My Son Holy Land  in Quang Nam province is a World Heritage listed sacred site. My Son was an Imperial city during the Champa dynasty between the 4th and the 12th centuries.  The holy land was the centre for spirituality and worship at that time. My Son was a large complex of religious monuments comprised of more than 70 architectural works. The monuments were built by the nobility and reflect the unique Champa culture which had both architectural and spiritual influences from Indian Hinduism.

Located 50 km to the south- west of Hoi An ancient town, My Son Holy Land today has only 25 vestiges remaining.  The remaining ruins stand witness to the unique heritage of the Champa Dynasty. These are temples and towers connected to each other through complicated red brick design to reflect the divinity of the king. My Son exemplifies the heights of Cham architectural achievement and hence is one of the top Vietnamese tourist attractions.  The Champa people no longer live in the My Son area: they have moved south to Binh Thuan province.

During your visit to My Son the guide will show you the remains of special brick tower, explain the origin and historical significance of the site including the meanings of each tower or monument. There is more exciting discovery for you to enjoy with the tour.

 Depart: 8: 00 AM/ 1:30 PM Price: About 30$/ pax (2 pax up)

Welcome to our country, Vietnam; a land full of warm and welcoming people. Vietnam is famous for its natural beauty and unique culture. We value our long history and our current development which respects both Eastern and Western influences.  The Vietnamese people are proud of their national independence and identity and welcome all visitors with open hearts.

Here at Viet Silk Travel, our aim is to help you create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.  We offer well-designed tourist services that have been refined over the years based on the feedback from customers.  Our team is young, experienced and enthusiastic. Our tour guides speak English, Chinese, Japanese and French. The University-educated management team is committed to a quality experience for the customer every time. Vietsilk Travel prides itself on providing the most comprehensive travel service in Hoi An.  We hope that you will choose a number of our tours so that your time spent with us will give you an adventure that will be exciting, comfortable and excellent value for money.

Hoi An is situated on the mouth of Thu Bon river, where it enters the Eastern sea.  Please explore the ancient World Heritage listed Hoi An ancient town with care as there is much to see and experience.  During your visit to Vietnam you can explore the country’s traditional attractions including architecture, museums, marble sculptures, temples, monuments, natural farming, local arts and crafts.   You will have a chance to enjoy our delicious cuisine. Hoi An’s local specialties include fresh spring rolls and white rose dumplings with dipping sauce.

As you enjoy the ambiance of Vietnam you will also notice our pride in our history, evolution and development as part of the contemporary global community.  Wherever you go all people will greet you by their most friendly smiles, please smile back and everyone will be happy.

We look forward to serving your travel needs. Relax and enjoy; you will be in good hands.

Viet Silk Travel Team from Ancient Town of Hoi An, Vietnam

Is your dwelling starting to feel and look old to you? Are you sick and tired of opening up the same kitchen cabinets every single day? Have you become tired of the color of your cabinets, or maybe the fact they never shut tight? Have you thought about perking up your kitchen with some new cabinets? Life can get a little depressing, when you’re trapped in the same routine. There may be a good possibility that a new set of cabinets is all you need.

Something to take into account is that you don’t need to redo the whole kitchen to make a real change to it. A set of brand new home appliances could possibly do the trick. You could do better if all you managed to do was get rid of the old sink, and replace it with a nice new one. In the same way, it might be that replacing your old cabinets is all you actually want and need to do. To some people upgrading the kitchen is updating everything that is in it. Should you be sure that’s what you want, and your budget allows, then go ahead. Go for it.

Yet, if your wallet isn’t exactly bursting at the seams, it might be best to start with one thing at a time. There’s no question that when you are remodeling the entire kitchen then you will be getting new cabinets, but if you are starting with only part of the kitchen, you may or may not improve your cabinets. Whenever that’s your decision, the first thing to do is figure out the order. In addition, if your plans do, indeed, include new cabinets, make sure you understand that they are not a piece of cake to install.

Well, what do you feel about that so far? kitchen remodel is a massive area with many additional sub-topics you can read about. We have found other folks think these points are helpful in their search. You should take care about making too many assumptions until the big picture is more clear. Do you know exactly the kind of info that will help? If not, then you should discover more about this. You will discover the rest of this article contributes to the foundation you have built up to this point. Cabinets aren’t something that you can set up, and then take them back out, when you decide that you don’t like them. You’ll want to be sure that they are the styles that you really want. The worst thing you want may be to do all that labor only to be disappointed when your new cabinets are not to your liking. If you have several home improvement stores in your town, go to them and look at their cabinet displays. You will be much better able to choose what it is you need. You will also understand how much things cost you. You will probably find that you can’t afford the ones you need.

For anyone who is not a do-it-your-self sort, then look for the store that not only offers the cabinets you want, but will give you the best installation price Should you not comprehend what you are doing, this is the way you should go. This might involve having a few folks visit your home to do measurements. Then you will have a few bids from which you can pick the best, and all should be well.

When you have a large family, it is likely you know that the most popular room in the whole house is the bathroom. A lot of people spend at least 1/2 an hour to an hour inside the bathroom each and every day. Of course, if you have a great deal of people in your home you know that there always seems to be someone in the bathroom. It’s funny how the room that is the busiest turns out to be the room that is the smallest. Before you redesign your bathroom, there’s something you need to think about before you start.

The first thing you should look at is including a shower stall instead of a bathtub. It is usually not so often that people take a bath in the bathtub. Naturally if you have younger little children in the home this may not be an option. If nearly all of the people in your house are at least twelve years old, there is no reason for you to install a bathtub instead of a shower stall. By adding a shower stall instead of a bathtub, you will add more room to your bathroom. But if your bathroom is fairly small to begin with, get ready to enjoy the extra space.

Additionally in terms of replacing your sink in your bathroom choose one that is made out of lighter colors. Dark colored basins are certainly not advisable because water spots, hard water stains and soap scum really shows. While this is all appropriate to your discovery, a few items about renovating your bathroom carry more weight than others.

But that can vary a bit, and it really just depends on how you want to use the information. Yet you do understand there is much more to be discovered about this. The balance of this read holds much more that will help your specific situation. It is all about giving information that builds on itself, and we think you will value that. You find yourself cleaning your bathroom sink several times a day. When it comes to the color of your new sink, ensure that it stays light.

If you want to bring color to the bathroom by having colored components, be sure that you actually have the fixtures before you start to remodel. Finding fixtures that happen to be in different colors can be slow and may take more time after you order it. But if you do not need extravagant fixtures, just get the white or off white ones. These types of fixtures can be purchased in almost any home improvement store. This is also good in the event you end up having to replace them later on.

Also if you plan on incorporating tile to your new shower stall you will need to remember that you will not be able to use that shower for a few days after it is done. Although your bathroom may take a week to finalize, you will still need to wait a few more days for the tile to dry. There is also a lot more work involved in adding tile as opposed to a standard shower stall.

However, one important thing should be to make sure that you have a bathroom that’s available when your real bathroom is being renovated.

Truly, what we have offered you here, today, is by no means the conclusion of the learning process about bathroom remodel. These are powerful points, to be sure, and you can see excellent results as well. But it would be a oversight to think that is all there is to it. There are certain areas that you need to learn more about if you want real success with this. That is what is can be possible when you go on to discover more.

If you know your current circumstance, have an idea of what you really need for a home, and know what you need, you don’t want to be the only one that knows.  Finding the good realtor will help you to improve your chances of getting exactly what you want and finding the best deals that are in the real estate field.  If you aren’t sure what to look for, then you can follow a few general guides to find the perfect suitable for your requirements.

One of the simplest methods to be sure that you will be involved with the proper agent is to do your investigation.  Most likely, realtors will all have a branding about how good their business are and what they were able to carry out for their customers.  By searching into online network resources or by asking others, you can start out to find the exactly people and to eliminate some potential problems with realtors who aren’t finding out for your best benefits.

2. What can your realtor do for your house finding

You don’t just have a look at realtors from what other people are saying.  You can also look at how they have their services scale.  The most important thing of this is decide the commission  that they will receive.  This will make a different amount  in how much you end up spending for your apartment.  You will also want to have a look at credentials and how long they have involved in the real estate market.  The more that they know, the more they can help you.

If you have never had a realtor previously, you will want to know standard steps for how they are supposed to approach you with the real estate service.  For instance, you shouldn’t have to sign a contract at the beginning of the negotiation.  You as well should not have to put any spending down until you have found a house and signed a contract with the leaser.  More importantly, make sure that the realtor is going to listen to what you want and doesn’t try to get advantage of what you don’t understand.  You will usually be able to tell where a realtor is along with your business by how they respond to your questions and needs with the first telephone calling.  Every realtor has their own personal ability to showing homes.  If you do not feel free with how they are proceeding, it is best not tohire them.

Whether the property is your first or fiftieth, finding the proper realtor to support is a  key to walking into what you want.  That is through the realtor that you will have the easiest time with making negotiations, communicating with the others involved and finding exactly what you are looking for.  Always be sure that your realtor knows that your property is where your heart is.

The Vietnam General Statistics Office informs that the inflation in December 2010 is the highest since Feb 2009. The increase in prices has been 11.75% compared to Dec 2009. Cost of things has increased compared to even last month.  According to International Monetary Fund (IMF), Vietnam should aim for an inflation rate of 3%-4%.

The Vietnam government is trying to combat inflation without much effect. The Dong is way too weak and cost of food is way too high for the government to control the situation within a short span of time. The government is also reluctant to check inflation by enhancing the reserves of commercial banks (which would bring down the supply of money via open market operations). It was initially not too keen to raise the interest rates either. Under much pressure, the Vietnam government raised the interest rate in November this year.

Experts opine that to stabilize the prices, Vietnam needs to check the growth rate. However, the Vietnam government declared that the growth rate will be 6.7% this year and might reach 7% in the coming year. The experts also think that the inflation problem is inextricably linked to the domestic policies of the country. They particularly refer to the channelization of additional currency into the market through various sources.

The inflation problem in Vietnam poses a major threat to the financial institutions in general and banking industry in particular. It also increases the chances of an economic shock. Consequently, the currency rating of the Dong with financial services companies has fallen. Standard and Poor’s, for instance, currently rates the Dong as BB- while the previous rating was BB.

The devaluation of the Dong is playing a major role in the inflation process. The value of the Dong has been depreciated by the Vietnam government three times in the last one and half years. Last week 1 dollar was equal to approximately 20,000 Dong. Incredible, isn’t it?

This article is contributed by John Marshal. He is associated with Oak View Law Group, a debt settlement firm that helps in settling all types of debt. We have great feedback on credit card debt settlement.

Housing prices in Hanoi will still rise in 2011 and the rate of returns will remain attractive. However, the property market needs an official forecasting channel to put an end to ‘price blowing’ and sentiment-driven investment, according to many real estate experts at a conference titled “Real estate market trends in 2011 – Sharing investment experience – cooperation opportunities” recently held in Hanoi.

Mr Vu Xuan Thien, Deputy Director of Housing and Real Estate Management Department, said: In 2011 and the next 10 -15 years, the property market in Hanoi, and in Vietnam in general, will continue to develop strongly because housing demand is very high, especially in big cities with high migration rates.He said property prices will still go up because the State is gradually collecting land-use fees from investors. Higher input costs will lead to higher prices.

Mr Nguyen Trung Vu, General Director of Century Real Estate Company, said real estate, securities and gold are the main investment channels now. However, at present, gold and securities channels are undergoing complex developments and proving unsafe havens for investors. Meanwhile, real estate guarantees them with certain profits.

This means real estate is always an attractive and safe investment channel. “But, this does not mean that real estate investment is risk-free. You will slip if you don’t employ good sense. You should look at real value before you invest and you should not invest according to herd mentality,” noted Mr Vu.

Vu said, unlike in Ho Chi Minh City where investors easily get big discounts for big deals, this is not common in Hanoi, where most deals secure profit. Investors in Hanoi pay little attention to the value of real estate because they are nearly certain of profit.

Sharing this point, Mr Nguyen Van Minh, General Secretary of the Vietnam Real Estate Association, said: “The Government will propose that the National Assembly make a totally new Land Law in 2012 in favour of market mechanisms. I think there are many opportunities to do business in coming years. When Decree 69 and Decree 198 are enacted, land-use fees will come closer to market values. With higher input prices, a drop in price is not likely.”

Dr Nguyen Quang Tuyen, Head of the Land Law, Hanoi Law University, said: The Government’s Decree 71 and the Ministry of Construction’s Circular 16 have little impact on the market regulated by the supply and demand laws. Thus, excessive interventions will distort the market. Decree 71 will make the market, fundraising of investors and real estate dealings more transparent. In the future, market development will be more sustainable. However, according to Mr Tuyen, the market needs an official forecasting channel to put an end to ‘price blowing’ and sentiment-driven investment.

According to experts, the Hanoi real estate market will remain active as the approval of the master development plan will provide motivation to many projects but strong waves are unlikely.

Source: VCCI News

Vietnam’s world heritage Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh ranks sixth among the world’s top ten destinations for sailing cruises by the US’s National Geographic book Journeys of a Lifetime.

The book wrote “Ha Long Bay, or the Bay of the Descending Dragon, in northeastern Vietnam, is scattered with some 3,000 precipitous, strangely sculpted limestone islands and outcrops, and dotted with small floating villages and deserted sandy beaches.

“In spring and early summer the water is particularly calm and clear. This UNESCO World Heritage site is best explored by a cruise on a junk.”

The other nine destinations are Nova Scotia and Labrador Tall Ships of Canada; San Juan Islands, Washington; Pirate Cruise, Grand Cayman Island of the UK; Star Clipper to French Polynesia of France; Junk Cruise, Andaman Sea of Thailand; Seychelles Islands of Seychelles; Dhow Cruise, Straits of Hormuz of Oman; Lamu Island of Kenya; and Evia Island Cruise of Greece.

Earlier, Ha Long Bay was also listed among the world’s top ten best and romantic destinations for 2011 by the UK ’s Lonely Planet magazine.

Yuan rose 0.4% to 6.6270 Yuan/USD. Hong Kong announced that would set up a fund to guarantee the supply of Yuan for activities pay joint borders.

During the week, Asian Currencies rise, led by Malaysia’s ringgit and Singapore dollar by positive global economic recovery strongly more when the America’s economy Quarter 3 / 2010 grow stronger forecast of professionals.

On December 22th, 2010, U.S. Commerce Department announced the U.S economy quarter 3 / 2010 grow  2.6%, is higher than in the first publication 2.5%.

In addition, India’s Central bank announced forecast the economy will grow 8.5% in one year period ending in March 3 / 2011 and recorded the strongest growth since 2008.

Asian dollar index rose 0.5%, was calculated by Bloomberg-JPMorgan during the week. So, it is recorded the largest increase since the week ended on December, 3^rd,2010.

The ringgit rose 1.2% to 3.0930 ringgit/USD. Singapore dollar rose 0.8% to 1.3004 Singapore dollars/USD, the Indian rupee rose 0.5% to 45.115 rupees/USD.
Malaysia ringgit rose 4 consecutive sessions because of the optimism about economic growth in Malaysia will cause investors to pour money into promoting properties in Malaysia.

The economic growth of Malaysia  is forecasted by IMF 6.7% in 2010, the largest increase since 2004 and 5.3% in 2011.
Singapore dollar increases price strongly and get highest level in over 10 trading sessions after information about producing in factories would be the strongest growth in six months. Production contribute 25% of the Singapore economy, compared same period last year growth 39.8 % in the month 11/2010 .

Yuan rose 0.4% to 6.6270 Yuan/USD. Hong Kong announced that would set up a fund to guarantee the supply of Yuan for activities pay joint borders.

During the week, Asian Currencies rise, led by Malaysia’s ringgit and Singapore dollar by positive global economic recovery strongly more when the America’s economy Quarter 3 / 2010 grow stronger forecast of professionals.

On December 22th, 2010, U.S. Commerce Department announced the U.S economy quarter 3 / 2010 grow  2.6%, is higher than in the first publication 2.5%.

In addition, India’s Central bank announced forecast the economy will grow 8.5% in one year period ending in March 3 / 2011 and recorded the strongest growth since 2008.

Asian dollar index rose 0.5%, was calculated by Bloomberg-JPMorgan during the week. So, it is recorded the largest increase since the week ended on December, 3^rd,2010.

The ringgit rose 1.2% to 3.0930 ringgit/USD. Singapore dollar rose 0.8% to 1.3004 Singapore dollars/USD, the Indian rupee rose 0.5% to 45.115 rupees/USD.
Malaysia ringgit rose 4 consecutive sessions because of the optimism about economic growth in Malaysia will cause investors to pour money into promoting properties in Malaysia.

The economic growth of Malaysia  is forecasted by IMF 6.7% in 2010, the largest increase since 2004 and 5.3% in 2011.
Singapore dollar increases price strongly and get highest level in over 10 trading sessions after information about producing in factories would be the strongest growth in six months. Production contribute 25% of the Singapore economy, compared same period last year growth 39.8 % in the month 11/2010 .

Yuan rose 0.4% to 6.6270 Yuan/USD. Hong Kong announced that would set up a fund to guarantee the supply of Yuan for activities pay joint borders.

The first of six turbines at the Son La station was connected to the national power grid on Friday, said Hoang Trong Nam, director of the plant’s management board.

He said the two-billion-dollar plant with a capacity of 2,400 megawatts is expected to be fully operational in 2012, three years ahead of a target set by the National Assembly.

Nam said about 100,000 people — mostly from ethnic minority groups — were relocated to make way for the reservoir, which stretches across the three provinces of Son La, Lai Chau and Dien Bien in northwestern Vietnam.

Initial plans called for an even larger dam but it was scaled down after deputies in the National Assembly raised concerns about the human and environmental costs of the project, including its safety in an earthquake-prone mountainous region.

Construction finally began in December 2005.

“It’s a strategic project for Vietnam’s energy security in the years to come,” Nam said.

The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (Eurocham) has cited estimates that the fast-growing country needs infrastructure investment of 120 billion dollars over the next five to 10 years, much of it in the energy sector.

Vietnam draws more than one-third of its electricity from hydropower but suffers periodic blackouts and is trying to diversify its power sources.

Electricity demand is growing by 14 percent annually, the state Vietnam News Agency said.

In October the country signed a deal worth an estimated 5.6 billion dollars with Russia for Vietnam’s first nuclear power facility.

Some power is purchased from neighboring China.