta.com/)

Không chỉ tìm kiếm thông tin thông trên Twitter như 2 công cụ tìm kiếm trên, Collecta còn cho phép tìm kiếm nội dung trên Flickr, các comment trên các blog, Twitter, Jaiku (mạng xã hội ảo tương tự Twitter) và các bài viết trên các blog cá nhân. Do Twitter ngày càng phát triển, kết quả tìm kiếm thu được từ Twitter thường “áp đảo” so với các mạng xã hội khác.

4. Scoopler (http://www.scoopler.com/)

Tương tự như Collecta, Scoopler tìm kiếm thông tin từ Twitter cùng với các nguồn khác như Youtube, Flickr… để cung cấp cho bạn các bài viết, hình ảnh và video mới nhất.

5. IceRocket (http://www.icerocket.com/)

IceRocket cho phép người sử dụng tìm kiếm các kết quả trên Twitter và MySpace, 2 trong số các mạng xã hội ảo lớn nhất hiện nay. Chức năng tìm kiếm web, tin tức, ảnh… cũng được cung cấp ở đây.

6. OneRiot (http://www.oneriot.com/)

OneRiot phân tích các đường link mà mọi người chia sẻ trên các mạng xã hội như Digg và Twitter. Sau đó, OneRiot đánh dấu các nội dung liên quan đến thông tin bạn cần. Kết quả tìm kiếm là các thông tin mới nhất thu thập từ các mạng xã hội và sát với nội dung tìm kiếm của bạn nhất. Ngoài chức năng tìm kiếm website, OneRite còn cho phép người dùng tìm kiếm theo nội dung video.

7. Trackle (http://www.trackle.com/)

Trackle không giống hầu hết các trang web tìm kiếm. Nó có nhiều chuyên mục tìm kiếm cài sẵn để bạn lựa chọn như: du lịch, chuyện về các ngôi sao, chứng khoán, phân loại các quảng cáo, y tế, tội phạm… Khi một thể loại được chọn, bạn có thể nhập ba từ khóa để tìm kiếm. Nếu tìm kiếm vẫn chưa cho được kết quả ưng ý, bạn sẽ được Trackle thông báo bằng tin nhắn SMS, email ngay khi có những thông tin mới từ Internet phù hợp.

8. iBoogie (http://www.iboogie.tv/)

Cách thức hoạt động của iBoogie tương tự như các công cụ tìm kiếm khác. Nó tìm kiếm nhiều trang web thu thập một số lượng lớn kết quả phù hợp với từ khóa bạn nhập vào. Điểm khác biệt của iBoogie là nó phân loại các kết quả theo từng chủ đề riêng biệt. Bằng cách chia kết quả như thế này, iBoogie giúp bạn thu hẹp khoảng cách giữa kết quả và nhu cầu tìm kiếm.

9. MetaCrawler (http://www.metacrawler.com/)

MetaCrawler sử dụng “công nghệ siêu tìm kiếm”, để lấy kết quả từ các trang web của các công cụ tìm kiếm khác. Nhờ truy vấn nhiều công cụ tìm kiếm cùng lúc, bạn sẽ nhận được kết quả lớn hơn nhiều so với công cụ tìm kiếm thông thường.

10. GoodSearch (http://www.goodsearch.com/default.aspx)

Khi sử dụng GoodSearch, bạn sẽ có cảm giác mình trở thành người tốt bụng hơn (!). Khi bạn tiến hành tìm kiếm trên GoodSearch, số tiền thu được từ các dịch vụ quảng cáo sẽ được trích 1 nửa cho trường học và các tổ chức từ thiện mà bạn chọn. Trước khi tiến hành tìm kiếm, bạn có thể điền tên của các tổ chức từ thiện mà mình biết vào khung “WHO DO YOU GOODSEARCH FOR?”. Mặc dù kết quả tìm kiếm của GoodSearch được lấy từ Yahoo, nhưng cách thức hoạt động của GoodSearch cũng đáng để chúng ta xem qua.

Vietnam Travel, Vietnam Package Tour

Vietnam Travel: Hanoi Destination

Hanoi is the capital of Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Ha Noi lies in Red River Delta and is situated in a tropical area having a strong monsoon influence. The name of Ha Noi (Interior side of a river) has been derived from an ancient language which is literally known as a land area located in the inner side of Red River. It does not mean that the city is inside the river, but it is embraced by about 100 km of the Red River dykes. Ha Noi has nine inner precincts (Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung, Dong Da, Cau Giay, Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan, Long Bien, Hoang Mai) and five suburban districts (Tu Liem, Thanh Tri, Gia Lam, Dong Anh and Soc Son).

One- Pillar Pagoda

Chua mot cot (One-pillar Pagoda) : Its original name was Dien Huu (long-lasting happiness and good luck). Legend has it thatKing Lý Thai Tong was very old and had no son of his own. Therefore, he often went to pagodas to pray for Buddha's blessing so that he might have a son. One night, he had a dream that he was granted a private audience with Buddha with a male baby in his hands. Buddha, sitting on a lotus flower in a square-shaped lotus pond in the western side of Thang Long Citadel, gave the king the baby. Months later, the queen got pregnant and gave birth to a male child. To repay gift from Buddha, the king ordered the construction of a pagoda which was supported by only one pillar resembling a lotus seat on which Buddha had been seated. The pagoda was dedicated to Buddha.

Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) was built in 1070 as a dedication to the founder of Confucianism. Six years later, Quoc Tu Giam - the first university of Vietnam - was built in the premises of Van Mieu. Quoc Tu Giam was the first school for princes and children of royal family members. In 1482, King Le Thanh Tong ordered the erection of steles with inscription of all the names, birth dates and birth places of doctors and other excellent graduates who took part in examinations since 1442. Each stela is placed on the back of a turtle representing the nation's longevity. During Nha Nguyen (Nguyen Dynasty), Temple of Literature was moved to Phu Xuan (Hue Royal City).

Golden Lotus Pagoda (Kim Lien Pagoga)

* Chua Kim Lien (Kim Lien Pagoda): Legend has it that in the 12th century, Princess Tu Hoa, daughter of King Lý Than Ton, led her ladies-in-waiting to this area. They cultivated mulberry and silkworms to make silk. Later, a pagoda was built right on the site and by 1771, it was named Kim Lien (Golden Lotus).

* Chua Quan Su (Quan Su Pagoda): was built in the 17th century. It is located in the street of the same name. Since 1958, Vietnam Buddhism Association has used this pagoda as its head office.

* Den Quan Thanh (Quan Thanh Temple): The three ancient Chinese characters which are still seen today on the top of the entrance to the temple mean Tran Vu Quan. Literally, the temple is dedicated to Saint Tran Vu. Temples are places for worshipping saints while pagodas are dedicated to Buddha and faithful disciplines. Saint Tran Vu was a legendary figure which was a combination between a legendary character in Vietnam's legend and a mystic character derived from China's legend. In Vietnam's legend, he was a saint who had earned the merits of assisting Thuc Phan (future King An Duong Vuong) in getting rid of ghost spirit during the construction of CoLoa Citadel. An Duong Vuong Temple in CoLoa Citadel (Dong Anh district) is also named Thuong Temple. Inside it, there are An Duong Vuong's bronze statue (cast in 1897) and a big arbalest symbolizing the magic arbalest in the old days. In China's legend, Saint Tran Vu was a saint who had made many contributions in safeguarding the northern border. Quan Th¸nh Temple was built during the reign ofKing LýThai To (1010-1028). Special attention should be paid to the black bronze statue of Saint Tran Vu. Another object of no less significance is a smaller black bronze statue of Old Trong, a chief artisan of the bronze casting team who had made the giant statue of Saint Tran Vu and the great bell on top of the entrance.

* Den Ngoc Son (Ngoc Son Temple): Initially, the temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda. Later, it was renamed as Ngoc Son Temple, because it was dedicated to the saints. Saint Van Xuong was a person considered the brightest star in Vietnam's literature and intellectual circles. Tran Hung Dao was worshipped because he was the national hero who led the Vietnamese people to a resounding victory over the Mongol aggression. The temple as it is seen today was attributable to the restoration efforts of Nguyen Van Sieu, a great Hanoian writer. He had a large pen-shaped tower (Thap But) built at the entrance to the temple

On the upper section of Thap But, there are three Chinese characters Ta Thanh Thien which mean literally that to write on the blue sky is to imply the height of a genuine and righteous person's determination and will. Behind Thap But is Dai Nghien (Ink Stand). The Ink Stand is carved from stone resembling a peach, which is placed on the back of three frogs on top of the gate to the temple. Passing through Dai Nghien, visitors will tread on the wooden bridge called The Huc. The Huc is literally understood as the place where beams of morning sunshine are touching.

Besides, Ha Noi has such attractions as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, History Museum,Revolution Museum, Army Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Palace of Friendship....

Festival Hai Ba Trung

Den Hai Ba Trung (Hai Ba Trung Temple) is also called Dong Nhan Temple, because it is located in Dong Nhan village, Hai Ba Trung precinct. Built in 1142 under the reign of King Lý Anh Ton, it is dedicated to the two Vietnamese heroines Trung Trac and Trung Nhi. On the 5th and 6th days of the lunar second month, there is a grand festival at this temple to commemorate the two national heroines.

West Lake

HoTay (West Lake) & Duong Thanh Nien (Youth Road): Youth Road can be compared to a beautiful bridge spanning across the two large bodies of water - West Lake to the northwest and Truc Bach Lake to the southeast. Covering an area of nearly 500 hectares, Ho Tay was also called Dam Dam (Misty Pond), Lang Bac (White Waves)...

Oral tradition has it that HoTay derived from a low-lying area upturned by a golden buffalo, so the stream derived from Ho Tay was named Song Kim Nguu (Golden Buffalo River). As for Truc Bach Lake, legend has it that in the old days, Truc Bach Lake was where lived the abandoned ladies-in-waiting who were forced to weave silk. Therefore, beautiful silk was called Truc Bach (Silk of the Truc village). As the biggest lake in the city, HoTay is surrounded by many areas reputed for their traditional occupations: Yen Phu and Nghi Tam (silkworm-breeding and silk-weaving villages in the past), Quang Ba, Nhat Tan (peach-growing village), Buoi (paper-making village). In Tay Son times, Nguyen Huy Luong wrote Tông Tay Ho Phó (Eulogy for West Lake) so as to highlight the landscapes of the West Lake and Nguyen Hue (future Quang Trung)'s glorious merits. Now, Ho Tay has been earmarked for the city's major tourism development center.

Hoan Kiem Lake

* Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of Restored Sword): The name of this lake is derived from a legend having it that a fisherman named LeThan caught a sword blade when drawing the fish-net. Than decided to offer it to his commanding general Le Loi (future Le Thai To). Afterwards, LeLoi found a hilt fitting that blade very well. This sword had always been on his side during 10 years of resistance against Ming aggressors. After winning over the foreign aggression, King Le Thai To returned to Thang Long Citadel .One day, aboard a royal boat, he took a cruise in the Luc Thuy lake. Suddenly, a giant turtle emerged and came towards him. The king withdrew his sword, and pinpointed with the sword the direction of the coming turtle for his soldiers' attention.

All of a sudden, the turtle caught the sword between its teeth from the king's hand and submerged. The king thought that during the resistance against Ming aggressors, the genius had offered him this sword to help him defeat the enemy. At that time, the peace was returning, and the genius appeared to take back the sword. Consequently, King Le Thai To decided to name the Luc Thuy lake Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of Restored Sword). In the middle of the lake is Thap Rua (Turtle Tower). The lake abounds in big turtles aged five or six hundred. When there are the changes in weather, they often emerge or expose themselves at the foot of the Turtle Temple.

Newer news items:

06/02/2012 - Ha Long Bay (World Natural Heritage)

Older news items:

01/02/2012 - Introducing Mekong Delta
22/12/2011 - Truc Lam Temple
06/12/2011 - Floating market in the heart of Saigon
02/12/2011 - Ceramics village fires up tourism
17/11/2011 - The Old Quarter in Hanoi

ASEAN and Korea exchange tourism tips

Southeast Asian countries have gained tips on improving their tourism industry from Korea.

The ASEAN-Korea Centre hosted a tourism workshop from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. Members of the National Tourism Organization and industry representatives from 10ASEAN member states and Korea attended the ASEAN Tourism Promotion Workshop in Seoul.

The workshop included lectures on tourism trends and prospects for ASEAN and Korea, tourism promotion policies, marketing strategies and tourism development plans for mega international events. Following the talks by industry professionals and academics, ASEAN representatives shared ideas on tourism promotion programs in ASEAN and Korea.

The workshop was followed by a field trip to Pyeong Chang and other parts of Gangwon Province to visit venues for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and observe the tourism promotion programs of the province promoting Korean traditional culture.

The Tourism Promotion Workshop was organized as part of the ASEAN-Korea Centre’s Programs for ASEAN Tourism Human Resource Development to strengthen competitiveness of ASEAN tourism and promote tourism exchanges between Southeast Asia and Korea.

www.easytoindochina.com/travel/asean-and-korea-exchange-tourism-tips.html

Saigon – one of 10 cities have the most attractive street food

The Food and Wine Magazine has selected ten cities which have the most delicious street food in the world. Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam ranks 5th for noodle soup (Vietnamese: Phở) and pâté bread. Below are list of top ten places:

1. Austin (Texas - USA)
Austin is known for a lot of delicious street food such as Lucky’J fried chicken, Tacos Waffles or grilled Kimcheeze (or Kim Chee) which is sold on the Korean BBQ style truck, a combination between Korean style and Mexico style.

2. Bangkok (Thailand)
Bangkok is called “street food” paradise. Food markets could be found on almost every street corner from Yaowarat to China town… Some typical dishes are grilled pork skewers, curry fish, fried banana with flour, durian fruit.

3. Berlin (Germany)
Beer is a major part of German culture. Street food in Berlin is various: Bread likes the Turkish Donne Kebab, or wurst (hot pork sausage), and the currywurst in Berlin is different. It is about 40 centimes long and cut into pieces, topped with tomato sauce mixed with curry powder and chili powder.

4. Chicago ( United States)
In Chicago, there are trucks specializing in providing street food such as Wagon – Gaztro severed meat bread, Meatyballs Mobile and Southern Mac. Nowadays, more and more food trucks operated in Chicago as Food Truck Tuesdays in the South, Halted Avenues in Park Lincoln, Food Truck Thursdays in Ethyl’s Beer, Wine Dive in West Loop and Chicago Food truck.

5. Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
One of the best street food in Ho Chi Minh that visitors like are “Pho” and French bread with pâté. Besides, there are some specialties from the South as “Banh Xeo” (Pancake). Visitor will have chance to try fried spring rolls when coming to Ben Thanh Market.

6. Hong Kong (China)
Visitors to Hong Kong often go to Temple Street in Kowloon to enjoy some good dishes such as squid, shrimp, fried oysters, curry fish, cheap –priced hotpot. This is also well-known for Stinky Tofu and grilled viscera.

7. Istanbul (Turkey)
Turkey is very famous for Doner Barbecue and Istanbul – the biggest city of this country also has a lot of delicious street food such as Borek (pastry cake ), simit (round bread is sprinkled with sesame seeds) and kumpir (baked potatoes with tomato sauce, sausage and olive oil).

8. Los Angles (United States)
In Los Angles, the food trucks with label Koji have been popular since 2009. A lot of food is served on the truck: Bulgogi (Korean – Mexico style), Dim Sum, grilled cheese, fried chicken, biscuits with honey…

9. Marrakech (Morocco)
Markets in Morocco are well - known for carpets, pottery; besides, some others built many centuries ago also sells many specialties, cereal, barbecue, especially the Harira – a favorite soup of the Moroccans made from meat, lentils, peas.

10. Mexico City (Mexico)
Undeniably, that Mexico has been famous for Taco bread (a sort of Mexican Sandwich). In Mexico capital, there are also antojitos (snacks) or Elotes made from roasted corn and covered with a layer of Mayonnaise, chili powder, white cheese and lemon juice.

http://www.easytoindochina.com/travel/saigon-one-of-10-cities-have-the-most-attractive-street-food.html

Ha Long Bay (World Natural Heritage)

Geographical position

Situated in the north-east region of Viet Nam, Halong Bay is a part of Bac Bo Gulf and comprises the sea area of Halong City, Cam Pha Town and a part of Van Don island district, Quang Ninh Province. It borders Cat Ba Island to the south-west, the mainland to the west with a 120km-long coastline.

Natural Beauty

Halong Bay covers a total area of 1,553km, including 1,969 islands of various sizes, 989 of which have been given names. There are two kinds, limestone and schist, which are concentrated in two main zones: the south-east (belonging to Bai Tu Long Bay) and the south-west (belonging to Halong Bay). The average geological age of the islands is between 250 and 280 million years old.

Halong Bay has been called by the great national poet Nguyen Trai: "a marvel of the earth erected towards the high skies". While exploring the bay, tourists will feel lost in a legendary world of stone islands which shapes change depending on the angle and the light. There are many names given to islands according to their shapes and forms such as Hon Dau Nguoi (Human Head Islet), Hon Rong (Dragon Islet), Hon Canh Buom (Sail Islet), Hon Trong Mai (Cock and Hen Islet). But the beauty of Halong Bay does not consist only in the forms of its mountains, islands and the colour of its waters, but also in its infinitely rich system of grottoes and caves such as: Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace Grotto), Dau Go (Driftwood Grotto), Sung Sot (Surprise Grotto), Tam Cung (Three Palace Grotto), Trinh Nu (Virgin Grotto). Each is a grandiose and refined natural architectural creation.

Geological value

The most remarkable geological events of Halong Bay's history in the last 1,000 years include the advance of the sea, the raising of the bay area and the strong erosion that has formed coral and pure blue and heavily-salted water. This process of erosion by sea water has deeply engraved the stone, contributing to its fantastic beauty. Present-day Halong Bay is the result of this long process of geological evolution that has been influenced by so many factors. It is because of all these factors that the tourists now visiting Halong Bay are not only treated to one of the true wonders of the world, but also to a precious geological museum that has been naturally preserved in the open air for the last 300 million years.

Value of biological diversity

Results of scientific research show that Halong Bay features ecosystems of a tropical ocean region such as ecosystem of coral reefs with 232 species of coral distributed mainly in the areas of Cong Do and Bo Hung. It is also home to 81 species of gastropoda, 130 species of bivalvia, 55 species of polycheta and 57 species of crab. The ecosystem of salt water-flooded forests chiefly concentrated in the zones of Tuan Chau, Cua Luc and Ba Che has the most diversified collection of species of salt water-flooded plant in North Vietnam. Also living in this ecosystem are a great many species of animals: migrating birds (200 species), polycheta (169 species), seaweed (91 species), reptile (10 species). Halong Bay also has ecosystem of tropical rain forests with various rare and precious creatures: deer, weasels, squirrels and in particular, white-tabby and red-haired monkeys. In addition, there is a system of small caves along the sea, which are the living and development places for many animals and plants: seaweed, water plant, algae, fish and shrimp. Deeper into the water, there are also many species of shrimp, fish, abalone and other sea-specialities.

Historical and cultural value

Halong is a place closely linked to Vietnam's history with such famous geographical names as: Van Don (site of an ancient commercial port); Poem Mountain (with engravings of many poems by emperors and other famous people of the past); and Bach Dang River (the location of two fierce naval battles fought against foreign aggressors). This is not all, Halong has been proven by scientists to be one of the first cradles of human existence in the area, with such archaeological sites as Dong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu and Thoi Gieng.

On December 17, 1994, Halong Bay was recognised as world natural heritage for its natural beauty at the 18th meeting of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO in Thailand. On December 12, 2000, Halong Bay was recognised as world natural heritage for the second time based on its geological value at the 24th meeting of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO in Cairns, Australia. The recognised site covers an area of 434km, comprises 775 islands and forms a triangle: with Dau Go Island (Driftwood Grotto) to the west; Ba Ham Lake(Three Shelter Lake) to the south and Cong Tay Island to the east.

Source: Internet

Travelers love Vietnam for good tasted food

According to a survey of Visa, many visitors to Vietnam express that the most attractive thing for them is to experience distinctive culture and enjoy various cuisines of this country

The survey of Visa on International tourism trend was applied for 11.620 international visitors from 23 countries inAsia Pacific, Europe and America. They are all 18 years old up and traveled within the past two years, intending to travel oversea including Vietnam in next two years.

About 69% visitors to Vietnam said that they were willing to pay more to enjoy various cuisines; 65% visitors are also willing to pay for sightseeing; 62% are willing for extra restful services and experience different cultures.

According to Visa, to experience various culture and food is now the key factor attracting visitors, although, in the future, they will choose low –cost places. The economic recession makes travelers more carefully choose tourism options; Visitors often like 3-4 star hotels; however, the cheap ones will be preferred in the future.

Therefore, the report expresses that Vietnam Tourism need to boost promotion programs to attract more and more visitors to Vietnam.