What are Symbols of Vietnam culture?

A symbol of Vietnam nation is the typical image representing for the entire nation. In addition, Vietnam symbol has diverse forms. Almost national symbols of a country originate from the nature such as animal or bird (mascot), flowers (national flower), etc. There are differences between official national symbol and un-official national symbol. Un-official national symbol is often related to tourism image, representing an important national or international event. Many un-official symbols of Vietnam are very important and commonly known more than the official one. Symbol of a culture contains national cultural identity. If Australia chooses kanguroo, Singapore chooses a lion, Japan choose cherry blossom, Hong Kong chooses Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Thailand chooses purple orchid, Laos chooses an elephant, Vietnam up until know, has not unified the main symbol of Vietnam culture yet.

Non la- vietnam symbols

Lotus

Lotus vietnam symbols

In mind of Vietnamese people, lotus symboizes the pure, bright and noble beauty. Lotus is seen as one of Vietnamese culture symbols. It also implies the beauty of gentle and honest Vietnamese people. Lotus has a “strange” and strong vitality, which implies extrovertedness, elegance, and spirit of recovering in any difficult context of Vietnamese. In addition, the image of lotus appears in Vietnamese Buddhist architectures as an art image. One of typical architectures inspired from lotus is One Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi. Simple, elegent and pure, Lotus embodies personality, lifestyle and Vietnamese soul. Lotus is also a priceless gift of the nature, as lotus can be an useful ingredient for nutrious food or special remedy. Though time changes, lotus still keeps its purity, elegant perfume like Vietnamese people who are always rising brightly as lotus rising to absorb the sunlight.

Ao dai

ao dai vietnam  symbols

Ao dai (long dress) is not just a Vietnamese traditional costume, but also one of typical symbols of Vietnamese culture, a symbol of cultural identity and spirit of Vietnam. During the length of Vietnam history, Vietnamese people nearly had to fight with invaders to protect their sovereignty and cultural values. Ao Dai is a wonderful work of art which reflects Vietnamese identity and spirit. The special dress embraces the body, making who wear Ao dai look more elegant and beautiful. Ao dai appears anywhere in daily life. Where there are Vietnamese women, there are Vietnamese Ao dai. It is the “national soul” of Vietnamese women.

Golden buffalo

vietnam symbols

At the 22^nd SEA Games 2003 held in Vietnam, golden buffalo was chosen as mascot for the biggest sports event in South East Asia. It was explained that the selected symbol of SEA Games 22 in Vietnam reflected the gentle, sociable and hardworking essence of Vietnamese people in Wet Rice Civilization. Golden buffalo is associated with the legend of Hanoi West Lake. Golden buffalo symbolizes the desire of good harvests, wealth, happiness and martial spirit of Vietnamese people. It is also an appropriate explanation for one of Vietnamese cultural symbols, which refers to Vietnam widely known by international friends.

However, the official symbol of Vietnam has not been defined, as it is decided by Vietnamese government’s regulation or official annoucement of state. Apart from official Vietnam symbols of national flag, emblem, anthem..., Vietnam has many icons symbolizing the country, the people as lotus, Ao dai, and golden buffalo... All icons receive agreement of the public. With these symbols, Vietnam is always recognized easily in international events. And, we are proud of being Vietnamese people!

Top beautiful Starbucks stores in Hanoi

Starbucks Hanoi coffee shops are captivating a large number of Hanoian and visitors who love the world-famous brand. They are coming there more and more not just to try the special tastes of coffee and other beverages, but also contemplate the bustling city view. At present, there are five Starbucks Hanoi shattering at five ideal locations in the capital city. They are Starbuck Coffee Press Club at 59 Ly Thai Tho Street, Starbucks Coffee Lan Vien at 32 Hang Bai Street, Starbucks Coffee Ba Trieu at 314 Ba Trieu Street, Starbucks Coffee at 27 Le Dai Hanh Street, and Starbucks Coffee IPH on Xuan Thuy Street. All of these stores are decorated simple but attractive almost guests. They also have great views of city and streets. Let’s take a small “tour” to these Starbucks stores in text and images with AloTrip, and do not forget to drop by when having a chance!

Starbucks stores in Hanoi 

Starbucks Coffee Lan Vien – 32 Hang Bai Street

Starbucks Coffee Lan Vien

This is the first Starbucks coffee shop opened in Hanoi. It is located at 32 Hang Bai Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi – a central streets in this city, near many famous attractions in Hanoi. It has great view of Hang Bai Street with green trees and clean road in the harmony with bustling life. The coffee store of Starbucks is serving takeaway mainly with 30 coffee types. In addition, beverage menu here is quite diverse, especially Asia Dolce Latte which is favored by many Asian tasters. The interior and decoration of Starbucks Coffee Lan Vien are designed by artists in Hanoi, which features cultural identity of the city.

Starbuck Coffee Press Club – 59 Ly Thai To Street

Starbucks Press Club

Starbuck Coffee Press Club at 59 Ly Thai To Street (Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi) demonstrates more Starbucks deep commitment to the Vietnamese community. On reaching the coffee shop, guests will be attracted with an eye-catching outside decoration, and totally captivated by harmonic and cozy atmosphere inside. The coffee shop serves a wide range of coffee and tasty drinks. The Hanoi Starbucks store is opposite to Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel Hanoi – one of the most beautiful and oldest hotels in Vietnam. At night, from the coffee store, coffee tasters can sip their drink and contemplate the shimmering beauty of the hotel, along with nice view of street and even wonderful view of Hanoi Opera House and Hanoi Hilton Hotel.

Starbucks Coffee Ba Trieu – 314 Ba Trieu Street

Starbucks Coffee

Starbucks Coffee Ba Trieu is situated at one of the best streets in Hanoi, opposite the most expensive shopping mall in the city – Vincom Center Hanoi. This is also one of the most beautiful coffee shops in Hanoi. Like other stores of Starbucks in Hanoi, Starbucks Coffee Ba Trieu has a variety of beverages and cakes. In addition, it has great interior and exterior design, creating a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. From the second floor, guests can enjoy the beautiful city view and the business of Vincom Center. This in an ideal place for chilling out with friends.

Starbucks Coffee – 27 Le Dai Hanh Street

Starbucks Coffee

Not far from Starbucks Coffee Ba Trieu, another Starbucks Coffee store is located at 27 Le Dai Hanh Street. Le Dai Hanh Street is a convergence of many coffee shops, but Starbucks Coffee still appeals a great number of coffee fans. The store has two floors with simple and cozy architectural design. Perhaps, the branch of Starbucks Hanoi has less beautiful view than other; yet, from the second floor, guests can enjoy spacious atmosphere of terrace with view of city’s bustle. It also attracts tasters by serving manners and decoration inside.

Starbucks Coffee IPH – 241 Xuan Thuy Street

Starbucks Coffee

Quite far from the city center compared to other Starbucks stores in Hanoi, Starbucks Coffee IPH lies at 241 Xuan Thuy Street, Cau Giay District. Located on the ground floor of Indochina Plaza Hanoi, Starbucks Coffee IPH is a cozy and ideal place for families and friends to share wonderful time toghether while sipping tasty drinks. Maybe, this is one of the largest Starbucks stores in Hanoi with wide and spacious terrace. From the terrace, guests can see the exciting city life and lines of workers and students who are in hurry.

Despite newly opened in Hanoi, Starbucks Coffee in Hanoi is engaging many visitors and becomes interesting dating and meeting place of Hanoian, especially the youth to come and enjoy happy time toghether.

Vietnam Airlines tips for delayed or canceled flights

After receiving the information about the delay or cancellation of VietnamAir flights due to the rain and storm, passengers must update an accurate delayed time and expected time to be resumed. It's the best for passengers to contact the airline or ticket counters at airport to get the most accurate information. Do not listen to the information transmitted from the people without authority. After getting the information, you should note in the manual to remember exactly.

Vietnam Airlines

If VietnamAirlines cancel flight, passengers need to get accurate information on alternative flights. Passengers should note the scheduled departure time, seat number, flight number and the relevant procedures (if any) to be transferred to alternative flights. With alternative flight or subsequent flight, the number of available seats is less so passengers have to update accurate information.

Delay and cancellation is caused mainly by weather. So, passengers have to update the weather information, especially rainy days through the airport, the press or smartphone. Updating weather information helps passengers predict when weather will be good and safe for flight departure and also help passengers to plan to move into hotels or stay in the airport.

Passengers can use mobile phone to log in, enter reservation code and book Vietnam Airlines eticket. If the information about the delayed/ canceled flights announced before checking in, passengers should pay attention to baggage and select the comfortable seat for themselves. If the information is informed after completing check-in with checked baggage, passengers should contact staff at check-in counters to know about the baggage situation.

Vietnam Airlines

Passengers can feel uncomfortable when their flight is delayed or canceled. They can walk in the airport, visit stalls, and explore the airport in the spare time. In addition, passengers should charge for phone, laptop or tablet to use if the weather continues to be rainy and storm. This is also the means for families and relatives to be able to communicate and update regularly the situation, avoid losing contact.

For delayed flights of Vietnam Airline, passengers traveling with children should pay attention to the meal of children. While waiting at the airport along with children, passengers should contact the airline staff for assistance. Or buy snacks at the airport as soon as possible to avoid out of stock. It is best for passengers to buy bread, instant foods in anticipation of delay or cancellation.

Delayed and canceled is that nobody wants, so many people still hold annoyance. However, depending on the weather or other circumstances, passengers should sympathize and be clam after receiving notification of the delay and cancellation.

Source: http://www.vietnamairlines.travel/

Bassac Cruise - Mekong River Delta

Bassac Cruise is a deluxe cruise in Mekong River. With the desire of providing tourists with memorable and best services, it ensures to be a very good companion to you along the trip. The cruise is a great choice for individuals, couples, and groups.

Click Video to view Bassac Cruise more:

Cheap flights to Asia

As the largest continent among 5 continents, Asia owns many attractive tourist destinations. Therefore, the number of visitors to this area is more and more increasing. To meet the demand of visitors, many airlines offer cheap flights to Asia.

Cheap flights to Asia

Asia is located in the Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere accounting for 8.6% of the total surface area of earth (representing approximately 29.9% of the ground). There are more than 4 billion people living here, occupying more than 60% of the world's population today.

Suez isthmus is the demarcation between Asia and Europe stretching across many places like Dardanelles Isthmus, Bosphorus Isthmus, Marmara Sea, Black Sea, Caspi Sea, Kavkaz Mountain Range, Ural Mountain, and Kara Sea in Kara, Russia.

In terms of politics, Asia consists of part of Eurasian continent and large archipelagos adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and excludes Russia, although majority of Russian territory is located in Asia. Some Asian countries have the territories Some Asian countries beyond Asia.

Tourist attractions in Asia

cheap flight to Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates (UAE): Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Safari Desert, Palm Island, Burj Khalifa Tower, the Persian Gulf, Heritage Crafts Village, Spice Market, 7-star Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai Coastal City, Wonderland Amusement Park in Bur Dubai, Creekside Park in Bur Dubai, Safa Park on Sheikh Zayed avenue, Dubai Miracle garden, Business Bay area, Dubai Marina area, Jumeirah beach.

Saudi Arabia: Riyadh - the most popular destination in Saudi Arabia, Musmak Fort, Al Faisaliah Riyadh Tower, Riyadh, Cairo Square, Olaya skyscraper, Suleimaniyah skyscraper or Faisaliah Tower (pinnacles), King Abdul Aziz Historical Park, National Museum and Murabba Palace, as-Sa'ah Square, office of the Governor, souq (traditional markets), Empty Quarter valley and the Mecca.

Bangladesh: Sundarbans National Park, Bagerhat historic Islamic city, Contic Sea (Chittagong Chittagong), Ethnographic Museum, Jama Masjid e Shahi Mosques, Chandanpura Mosque, the tombs at Sultan Bayazid Bostami, Foy Lake, Rangamati Hill district, Ahsan Manzil Palace Museum, Chota Katra Museum, Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Hazrat Shah Jalal shrine, Zaflong, Kuakata beach.

Israel: Dead Sea, Galilee Sea, Tel Aviv city, Jerusalem's Old City, the Wailing Wall, Temple Rock, Masada Fort, Caesarea Town, Negev desert, Red Sea, Bahai Garden, Tabor Mount, Qumran cave, Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Shrine building of the Book.

The India Gate, New Delhi

India: Delhi capital, the National Museum, Crafts Museum, Museum of international toilet, Humayun's Tomb, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, Baha'i Temple, Qutub Minar tower, Dilli Haat, Janpath, Udaipur, Ranthambore National Park, Mehrangarh fort, Jodhpur green city, Gujarat, magnificent Taj Mahal temple, Agra fort, Fatehpur Sikri citadel.

Iran: Rudkhan castle, Bekhradi historic house, Oljaytu Mausoleum in Soltaniyeh, Laleh Kandovan hotel, Toghrol Tower, Shiraz and Esfahan, Karim Khan Citadel in Shiraz, Kandovan Village, Tabriz, Kadovan ancient stone village, Tabriz markets, the blue church, Shah- goli Park, Mashrouteh Museum, Abyaneh ancient village, Eram Garden, Vank- the most famous church in Iran, Amna Perkich church, Milad tower, Azad tower, Esfahan city.

Jordan: Petra Ancient Capital, Amman capital, George church, Nebo Mount, church on Nebo Mount, Kerak, Crusader castle. Wadi Rum desert, Jabal Rum Mount, Jebel Rum Mount, Adami, Dead Sea, Amman Theater, Ajloun castle.

Kuwait: Liberation Tower, National Museum, Science and Natural History Museum, Al-Qurain House, Science Center, Tareq Rajab Museum, Ras Salmiya Mosque, Fatima Catholic Mosque, Al-Fahd Salem Street, Kuwait Towers, Parkland.

Sri Lanka: Granite Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Bahirawakanda Temple, National Museum, Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Temple, beaches in Sri Lanka, Vesak Festival, Nuwara Eliya Mountain, Mirissa Beach, Kandy city, Sigiriya Ancient City, population Dambulla cave and temple, Anuradhapura sacred city, Polonnaruwa ancient capital, Galle city and forts, Sinharaja Natural Reserve.

Maldives: Utheemu Ganduvaru, Biyadhoo Island Resort, Hukuru Miskiiy Mosque, National Museum, HP Reef, Banana Reef, Manta Point, Alimatha Island, Hulhumale Church, beaches in Mafuushi, Male - the capital of Maldives, Maldives archipelago, Himmafushi village, Republic Square, Male Fish Market.

Nepal: Kathmandu, Swayambhunath Stupa, stunning Annapurana Mountain, High Peaks (belonging to the Himalayas), Nepal- an ideal place to observe birds, Kathmandu valley, Pokhara, Pagoda worshiping Buddha of Vietnamese people in Lumbini, Nagarkot.

Oman: Zighy Bay, Muscat capital, Souq Matrouh old city, the beach of Chedi hotel, Royal Theatre, Hajar mountains, Yachts in Oman, Wahiba Desert, Quriyat fishing villages, R 'Al Hadd and Al as R'as Junayz beaches, Nizwa city, Nizwa Market, Sumail Gap.

Qatar: camel market, vegetable market, Sealine beach, rolling desert dunes, Qatar Islamic Museum, Villagio supermarket, Doha Sport City, Doha Trade Center and Pearl Monument.

Turkey: Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque) - the famous mosque, Hippodrome Square - the largest museum in Turkey, Leather Outlet Center, Ortakoy village, Handicrafts Stores, Grand Bazzaar Market, Dolmabahce Palace, Alacati village, Celsus library and Cappadocia city.


Popular airports in Asia

Abu Dhabi International Airport

Popular airlines in Asia and fly to Asia
The popular airlines operating flights to Asia consist of Air India, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Saudia, SriLankan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Yemenia, Jet Airways, Air India Express, Air India, Air Arabia, flydubai, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, El Al Israel Airlines, Maldivian…with different fares depending on the ticket class and the period. Turkish Airlines, Air India, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and Kuwait Airways are the most prestigious airlines and have the highest frequency of flights. The major airlines in Asia include Japan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Air Macau, Cathay Pacific, Hongkong Airlines, China Airlines, Eva Air, Korean Air, Delta Airlines, Qantas, Aeroflot, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, Jet Asia Airways, All Nippon Airways, Air France, Asiana Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines…

Popular flights to Asia

Emirates B777-300ER

Most major airlines and cheap airlines currently offering direct cheap flights to India, cheap flights to Kuwait, and others in Asia are primarily United Arab Emirates, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. From Vietnam, passengers can book cheap flights to Qatar, United Arab Emirates, India, and Saudi Arabia quickly and conveniently.

The major cheap flights to Dubai, Doha, Istanbul-Atatürk, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Delhi from Australia, France, England, Italy, German, Russia, Spain, Austria, the US, Egypt, Czech Republic, Switzerland, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.

Some useful information

cheap flight to Qatar 

If you are planning a trip to Asian countries, especially Middle Eastern countries, you should pay attention to some following advices:

Always keep money carefully: Visitors should change a little cash to the money of the country where you will travel, but for better safety, visitors should use a credit card and limit to spend cash. In cities of Middle East, credit card is accepted at many bars, restaurants, shops, commercial centers and important attractions.

Respect the local customs: This is especially important thing when traveling to the Middle East, a region where Muslim covers the majority population. For them, religion is more sacred than the blood, so it is best to respect local customs. Visitors should not have any acts which offend the locals or the local regulations and laws. Visitors coming to Middle East - especially women should learn clearly the local customs, habits, and laws related to the activities, suitable clothes, do not allow to drink wine and must comply with curfew in the area.

Subscribe continuous current situation: Asian countries and the Middle East region is quite safe, but visitors also note that this region has still a lot of political unrest. Before traveling here, visitors should check the warnings and advices from several countries to ensure that the countries where visitors will arrive.

Source: http://www.alotrip.com

Hue beauty from outskirts to citadel

Hue City with charming Perfume River is more romantic and poetic by Hue’s royal splendor. Palaces and pagodas, tombs and temples, culture and cuisine, history and heartbreak – all create a unique feature that tourists cannot forget in Hue travel. From the outskirts to Hue Citadel, everywhere in this city brings a sense of peace and prosperous empire in the past which remains until now.

hue citadel

Thanh Toan Bridge

Thanh Toan Bridge

Thanh Toan Bridge, an ancient bridge with special architecture, is located in Thanh Thuy Chanh Village, about 8km from Hue City to the east. Undergoing ups and downs of time and history, the bridge remains its own featured architectural style. Near the bridge, it is a large ground where locals gather to organize many activities. The bridge is also a "communal house" where community activities have been taking place for a long time. Apart from folk mark festival held every two years on the third day of the first lunar month, Bai Choi festival is also held here. This is a long-lasting folk game bearing Vietnamese culture and identity. In Northern Vietnam, there are two most famous tile-covered bridges: Khuc Thoai Bridge and Phu Khe Bridge. Thanh Toan Bridge in North Central Coast Vietnam and Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An (South Central Coast) are two well-known ones. The bridge has particular architectural motif and highest artistic value among bridges in Vietnam.
Ngo Mon Gate

Ngo Mon Gate

Ngo Mon Gate is not just as simple as a gate, but also a whole complex architecture. Above the gate, there is Ngu Phung Pavillion (Pavilion of Five Phoenixes) where some important court ceremonies used to be taken place. Here is also the place where the abdication ceremony of the last Vietnamese emperor occurred on August 30 1945. Ngo Mon Gate is a monumental and palatial complex architecture - one of the highest architectures of Hue Citadel. The total height of Ngo Mon Gate is 14.80 meters. The grandness and beauty of the gate creates a "mutation" in space and impresses visitors coming to Hue Imperial Citadel. The work was built under the power of Ming Mang Emperor. Though Mgo Mon Gate is quite similar to Tiananmen (China), Minh Mang Emperor's architects had creation and high skill in designing and decorating. Thus, Ngo Mon Gate becomes a beautiful architectural work closed to the natural landscapes, emotions and souls of Vietnamese people in general and locals in Hue in particular.
Thai Hoa Palace

Thai Hoa Palace

Thai Hoa Palace is located in the inner area of Hue Citadel. It is the enthronement place of 13 Nguyen Dynasty's emperors, from Gia Long to Bao Dai. Hue Citadel used to be the center of this country. Thai Hoa Palace is the most important architecture in Hue Citadel. Here is the place where Nguyen Dynasty's emperors sat on the throne and ruled the country for over 100 years. It is considered that the name of Thai Hoa Palace is a criteria, a desire of Nguyen Dynasty about a peaceful and wealthy country. Among tens of palaces in Hue Imperial Citadel, Thai Hoa Palace is the most beautiful, biggest palace, located in the most prominent position. If Ngo Mon Gate is considered as the "facade" of Hue Citadel, Thai Hoa Palace is the "heart" where there is throne of emperors. Thai Hoa Palace is the land of dragons.

Thai Hoa Palace, like other imperial architectural works in Hue, has the solemn contemplation as its architectural style, but not overcast and boring. The architecture is the harmonic combination of criteria in the imaging method and the relation with exterior, garden and nature. Thai Hoa Palace is a typical work in Hue imperial as well as palatial architectures. Thai Hoa Palace is the convergence of quintessence of architectural decorative art, construction techniques of Nguyen Dynasty, creating a very unique style of Hue. It can be said that Thai Hoa Palace is the zenith of Hue imperial architectural art.

Vietnam Airlines tips to avoid lost baggage

No one wants to lose baggage at Vietnam airports as well as at other airports in the world. What should passengers do in this case? Please refer to following Vietnam airlines tips to mitigate this situation. Baggage from check-in counter to arrival airport has to go through many stages such as security screening, boarding, transferring from the plane to the trucks and from conveyor to passengers. Airport staff is entirely responsible for these stages. Though there are hundreds of cameras with an operation center, the theft and lost items in the suitcases still happens and this makes many passengers extremely worried.

vietnam airlines tips

When detecting the outside baggage is intact but inside is missing some items, passengers should immediately report lost and found of Vietnam Airlines at the airport on irregularities of baggage such as requesting to weight baggage again, checking baggage after receiving, declaring the characteristics of lost items... Then, the airline and security agent will make all their effort to solve the problem such as finding or compensating baggage to passengers.

In the case of lost baggage, if passengers cannot prove the actual value of the baggage, the airlines (including Vietnamese Airlines) will adopt a common compensation for passengers. The liability limits of Vietnam Airlines checked baggage is USD 20 per kg or does not exceed USD 400 per passenger (or local currency equivalent) for cabin baggage. In addition, for flights on European route, the compensation of Vietnam Airways for damaged baggage does not exceed 1000SDR/ passenger. In case of both cabin baggage and check baggage of a passenger are damaged for various reasons, a compensation is made according to the actual damage but not exceeding the limits of Vietnam Airline liability for that passenger (SDR 1000 or local currency equivalent)

However, the condition of carriage of the airlines states that for international flights, electronic devices (laptop, camera, camcorder, music player, MP3 players, mobile phone...), fragile and perishable items, money, jewelry, keys, passport, ID, business document, etc. cannot be accepted to carry as checked baggage.

baggages - vietnam airlines tips

So Vietnam Air suggests passengers:

- Should use hard suitcases with lock rather normal zipper. If want to get something inside the evildoers will have to break the lock, then the suitcase cannot be closed again.

- If use a normal suitcase, passenger should wrap it. With this way, it will take more time if evildoers want to steal items in his suitcase.

- For checked baggage, passenger also should wrap and cover the entire the baggage by tape along with his name, address and phone number.  

Source: http://www.vietnamairlines.travel/