Trà Chanh - the lemon tea

‘Trà Chanh’ – the lemon tea

Ho Chi Minh lemon ice-tea

It was a weekday night when more than 200 youths gathered at a riverside area on Ton That Dam

Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 to enjoy lemon tea, the drink which has been called tra chanh chem gio (lemon tea for chit-chat).

Spending VND10,000 (US$0.48) for a cup of lemon tea, taking a canvas or a plastic chair and talking from 7pm to 11pm: that’s what hundreds local youths have done over the last two months in the area.

Hanoi lemon tea and ice-tea

The drinks were first sold at some small street coffee shops and then spread widely in Hanoi in recent years. To many young people, you can’t say that you’ve been to the capital city without having a cup of lemon tea on Nha Tho, Ly Quoc Su or Dao Duy Tu streets.

Lately, Hanoi’s tra chanh chem gio, which is considered a local specialty, has come to the southern city.

There are several areas where many teenagers gather to enjoy lemon tea, including District 1’s Nguyen Trai Street and the area near Coopmart Rach Mieu supermarket in Phu Nhuan District.

Still, the most crowded place is the riverside area at the end of District 1’s Ton That Dam Street.

“I feel a joyful atmosphere since there’s a lot of people here and it’s also cool here,” My Duyen, 18, a freshman at the Industrial University of HCMC, said in explaining why she likes to come to the venue once a week.

“I like such a crowded place,” Thuy Giang, 18, a first year student from the HCMC University of Economics and Law, added.

Street foods in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city.

Besides lemon tea, a group of vendors are always willing to serve customers famous street foods, including banh trang nuong (barbecued rice paper), ho lo nuong (barbecued meat balls) and pho mai que (fried cheese stick). Since they originated in Hanoi, lemon tea shops in HCMC also bring their customers a taste from the northern city through specialties like sua chua nep cam (yogurt mixed with sticky rice), nuoc sau (melon juice), hat huong duong (fried sunflower seeds) and Nem nuong (barbecued fermented pork).

 “I’ve brought all the ingredients from Hanoi, except for the lemons from Da Lat, so the flavor of lemon tea here and Hanoi’s famous lemon tea are not much different,” Minh, a shop owner on Ton That Dam Street, said.

Danh, a teenager who sometimes visits the area seven times a week, preferred the diversity of food and drink as well as the reasonable price.

“I drink Hanoi lemon tea and feel the same flavor here, but the atmosphere here is much joyful than there, I think,” he added.

Sourced: Vietnamtourism.com.vn

Money in Vietnam - How much you should tips for services in Vietnam

Money in Vietnam - How much you should tips for services in Vietnam

Money in Vietnam

You will be using local currency Dong (Vietnam dong). The dong (VND) is Vietnam’s official currency. Paper notes come in denominations of 200VND; 500VND; 1000VND;  2000VND;  5000VND; 10,000VND; 20,000VND; 50,000VND; 100,000VND and 500,00VND. In 2003, coins were reintroduced in denominations of 200 VND; 500 VND; 1000VND; 2000VND and 5000VND but after one year, coins are hardly to accept by people so now Vietnamese use papper money only.

The government Banks check rate is Vietcombank the website for exchange rates: http://www.vietcombank.com.vn/ExchangeRates/ , if you exchange money from other banks the rate will be a bit lower than head bank.

Money for spending or payment:

The shops in tourists places love to get cash than credit cards (not in local area such as northern provinces). Credit cards you can pay and the bank will charge on your credit card 3% or 4% or you can take money from ATMs. The ATMs dispense dong in 50,0000VND, 100, 000 VND, 200,000VND, 500,000VND denominations. The limit of 5,000,000VND for each withdrawal. ATMs will charge a fee of each transaction about 75,000d – 100,000d.

The USD, the government’s crackdown on the use of foreign currency within Vietnam, but all the most of shops still get US$. But the use of dollars is less easy than it used to be in the country. Exchange your money at the banks or other authorized currency exchange centers such as at the airport or post offices.

The banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8AM to 4PM lunch time is from 11:30 to 1PM you can exchange money from the bank, they will charge from 3 – 4%.

Credit cards payment: Many hotels, restaurants and shops centered in tourist area honor Visa, American Express, JCB Cards or Master Cards. Each transaction will be charged an additional 3 – 4%. VietcomBank offers cashes advances against your Visa or Mastercards Credit card if you need cash in a hurry.

Please Note with Travellers cheques: 

The travelers cheques are accepted in larger cities in Asia but can only be changed at the money exchanges or bank (particularly in Vietnam). Should remember bring your passport to present. It will be charged 2 – 5% transaction fee.

This process of changing travelers cheques in Vietnam can be quite time consuming. An alternative to Travellers cheques are prepaid Cash cards that are preloaded with amount prior to travel. Funds can be withdrawn through local cash machines. If you travelling in remote areas you bring adequate funds in cash.

Tipping in Vietnam:

Major hotels and restaurants add a 5% service charge to bills you can choose no tip at these places.

Small tips are always a good things such as for drivers, waiters, boat and the tour guides.

For small services: if possible you can exchange money in Vietnam dong should be easy for you to tip

For Waiter, boat and other services: you can tips about 50,000VND to 100,000 VND (= $2 - $5) should be great for them.

For drivers: it depends on your using day, you can devide into day each day you tips for him $2/day.

For guide: $2/day/person should be good for him (her).

Hotel services: Government run hotels will add a 10% services charge on bill

Taxi:  a small gratuity should be greatly appreciated, tips are not necessary.

Restaurants & Bars: normally 10% service charge is already added onto your bill so many restaurants do not require tippings.

Porters: A tip for them will be greatly appreciated about US$ 2 – 5 that depends on you.

Other tips for budget:

Low budget: you can expect to spend up 25$ a day on food and lodging.

Middle – budget: You can enjoy good restaurant food,  stay comfortable in good hotels, hire cabs you can pend about $65 - $100/day.

High budget: Staying at the luxury hotel, eat at the luxury restaurant and good goods pend about $ 180 - $250/day should be good.

Useful tips:

You should store cash, credit cards, and other valuables in a safe place (in your safebox in hotel), if you have to bring with you should put in your back –pack and wear it carefully and keep an eye on your stuffs.

To calculate currency conversions you shoul bring a small calculator.

When you visit pagoda, you should leave some small donation into donation box just before you leave.

Hanoi shopping you can find more in this site: http://myvietnamtravel.net/vi/bvct/id87/Hanoi-Shopping/

Have a great journey,

Sourced by Myvietnamtravel.net

HANOI ART GALLERIES

HANOI ART GALLERIES

Hanoi has many art galleries, if you are considered to Art you might want to find some galleries in Hanoi, maybe for shopping or maybe you just want to have look and admire art. There are some famous galleries:
Nguyen Art Gallery
Add: 40 Hang Manh - Hoan Kiem - Hanoi
Tel: 04 3561146 / Fax: 04 35561147
Email: order@nguyenartgallery.com
Website: http://www.nguyenartgallery.com

A Dong Art Gallery
61 Trang Tien - Hoan Kiem - Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 39361477
Art Gallery of Hanoi's potential artists and it often has new exhibitions.

Apricot Gallery
Add: 40B Hang Bong street - Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3828 8965   Fax: (84-4) 3828 7304
Where is presentation of Vietnam leading artists.
 Bauhinia Gallery
185 Hang Bong street - Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3828 8070 / Fax: (84-4) 3825 8905

Gallery Thanh Binh
25-27 Trang Tien - Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3825 1532
This place displays Modem art depecting the beauty of Vietnam in a comfortable and creative space.

Green Palm Gallery
Add: 15 Trang Tien street - Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
 Tel: (84-4) 3936 4756
Where is central location and it is close to The Opera House

Hanoi Art Gallery
Add: 36-38 Trang Tien Street - Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
 Tel: (84-4) 3934 7192
Where is central location close to Hoan Kiem lake

Kinh Bac Art - Dang Anh Tien
Add: 19 Trang Tien street- Hoan Kiem Dist - Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 9 366 199 Email: kinhbacart@yahoo.com
Which displays the Art of the past, the crossroads of art and culture.

Life Photo Gallery
Add: 39 Trang Tien street, Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi
Tel: (84-4)3 936 3886
Which is displayed 4,000 years of tradition and customs.

Mai Hien Studio
Add: 99 Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Dong Da district, Hanoi.
Tel: (84-4) 846 9614
Which is good outlet for decent Vietnamese art.

Ngan Pho Gallery
Add: 81 Hang Bong street- Hoan Kiem Dist- Hanoi.
Tel: (84-4) 3828 9484 -  Fax: (84-4) 3928 7365

Ngoc Mai Gallery
Add: 6 Hang Hanh street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3828 9979 / 0983 5678 62
NGOCMAl GALLERY brings original moments of Vietnamese life to people who appreciate arts.

Thang Long Gallery
Add: 41 Hang Gai street and at 12 To Tich street
Tel: (84-4) 825 0740

Vine Annex Art & Antiques- a Gallery of Fam Luc’s Arts:
45 Au Co street,Tay Ho District, Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3719 8757
Hanoi for Private Parties, Art and Antiques- Fam luc's painting, a venue for wine tasting, wine maker dinners,
cigar dinners, ladies nights, holiday buffets, that can fit 50 guests seated and 75 standing.
Sourced by: Dragonfly Travel website: www.myvietnamtravel.net

Bac Ha Market - Sapa

Bac Ha Market

Every Sunday, Bac Ha hosts the biggest fair near the mountainous highlands and the Chinese border. It is the largest and most colourful market in the area and attracts throngs of villagers from the surrounding hill tribes. Some walk several hours for the weekly opportunity to trade and barter food, animals, clothes and household goods. 80km from Sapa, Bac Ha Market is not only the place for buying and selling, but also a place for cultural and sentiment exchanging. On the market days, right from the early morning, all paths and mountain roads are full of people and horses pouring to the market. People usually sit in groups around a soup pan ("thang co") eating and chatting.

Many different ethnic groups such as Flower H'mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay and Nung minorities gather to buy and sell local products that cannot be found elsewhere. The market was very crowded, local products for sale or barter are carried on horseback. Besides the usual items like pigs, cows, chickens, and ducks, Bac Ha Market sold dogs. As dogs were available as cuts of meat, they were also available live, right next to the live pigs, chickens, and other livestock. There was a brisk trade at the market for everything from hand-embroidered skirts to all manner of 4-legged animals. The "fresh" meat section is not for the faint of heart and might steer more than a few visitors in the direction of strict vegetarianism.

Though tourists were not in short supply, they were not the focus. Most locals paid little attention to them, rather choosing to focus on their business and the short Sunday-sized window of opportunity. Rounding the corner and pungent fumes of alcohol accosted your senses of smell, from corn whiskey – the speciality in Bac Ha. The potent moonshine is decanted by vendors from large white plastic jugs to used bottled water containers. If you doubt the ability of a vendor's hooch to peel paint or light your senses on fire, you can try a shot for free.

If you are an adventurous gastronomies, you can try “Thắng Cố” (Blood poridge, a popular dish of H’Mong and others local people. Most of the Flower H’Mong minority here so the market dress of colourful custumes of H’Mong people.

From Sapa town, on the early morning Sunday you can take a bus to go Bac Ha Market before you get back to Lao Cai and get your train back to Hanoi. Or maybe you should go to Bac Ha on Saturday morning to Bac Ha town and have a chance to visit Coc Ly market as well.

Things you should buy here:

Homemade products such as brocades, febrics, crafts, or silver Jewery...

Other news:
Lung Phin Market
Coc Ly Market
Can Cau Market
Pha Long Market
Muong Hun Market

Pha Long Market - Sapa

 Pha Long Market

Located: It belongs to Pha Long commue, Muong Khuong District. Pha Long mean big market. This is centre exchange culture and goods of people in commues Pha Long, Din Chin, Ta Ngai Cho, Ta Gia Khau of Muong Khuong District. It is opened on Saturday.

On the very early Saturday, from every paths, roads, mountain you can see people from villages come to market, they go with their group, couple or even single with their goods behind their back or even they use horses to carry goods go to market… they wear their nice clothes with colourful umbrellas which make a romantic and beautiful picture.

Pha Long market is beautiful because of people and goods, they sell their products inside the camps on both side of road. It is very clowded people from ethnic minorites H’mong, Lolo, Tay, Nung, Dzay… They meet, sell their products and talk to each other, the noise make market more pretty and more  vibrant.

The horses carry goods will be tied in one place maybe it comes up to hundreds. Buffalos, cows, pigs, chicken is brought to market to sell. They sell Coins, rices, soybeen and other goods you can not count all.

The famous product here is "Séng Cù" rice which is aromatic and delicious, one of the thing can not be lack here that is chilly and chicken-boned sugarcane.

The most attractive area is brocade area, go to Pha Long market, many people would like to choose a most beautiful dress so they choose very carefully, they try on and check, very clowded and noisy places. The food area has a lovely smell from buffalo meat, horse meat,  beef with smell of coin-wine of H’mong people, the Coc Ngu wine of Pa Di people is made from good coins in the border area. Besides, porks from black pig are very aromatic and delicious here.

The most wonderful time to visit Pha Long market is after Tet on 3^rd to 6^th Lunar month, the Gau Tao festival means Climbing Festival people come from surround area, even from Bac Ha town, Sapa town, Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai province or even people from China gather festival. To start festival , a Shaman will pray around 2 bamboos which decorated with wine, meats. After that,  inside round old people will sing a song to praise ancestors, tell story; outside round young people will sing to each other, dance with trumpet… Festival will be vibrant with other games such as raise horse, birds flighting, play hard… until sun goes down people will join to group around kitchen and sing whole night.

The colourful clothes from many ethnic group combine with green of forest  is impression of people come to Pha Long market. Go to market as a traditional and custom of people in the north of Vietnam.

(Sourced by: www.myvietnamtravel.net)

Get Your VAT refund in Vietnam

Let’s get your VAT Refund in Vietnam

From July 01, 2012 to June 30, 2014, Vietnam has been running pilot implementation on VAT refund for goods bought in Vietnam by foreigners whose passport or immigration documents are not issued by Vietnamese authorities or foreigners who are not members of flight crew of aviation organization when they leave Vietnam via Noi Bai airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh city.

Under this VAT refund pilot scheme, foreigners are entitled to obtain a refund that accounts for 85% of VAT on goods eligible to VAT refund they bought at VAT refund shops and take home when leaving Vietnam via Noi Bai airport or Tan Son Nhat airport. The VAT refund will be made in Vietnamese dong, which can be converted to other currencies using the listed exchange rates at VAT refund counter. At Noi Bai airport, refunding agencies are Vietcombank and Maritime Bank. At Tan Son Nhat airport, refunding agencies are BIDV and Vietinbank.

Goods are subject to VAT refund have to meet below requirements:

-      Goods are subject to VAT, not second-hand and allowed to be brought in flight in accordance with aviation security and safety regulations.

-      Goods are not in the list of goods restricted or prohibited to export.

-      Goods supported by invoice and VAT refund declaration from issued within 30 days before the date of departure.

-      Goods value on invoice and VAT refund declaration from issued by 01 VAT refund shop in 01 day is 2 million VND at least.

How to get VAT refund in Vietnam

1.   When purchasing the goods:

-      Submit valid passport or immigration documents (original copy) to retailer to make a VAT refund declaration form.

-      Check all the information on VAT refund declaration form, sign in and take away original copy.

2.   At airport, present the following documents to VAT refund customs inspection office:

-      Passport and immigration documents (original copy)

-      Invoices and VAT refund declaration form (original copy).

-      Goods of VAT refund. For check-in baggages, Customs office shall check invoices and VAT refund declaration forms at VAT refund customs inspection (outside the restricted areas).

For hand lugguages, Customs office shall check the invoices at VAT refund customs inspection in restricted areas.

3.   At VAT refund counter (inside restricted area), present the following documents:

-      Boarding pass of international flight (original copy).

-      Invoices and VAT refund declaration form with the “checked” seak if the custom office (original copy).

List of VAT refund shops for foreigners in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city.

Hanoi City:

1.   Parkson  Hanoi  -  Address: No 198 Tay Son street, Dong Da District, Hanoi

2.   Grand Plaza (level 1) – No 117 Tran Duy Hung street, Cau Giay District.

3.   Savico Megamall (level 1 – Shop no 195) – No 7 – 9 Nguyen Van Linh street, Long Bien.

4.   Ipa – Nima Vietnam

Address: No 73 Trang Thi street, Hoan Kiem

Shop1: No 73 Trang Thi, Hoan Kiem

Shop 2: No 5 Nha Tho street, Hoan Kiem District

5.   Louis Vuitton Vietnam – 17 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District.

6.   Garment Joint Stock Company 10

Shop 1: Level 3 shop 307 and 310 Vincom tower – 191 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi.

Shop 2: No 6 Le Thai To – Hoan Kiem – Hanoi.

Shop 3: No 42C Ly Thuong Kiet street, Hoan Kiem.

Shop 4: 14 Ly Thuong Kiet street – Hoan Kiem District

Shop 5: 136 Quan Thanh street – Ba Dinh District.

Shop 6: No 42 Hang Voi street – Hoan Kiem District.

Shop 7: No 2 Le Thanh Tong street – Hoan Kiem District

7.   Doji Jewelry Join stock Company

Shop 1: Hermes – Metropole Hotel  No 1 Le Phung Hieu street, Hoan Kiem

Shop 2:  Hugo Boss – No 60 Ly Thai To Street – Hoan Kiem

Shop 3:  Korloff  - Level 1  No 32 Hang Bai street, Hoan Kiem.

Shop 4: Kenzo  - Lan Vien Hotel, ground floor – no 32 Hang Bai street, Hoan Kiem.

Shop 5: Atelier – No Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem.

Ho Chi Minh City:

1.   Louis Vuitton Vietnam – 161 Dong Khoi street, District 1.

2.   Viet Tien Garmet Joint Stoct Company

-      Parkson Tan Son Nhat

-      Parkson Le Thanh Ton

-      Vincom Le Thanh Ton

3.   Duy Anh Fashion & Cosmetic Co., Ltd

-      Diamond Plaza

-      Rex Hotel shop 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

-      Vincom tower A shop Versace

4.   ADI company

5.   Au Chau Fashion & Cosmetic

-      Zen Plaza shop 1, 2, 3, 4

-      Parkson Paragon Shop 6

-      Rex Hotel shop 7

-      Crescent Mall shop 8

-      Crescent Mall shop 9

-      Crescent Mall 10

-      Parkson Saigon Tourist Plaza shop 11

-      Parkson City Plaza shop 12

-      Parkson Hung Vuong Plaza Shop 13

-      Parkson Flemington shop 14

-      Diamond Plaza Shop 15, 16

-      Crescent Mall shop 17

-      Parkson Sai gon Tourist Plaza shop 18, 19, 20

-      Parkson Hung Vuong Plaza Shop 21

-      Parkson Hung Vuong Plaza shop 22

-      Parkson City Plaza shop 23, 24, 25

-      Parkson Paragon shop 26

-      Diamond Plaza shop 27, 28, 29, 30

-      Vincom Center A shop 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40

6.   Chau My Fashing & Cosmetic Co., Ltd

-      Vincom center shop 1

-      Crescent Mall Shop 2

-      Diamond Plaza shop 3

7.   Lien Thai Binh Duong Import and Export Co., Ltd

-      Rex Hotel shop 2

-      Diamond Plaza shop 1

8.   Song Viet Joint Stock

9.   Parkson Vietnam Co., Ltd

10.               Kim Lien Trade Co., Ltd

-      Diamond Plaza

-      Parkson Saigon Tourist

-      Parkson Flemington

-      Vincom Center A

-      Zen Plaza

-      Clarks Shoes Shop

11.               Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company

-      PNJ An Dong

-      PNJ Go Vap

-      PNJ Phan Dang Luu

-      PNJ Phan Dang Luu

12.               Duy Anh Trade Co., Ltd

-      Diamond Shop 1, 02, 03

13.                Kien Lam Handicraf

14.               FPT Joint Stock Company

Trading office number 9, 6, 12

15.               Shop Rimowa  - 1C, 1/F Opera View Building 161 Dong Khoi street Tel: +84 (0) 8 38225 034

16.               Thien Nam Hoa Electric and interior Centre

Add: 227B Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City.

17.               Khai Silk – 107 Dong Khoi street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

18.               Tic Tac Boutique – 72 Dong Khoi Street

-      Omega Boutique 171 Dong Khoi street

-      Omega Boutique 115 Dong Khoi street

-      Omega boutique L1 – 08, Level 1 Vincom Center A

19.               Phong Vu Computer – 125 Cach Mang Thang 8 street, Ben Thanh ward, District 1.

Source: http://myvietnamtravel.net/vi/bvct/id94/Get-your-VAT-Refund-in-Vietnam/