Anyone that’s visited Vietnam will know how long it takes to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or vice-versa, especially when traveling by road or rail. A journey that currently takes 3 days by rail is to be slashed to just six hours with the introduction of a new Japanese-style bullet train.
The high speed rail link will be great for those in a hurry, but for tourists visiting Vietnam, making the slow and winding journey between the capital of Hanoi and the commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City is a cultural experience in itself.
Around 1,560 km (970 miles) of track will be constructed at a cost of 56 billion US dollars and is awaiting approval by the Vietnam government.
It will be interesting to see how the new train system, which will travel at 300km (186 miles) an hour, will affect tourism and indeed everyday life in Vietnam.
Archive for June, 2010
A private war museum in Nghia Ninh Village, 7km west of Dong Hoi city in the central province of Quang Binh, was the 
second stop on Canadian writer Susan M Smith’s trans-Vietnam tour after Hanoi.
By: Jose Maurette Garces
Danang has a coastline of 30 kilometres long, famous for many beautiful seashores stretching from the north to the south. It makes a perfect location for a beach break on your Vietnam holidays. They are calm seas with green water and nice temperatures throughout the whole year.
Can Tho City, commonly referred to as the “western capital” is the MRD’s economic, and cultural centre. 169 km from Ho 
Chi Minh city(HCMC) on the banks of the Hau river (the Mekong’s main branch) Can Tho is a bustling, growing city of over 1 million people which nevertheless retains its charm.
Rock climbing in Viet Nam is considered one of the most unique and exciting ways to enjoy the country.
Hue Festival 2010 kicked off in the central city of Hue on June 5 with a grand, colourful ceremony at Ngo Mon Square and 
an artistic performance rich of traditional musical genres. The festival began with a dance with flags by more than 100 children and artists, featuring impressively the voyage of the transfer of the capital city from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Thang Long (now Hanoi). It was a celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the 50th anniversary of the sister cities of Hanoi – Hue - Saigon.
Following the success of the Memories of Long Bien Bridge Festival 2009, Nguyen Nga, an overseas Vietnamese living in 
France, is busy completing her final preparations for the Long Bien Festival 2010 to mark the 1,000th birthday of Thang Long-Hanoi.
The festival will run from September 30 to October 15, with the theme “Dragon Bridge tells of 1,000 years of Thang Long”, a historical account of Vietnam.
