There are abundant domestic and abroad tours available for visitors on the occasion of national holidays, say operators in 
Ho Chi Minh City(HCMC).
Normally, all of the tours were fully registered two weeks before the holidays in previous years.
Travel company Fiditour says that on the occasion of the Unification Day (April 30) and May Day, it targets to achieve a growth of 24 percent in number of tourists; however, it has reached over 20 percent so far.
The number of holiday makers has not been as high as travel companies’ expectation, partly because they spent holidays on the occasion of the commemoration of Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the first Vietnamese kingdom, just one week before these events, the company said.
In related news, the national air flag carrier Vietnam Airlines revealed that it would increase an extra of 224 domestic flights to meet travel demand during the coming holidays.
The number of flights between Hanoi and HCMC will move up by 38 flights.
It would hike by 36 flights between HCMC and Da Nang and 30 between Hanoi and Da Nang.
Archive for April, 2010
Vietnam is known to many people as a country of wars but she is a peace lover. Many American people wonder when visiting Vietnam if they are unfairly treated? This issue should be seen fairly, almost Vietnam people would rather look forward the future than look back damages by the war, thus there is no prejudice against American people.
The latest national tourism promotion campaign will have a strong focus on shopping in order to entice more spending by local and foreign tourists, officials say.
This year’s “Vietnam -Your Destination” campaign plans to offer more shopping tour options to visitors, establishing more shopping centers at tourism sites, said Vu The Binh, head of the Travel Department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).
Thailand and Malaysia have succeeded in developing shopping tourism with big sales programs, making great contributions to on-site exports and enabling reduced tour prices as sellers pay commissions to Vietnam travel agents.
Up to 51 percent of spending by visitors to Thailand is on shopping, while the percentage in Vietnam is only 10-14 percent, Binh said.
To develop shopping-based tourism in the country, the VNAT will launch the “Impressive Vietnam Grand Sale 2010” program in the three major cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang in August and September, he added.
Under the program, visitors will be offered discounts of 10-50 percent when shopping at some tourism sites in the cities. They will also get VAT (value-added-tax) refunds, discount cards and/or shopping coupons at some supermarkets, souvenir shops, hotels, and tourism sites.
Some lottery programs will also be held at shopping centers for tourists, while shopping streets, handicraft streets and food streets will be set up in the three cities.
The VNAT will work with the departments of industry and trade in the cities to make lists of the program’s participants and products in order to produce promotional leaflets.
Do Xuan Ha, deputy head of the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said shopping brochures with contact details of shops offering discounts will be distributed among visitors soon.
Since it is being implemented for the first time this year, the program selects only prestigious trade centers and big shops for participation. Participants who sell fake or low quality products will be heavily fined, Ha said.
However, deputy head of the VNAT, Nguyen Quang Phuong, admitted that Vietnamese goods are not attractive and diversified enough for visitors. “The problem originates from the production stage. We are trying to deal with it, but it needs more time.”
Nguyen Cong Hoan, vice director of the travel agent Hanoi Redtour, said: “We should attract visitors not only with low-priced tours, but take measures to encourage them to spend as much money as possible in our country,” he said. He noted that Vietnamese tourists spend just $250-300 to buy a tour to Thailand, but splurge an additional $500-700 on buying products and services in the neighboring country.
Reported by Bao Van
“Vietnam is like a beautiful girl, who is full of mystery and doesn’t want anybody to know about her,” says Dr. Julio Aramberri, chief of the Linguistics and Culture Faculty of Ho Chi Minh city’s (HCM City’s) Hoa Sen private university.
As Vietnam’s National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) launched a new tourism marketing campaign with the slogan “Vietnam – Your Destination,” Tuoi Tre Weekend magazine talked with Professor Aramberri about how Spain became a favourite holiday destination in Europe.
Whenever we hear the word ‘Spain,’ we immediately imagine colorful skirts, music and the flamenco, nice beaches, sunlight and the optimistic spirit of the Spanish people. And yet, we’ve never been to your country. How does ‘Spain’ put such images into our minds?
The image of a country is a very complicated issue. It not only depends on what we want to show to others but also on the way others want to see us.
History is important. Every country, especially long established states like Spain and Vietnam, have had many wonderful and also bad events. Sometimes outsiders only remember the negative side. This is difficult to change. It is impossible to change such perceptions simply by the efforts of the people who are in charge of tourism advertising.
My country suffered a civil war in the 1930’s. Over 500,000 people died. When my country promoted tourism in the 1960’s and we focused on the European market, we had to overcome those memories.
What was your strategy?
After making surveys in our two major markets, Britain and Germany, we realized that people weren’t going to Spain for the things that we wanted to advertise. We thought that foreign visitors came to our country because we had a glorious history, cultural heritage, ancient churchs and streets, but we were wrong. They didn’t care about these things because many countries, including their own, have these things.
In 1970, we had around 13 million foreign tourists. The people who were in charge of tourism marketing like me and my co-workers began changing the image of Spain after we learned that most visitors go to Spain for the sun, its beautiful beaches and silky sand. The weather in Britain and Germany is gloomy all winter and the people often ask where they can find the sun. So our tourism slogan was “Everything Under the Sun” to draw them to us.
So you didn’t advertise so much what you have but rather the things that visitors want and need?
Yes, that’s true. We decided to not invest a lot of money to develop brand-new images about Spanish tourism when we were not sure of the result. We relied on what tourists wanted. “The sun, the sea and sand” are the things that attracted visitors from our two major markets. After that, we developed other products, such as cheap tours for families, culinary culture, night life, and so on. Spain has become a good and safe place, with reasonably priced services for families.
Foreign visitors don’t decide to visit your country for your heritage and culture, which are your pride. How does that make you feel?
Actually, we can’t sell the things that we think are the most valuable. That is quite painful but it is a fact. Everyone thinks that the culture and tradition of their own country are its greatest asset. However, we have to understand our image in the eyes of others. This is difficult because others don’t look at us the way we see ourselves.
Foreign tourists at Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
We can’t tell our clients “You are really stupid! Why don’t you buy this, buy that? just because we think it is better.” The sun that belongs to the whole world became the sun of Spain in our tourism advertising campaign and the foundation for our follow-up. When foreign visitors go to our country, then we introduce our music, museums, theatres, churches and cuisines to them.
We had great success advertising our images at that time and at present. We currently have around 60 million foreign visitors a year while our population is only 47 million.
As a tourism advisor and a lecturer in Vietnam, what are the issues for Vietnam travel in your view?
I’ve worked with officials who are responsible for tourism marketing in many provinces and cities in Vietnam. Each location in Vietnam wants to be a tourist destination. That’s impossible, especially for foreign visitors.
In my first days in Vietnam, I took a ten-day trip from Hanoi to Halong, Hue, Da Nang and HCM City. The foreign visitors have limited time – they want to visit beautiful locations like Nhatrang. How can you hope that international tourists will come to your city, which you think is really great so you you organize big festivals – but just a few tourists come. . . .
Every place in Vietnam is spending a lot of money on tourism promotion. They print many prettybrochures, which are a waste of money because they don’t know where to deliver them. All these brochures praise the beauty of this place or that place but they lack information about activities and services for tourists.
Isn’t it natural for a province to think it is outstanding?
True, but we have to know about our major markets and what tourists are interested in. Though many people want to visit Sapa, but most western tourists miss Sapa and see only places like Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, HCM City and the Mekong Delta. I think that Vietnam ought to offer only three major tourism products and focus its advertising activities on them.
An effective tourism slogan is also our concern. We recently finalized the “Impressive Vietnam” campaign in late January 2010. What do you think of our slogans?
Perhaps your slogans are overly influenced by the tourism slogans of Thailand, Singapore and India (‘Amazing Thailand,’ ‘Uniquely Singapore,’ ‘Incredible India’). I think that Malaysia’s slogan is the most successful: ‘Malaysia – Truly Asia.’ Previously you had the slogan “Vietnam – A destination for the new millennium” which I thought was nonsense.
What symbols impress you the most?
Vietnam’s nón lá, áo dài and pho are absolutely iconic. Talking about Vietnam is talking about these things. Seeing these things, that’s Vietnam — even though foreign tourists may not always see them on the street, just as you don’t always see people playing flamenco music or wearing colorful skirts in Spain.
You have to decide what are the salient characteristics of your country, just a few things. You have to choose and prioritize.
In theory, there are three things: knowing your market, advertising the products that visitors want to buy, and using easy-to-remember symbols.
What are the keys to development of our tourism industry?
Training, human resources training. Visitors not only remember what they see, but they treasure the experience of meeting ‘the people.’ Everyone they meet is an ambassador of Vietnam. It is high quality service, service that meets the expectations of your foreign guests, that will make Vietnam a first-class tourist destination.
Asian and Latin locations rose to the top of the list as up-and-coming destinations in the 2010 Virtuoso Luxe Report released today. Vietnam is one of the top emerging destinations in this year’s report, which provides invaluable insight into the future direction of high-end travelers. Rounding out the top emerging-destination selections were the India, Cuba, Galapagos Islands, China and Chile.
Preparations for the Hung Temple Festival 2010 and the celebration of the death anniversary of the Hung Kings have been basically complete, said the organising board on April 10. The organising board has mobilised more than 1,000 artists to perform at the opening and closing ceremonies and other cultural arts programmes during the 10-day festival in the northern midland province of Phu Tho.
A security command centre connected with the Ministry of Public Security and a computerised press centre has been set up to serve the event.
Duong Lam Village in Son Tay Town, 60km west of Ha Noi has become increasingly popular half-day trip for weekend travellers.
Different world: Duong Lam village in Son Tay, 60km west of Ha Noi, is one of the most visited sites by local and foreign tourists alike.
Ha Nguyen Huyen, owner of the 163-year-old house in the village, has welcomed tourists since 2005 when it was recognised as a National Cultural and Historical Relic.
The 51-year-old man, who is the ninth generation of his family to live in the 1846-built house, said he provides different options for tourists who wish to stay longer.
It takes one-and-a-half hours by car from Ha Noi to reach the village, which is home to hundreds of old houses.
“Visiting the villages gives tourists a good overview of rural life. It’s the reason I maintain a stove that burns firewood and keep farming tools in my house,” Huyen explained.
Duong Lam Village, which sits on Son Tay Town ringroad, is an ideal half-day trip.
Road 32 has bus links between Ha Noi and Son Tay Town, but it takes an additional 15 minutes to get to the village by motorbike taxi.
But don’t despair if you don’t like independent travelling, travel agencies throughout the north offer package trips to the old village.
“It’s amazing. After just an hour’s journey from hectic Ha Noi, the village seems to be from another time. There is no noise, no traffic jam and so fresh,” said Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuong, who is a second-year student at Ha Noi Social Science and Humanities College.
Phuong, said she was impressed by the main entrance of the village – which is sandwiched by a 300-year-old banyan tree and a lotus pond.
The 20-year-old student was also surprised about gates to the old houses because there lack doorbells, instead they just have a small wooden handle.
“It’s very special. I was wondering how to get into one of the old houses when I turned the handle. It made a clacking and the owner opened the door to invite me in,” Phuong explained.
A culinary treasure: Jars of soya sauce ferment on the sunlit patio of a 163-year-old house in Duong Lam Village.
Despite the increased levels of urbanisation, most of the families inhabiting the old houses have retained the lifestyles of their ancestors.
Villagers nowadays use gas stoves, but Huyen reserves a firewood oven to either cook or give demonstrations when he hosts tourists.
He says his family alone has more than 1,000 visitors annually, of which 70 per cent are foreign tourists.
Soya sauce is a job that helps Huyen’s family lure tourists.
“Visitors can see how soya sauce is made at my house. It’s not only a food, but a treasure,” Huyen explained.
Huyen’s house has become a favourite choice for big travel companies.
“It’s because the house has charming architecture, while the host is very hospitable. The owner has taken the time to preserve two-century-old house’s original features,” said Focus Travel deputy director Nguyen Viet Trinh.
He also said his company will list the half day trip in Duong Lam Village as a new tour.
“A half day tour to the village provides a break from Ha Noi’s city life before touring Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province or Tam Coc-Bich Dong in Ninh Binh Province.” he said.
Huyen rents bicycles to visitors for VND50,000 (US$2.7), tourists can then explore the village themselves at their own pace.
“Most tourists like going by bicycle around the village rather than using motorbikes, it’s more likely that they’ll make more stop-offs,” said the old house owner Nguyen Thi Vuot.
The 46-year-old woman also said she cooks ordinary foods such as morning glory and fried tofu and soy.
“Tofu and spring rolls are the popular dishes with visitors. They sometimes can make them themselves. Vegetable and tofu are eaten with soya sauce. Fresh water crab soup and fish are also included for lunch.”
Last year, the local tourism authority organised a training course on tourism for the owners of ten old houses.
Conical hats displaying on bamboo stalls, peanut sweets and molasses cakes are village specialities.
Harvesting in the fifth lunar month is the best time to catch the farmers working in the fields.
Mong Phu commune house, which was built in 1684, and a series old houses are main destinations for tourists. Mia Pagoda and the tombs of King Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen are other sites worth a visit.
The village is the birthplace of Viet Nam’s first two kings – Phung Hung (791-802) and Ngo Quyen (939-944) – who were famous for their struggle for Vietnamese independence.
Duong Lam Village is also the birth place of 17th-century scholar Giang Van Minh (1573-1637), who has a Ha Noi street named after him.
Mia Pagoda has 286 Buddha statues made of bronze, jack fruit wood and clay lacquered dating back from the 18th century.
In recent years, the village has become a favourite location for wedding photographs, artwork and film making.
(Source:VietNamNet/Viet Nam News)
There’s been plenty of discussion about the best way to explore Vietnam’s famed Halong Bay, and Travel Fish’s five-part series definitely examines the most common ways in excellent detail. However, if you’re tired of pre-booked tours, cramped buses, and a stressful time-schedule, than travelling independently by bicycle is a truly relaxing way to experience the natural glory of Halong. Even still, surprises and mysterious conspiracies seem unavoidable, but being in control of your own destiny is very rewarding in and of itself.
The best way to see Halong Bay
Like every other approach to karst-viewing, the journey by bicycle begins in the hectic, cramped streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. A slow pace is required to coexist with the constant traffic, and plenty of diligence is necessary to escape the insanity, but departing via the East Gate provides an excellent access point to north-eastern Vietnam. The immediate first task was crossing the Red River, but the conveniently located Long Bien Bridge solved that problem. Our plan was then to take Highway 5 east, until it intersected Highway 1 north. After asking numerous bystanders for directions we’d succeeded to navigate the two major highways, and despite the signs saying no bicycles, we proceeded past the long line of women selling fresh bread. Every 25 metres or so, for at least a kilometre, a bread saleswoman had a large basket set up, overflowing with fresh loaves, seemingly oblivious to the plethora of direct competition.
Twenty kilometres later, near the town of Bacninh, the real ride begins. Highway 18 east provides a direct link to Ha Long City, and is a relatively peaceful, well-paved, and flat ride throughout. The remaining kilometres pass by numerous towns, several of which have guesthouses on offer. The best choice, the town of Sau Do, 70km from Hanoi and 77km from Baichay — the tourist-side of Halong City — sits virtually at the halfway point.
Sau Do is a small town with little to offer, and the most affordable guesthouse (150,000 Dong) puts out the red-light as soon as darkness falls. But the people are kindly, the pho is tasty, and there’s oddly also a Western-style fast-food restaurant on the main road that sells delicious fried-chicken sandwiches and french fries. For breakfast there’s the cheapest egg baguette sandwiches in all of Vietnam, only 5,000 dong each, prepared by a friendly tip-refusing old woman in the town’s main circle. Food aside, there’s plenty of time to relax and read in your room, unless checking out a dodgy massage or an outright prostitute just next door, is more your style.
The next morning it’s back on the road, though it really doesn’t take long to do the ride on a mountain bike, as we managed to hit our fastest average speed ever, almost 25km/hr. So in theory the entire trip could be covered in one day, especially depending on your mode of transit. Obviously a rented scooter or motorbike would take no time at all, our weighed-down mountain bikes took between six and seven hours total each way, and if you decided to be brave and didn’t carry much baggage, the entire journey could be conquered on a standard one-speed bicycle.
Our one error en route to Baichay’s underwhelming touristic allure was a costly geographical mistake relating to Cat Ba Island. We knew it was near the mainland, so we took a bridge over to the first island we saw. We asked people about “Cat Ba” and they pointed over to the island, it looked similar enough to the map in our guidebook which also mentioned a new bridge was being built, and it was in close proximity to Halong Bay since we could see the outlines of some karsts in the haze.
An hour, a massive hill, and twelve kilometres later, we finally realised we were on Tuanchau Island, home to an overpriced resort and little else — especially once we met an English-speaking man on the pier (we’ll call him Mr. X) who explained the ridiculous situation we’d just put ourselves in. This marked the beginning of a conspiracy: another man on a motorcycle — Mr. Y — had also been following us around, pointing towards Baichay and talking in limited English of tours and guesthouses — we’d wisely ignored his sales-pitch, but were foolish in choosing not to listen to his general knowledge of the area.
Captain at the wheel on Halong Bay
Finally back on the correct path, with darkness arriving per usual, we approached Baichay, refuelled with some cold milk cartons, saw Mr. Y twice more keeping tabs on our whereabouts, and entered the competitive madness of Vuon Dao Street. Since most people come on packaged trips direct from Hanoi, the strip of cookie-cutter micro-hotels don’t always see the number of customers you’d expect for such a famous destination, so the price-slashing was fierce.
We opted to avoid the cheapest and grimiest place though their low bid of only 80,000 dong/room was tempting, but as we were heading to Laos overland we knew we’d be staying in plenty of grimy hotels in the near future. For $15 we got two clean rooms, with Wi-Fi, hot-water, air-con, TV, and all the other typical Vietnamese amenities: a drain-plug that didn’t work and beds that varied in comfort.
As we headed downstairs to go out for dinner, who appeared but Mr. X, ready to sell us a boat trip with Paradise Tours: $60 for two days/one night or $35 for only one day, both prices non-negotiable. Needing some time to think, we filled up on fresh seafood, and then unsuccessfully searched for a travel agency. Apparently Baichay has few of the bucket-shop variety, even though they’re everywhere in Hanoi. Strange.
The view of Halong Bay from the rooftop deck
We did manage to find one shop near the water, with prices for the same trips for $35 and $12 respectively, but they didn’t want to sell them to us because the cell phone costs for an English translator were too high, even though the man on the phone said it would be no problem. We searched for more alternatives, failed, and finally returned there, forcing an answer out of a breast-feeding employee, who said we could return at noon the next day to join a tour coming from Hanoi. While noon seemed rather late, at least we’d gotten some semblance of an answer, but we still planned on checking out the pier the next morning.
That’s exactly what we did, easily managing to line up a private tour for $15 each, an extra $3 seemed like money well-spent to enjoy the bay on our own. But we needed to eat first, so we told the man we’d return in an hour. Of course when we came back, he was gone. Back to square one, we hurried to the “come at noon” shop, but even though it was noon no one was there — except Mr. X, now happy to represent the cheaper option, though it turned out to be no longer available. Strange.
One of the ahcorages at Halong Bay
We headed off in the other direction, since we’d seen some boats docked there while hanging out on the other pier, and within a few minutes had entered negotiations for a private cruise. We hadn’t yet got to price, but the family seemed friendly and enthusiastic, until someone (maybe even Mr. Y?) pulled up and parked a bit away on a motorcycle. Suddenly all they could say was “sorry” before retreating back to their boat to hide from us. Two minutes later, guess who appeared?
Mr. X came to the rescue — how convenient — and a different boat was just about to leave for Catba island, so we could stow on-board, top-deck only, for 220,000 Dong each. Feeling we had little choice since time was slipping away from us, and that we’d evidently been claimed by him in some conspiratorial tourist game, we shaved 20,000 Dong off the price, handed over the cash, and hopped on-board literally as the junk untied its ropes and headed off into the bay. So we did effectively get our private-tour wish, and at $11 the cost was unbeatable, but we couldn’t help feeling a little suspicious of the whole situation.
Locals fishing in Halong Bay
The one table on the top deck was ours so we couldn’t interact with anyone else, the crew was friendly and shared shots of their banana-moonshine with us, and since the real paying customers — all three of them — just wanted to get to Catba in a hurry, we had the whole second half of the journey to bask in the glory of Halong Bay alone. If we ignored the hordes of other tourist junks all around that is, which was fortunately far from a problem.
Though Vietnam may indulge in a bit of over-promotion — with just a hint of a racketeering — even with floating garbage and slightly oily waters Halong Bay is quite worthy of its UNESCO World Heritage designation. It showcases a unique combination of natural beauty and traditional life, truly a place of one thousand postcards.
The best way to see Halong Bay
The four hours of camera-clicking passed quickly, during which we visited a so-called floating village: a collection of a few houses, a small fish farm, and several young women on boats selling fruit. We could have taken a boat or kayak through a limestone cave ($5), or we could have visited Dragon Cave (20,000 Dong), but we passed on both those “opportunities” since we just wanted to enjoy the scenery. There must be something about a cycling trip that really makes “enjoying the scenery” the most desirable option, or perhaps traveller’s malaise is subtly creeping up on us…
Back on our bicycles, the urbanity flew by a little quicker on our return journey to Hanoi, the people of Sao Do were a little less surprised by the cycling whities the second time around, and retracing our route into the Old Quarter didn’t even require us to ask directions! If you’d like to travel truly independently, but aren’t sure if you’re ready to make a long-term commitment, then the challenge of Ha Long Bay by bicycle is perfect. A decent amount of exercise, a little adventure, a touch of intrigue, delicious food, and some fantastic natural beauty are all lying in wait, all that’s missing is you, the daring adventurer!
(Source: Travelfish)
A group of 8 women disguise themselves as vendors to cheat foreign visitors at Hoan Kiem Lake and on nearby streets. Dan Tri investigated.
This group gathers at 9.30am at the corner of Cau Go street, near Hoan Kiem Lake. They prepare bamboo frames and several plastic bags containing pineapples or some bananas, wear canvas shoes and begin a “working day.”
After donning their disguises, they look just like other rural women who work as vendors in Hanoi. But these “vendors” only watch for tourists to cheat.
They often stand on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake or walk around the Old Quarter to “hunt” foreign visitors.
When they see their “victims” coming, they smile with warmth. They hurriedly put their bamboo poles on the tourists’ shoulders and suggest that they take a photo. Next, they place their palm-leaf conical hat on the visitor’s head and slide a bag of fruit into their hands.
Tourists don’t know what these “vendors” want until they are asked for 50,000-100,000 dong or even more for “hiring” the women’s equipment or taking a photo. They are pressed buy pineapples or bananas at exorbitant fees. Then, the women take advantage of the language difference and gather into group to overwhelm the tourists with demands for money.
This “mafia” also tricks tourists when paid by dollars or big banknotes. They take out a handful of small money and slide it into visitor hands before running away.
Many tourists have fallen into these traps, which has left a bad impression of Hanoi.
While Hanoi authorities and people are preparing for the 1000th anniversary, it is unacceptable to have such a group of people who cheat tourists so blatantly.
To attract more and more tourists who travel to Vietnam, I wish there will tighten more the security around Hoan Kiem lake soon.
For those lucky enough to cross paths with Mother Dieu, they might get insight into their future, but be warned her powers are reserved for foreigners only.
The tiled bridge at Thanh Toan, near Hue, is a well-known tourist destination. The old bridge is not the only attraction, however. Tourists are equally eager to meet an old woman who specialises in fortune telling and is a font of knowledge when it comes to local history.
Take a rest, open your hands, and hear your fortune
7am. The early morning welcomes a series of tour cars driving foreign visitors towards Thanh Toan tiled bridge (Thuy Thanh Commune, Huong Thuy District, Hue Province). A line of tourists has exited a group of Huong Giang Travel Company cars. After some picture taking, a tour guide asks “Would you like your fortune told?” A blonde-haired girl eagerly jumps at the chance.
The tour guide gently pulls the girl towards an old woman, Mother Dieu, who is well-known as the “Love fortune-teller” of Thanh Toan Bridge. The blond haired girl opens her hand, while her other lies across her heart. After turning her hand over carefully, Mother Dieu looks her in the eye and then responds at lightning speed. I don’t know what she has told the girl but all of the passengers laugh loudly and the girl’s face turns red.
Interest piqued, the group of tourists congregates around the old woman, each of them eager to hear their future. “She has a hidden talent. Every group of tourists that comes here wants their fortunes told,” an old man tells me.
I try to get closer to Mother Dieu to hear her opinions on my future love-life, but she shakes her head, raising her hand and telling me in English “No no! I only tell the fortunes of foreigners!” With my limited English, it’s difficult for me to judge how good her English really is, but I assume her gifts for fortune-telling only extend to foreigners.
Those who have been in love as foretold by Mother Dieu are very satisfied. They sit side by side telling each other about what they have heard. I am extremely curious but have no way to approach the prophet, so instead I decide to interrogate the blond girl.
Maria seems very shy and her face turns redder than ever. At last, she tells me joyfully: “She said that next year, I will have a boyfriend. This year, I like someone but because of bad luck, I haven’t met anyone right for me. She added that my boyfriend will be very handsome and manly although he will be four years younger than me.”
“Do you believe her?” I ask. The blond-haired girl laughs and nods “Of course! At the moment, although 18, I don’t have a boy friend while all my friends have partners already. But how did she know that I don’t have a boy friend?”
All those who have their fortune told by Mother Dieu seem in high spirits. They cheerfully narrate all of the strange things they have heard. They are willing to pay Mother Dieu for her advice and I see US$2 being dropped into her hat. Mother Dieu looks at the pleasant faces of tourists, gives a toothless smile and says “thank you very much”.
