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 Content includes:

                              1/ Photos: Old trees, the beautiful “treasures” of Saigon
                              2/ 'Japanese garden' opens in HCMC
                              3/ In pictures: Saigon and bridges
                              4/ Make a pilgrimage to Saigon through famous temples

                              5/ An Hoi incense burners
                              6/ Saigon Flea Market
                              7/ 
                              8/Farming in the city in Vietnam

1/ Photos: Old trees, the beautiful “treasures” of Saigon
VietNamNet Bridge - Century-old trees are the "green treasures" of Saigon, especially in the time of urbanisation.

 Ancient trees on 3/2 Street, Districts 10, 11.

 Ancient trees on Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 10.

There are many ancient trees of nearly 40m tall on the roads of Tran Hung Dao, 3/2, Ly Thuong Kiet, Hung Vuong, Nguyen Chi Thanh, and Ngo Gia Tu.

 An Duong Vuong Street.

 Truong Dinh Street, District 1.

 Trees are numbered.

 Ancient trees on Ton Duc Thang Street and 3/2 Road are nearly 2m in diameter and roots on the ground.

 Hundred-year-old trees on Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, District 1.

 Trees on Ngo Gia Tu Street, District 10.

Trees at the Nguyen Tri Phuong, 3/2 and Ly Thai To intersection.

 (http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/vietnam-in-photos/109010/photos--old-trees--the-beautiful--treasures--of-saigon.html)

2/ 'Japanese garden' opens in HCMC

Tuoitrenews

Updated : 03/08/2014 14:58 GMT + 7 

 A tourism complex in the suburb of Ho Chi Minh City which is modeled after a Japanese garden has recently been open to the public.

 

Tung Son Thach Hoa Vien, in Hoc Mon suburban district’s Xuan Thoi Dong commune, some 20km from downtown HCMC, is  invested with over VND400 billion (US$19 million).

According to expat Vietnamese entrepreneur Ngo Chanh, CEO of Tung Son Thach Hoa Vien Co., 85% of the ornamental bonsai, fish and stone at the 20,000m2 complex along with its construction and decorative materials are imported from Japan.

The complex boasts up to 4,000 tons of rock, some 200 Koi fish - Japan’s signature ornamental carp, which measure some 0.5m to 1m in length. The garden is also home to some hundreds of bonsais and evergreen trees of various kinds. All of them are imported from the Ehime Prefecture in Japan.

Visitors can also relish in Japanese culinary delights such as Kobe beef, dishes with “ohini” (salt from Fuji mountain) and “mochi” (Japanese rice cake). They can also buy souvenirs imported from Japan as gifts for their relatives and friends when they’re back from their “trips” to Japan.

The 3,000-seat convention halls make the complex ideal for Vietnamese-Japanese cultural events. The place will also provide a new choice for Japanese expats living in Vietnam during Japan’s traditional festivals.

The complex has also been picked as the venue for an international competition on ornamental birds, fish, plants and rock next year, which will be hosted by the Vietnam Association of Ornamental Plants and Animals.

Chanh, who has lived in the Ehime Prefecture for over three decades, spent 25 years working on his dream of building such a Japanese-style garden.

“The garden is expressive of my deep gratitude to my home country and the Ehime Prefecture and will hopefully cement the bonds between people in the two countries,” Chanh shared.

Entrance fees are VND50,000 ($2) for adults and VND20,000 for children.

3/ In pictures: Saigon and bridges (Vietnamnet.vn)

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City has more than 200 large and small bridges. Watching over Saigon through bridges is a new experience for tourists who are familiar with the most bustling city in Vietnam.

Anh Sao (Starlight) Bridge

The Anh Sao Bridge is located in the new urban area of Phu My Hung, District 7, spanning the Thay Tieu canal. This is considered the most beautiful bridge in Saigon with an eye-catching lighting and water spray system along the bridge. In addition, the two large squares on either sides of the bridge which simulate the moon and the sun make people feel like going to step on the moon and thousands of twinkling stars.

The Anh Sao Bridge is only for pedestrians. It is also an ideal place for taking photos of the prosperous city over 300 years old.

Thu Thiem Bridge

The Thu Thiem is a 1,250 m long bridge connecting the two banks of the Saigon River in District 2 and Binh Thanh District. As a modern bridge with six lanes from Thu Thiem new urban area to the city center, Thu Thiem Bridge has become a symbol of the city’s vitality, which is changing each day.

Thu Thiem Bridge has become the favorite destination of young people. This is also an ideal for fishing.

Saigon Bridge

Saigon Bridge is one of the bridges across the Saigon River, connecting Dien Bien Phu Street in Binh Thanh District with the Hanoi Highway in District 2. This is the main gateway to the inner HCMC from the central provinces and northern Vietnam.

With a length of 1,000 m, instead of using cars or motorcycles, you can ride a bicycle on the bridge to enjoy the wind and watch the Saigon River. In addition, there are the two resorts of Van Thanh and Tan Cang near the bridge, where you can stop to rest and relax in the cool space of trees.

Phu My Bridge

Phu My is the first cable-stayed and the largest bridge in Saigon with a length of over 2,000 m. It crosses over the Saigon River, connecting District 2 and District 7. It is seen as a new gateway to the city in order to reduce the traffic on the Saigon Bridge.

It is one of the best places to see in Saigon.

Ong Lon Bridge

This bridge is on Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard in District 7, spanning the Ong Lon canal. This is the first bridge with steel - concrete dome in Vietnam. From far away you can quickly realize the bridge with its characteristic red color.

Located on the largest and most modern road in Saigon - Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard – Ong Lon looks both modern and charming.

Khanh Hoi Bridge

Khanh Hoi Bridge is across the Ben Nghe canal, connecting Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1 with Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4. In the past, Khanh Hoi was the only swing bridge in Vietnam.

Khanh Hoi Bridge with a length of 167 m is considered as one of the 11 critical bridges along the East - West Avenue. Although it spans Ben Nghe canal, from this bridge, you can still watch the Saigon River with a completely new perspective.

Mong Bridge

As a small bridge spanning the Tau Hu canal, Mong Bridge is a good place for visiting and taking pictures in Saigon. The bridge has a special structure that is curved like a rainbow. It has been there for over 100 years but until Mong Bridge was painted in peppermint green color, the bridge has been known more widely by tourists.

4/ Make a pilgrimage to Saigon through famous temples

VietNamNet Bridge - To pray for a good new year, you should go to the Ngoc Hoang temple on Mai Thi Luu Street, District 1. To enjoy a view and pray for peace, you should visit the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda.

Going to temples in the early days of the year is tradition of Vietnamese, expressing their faith in the original point. The southern land is the home to many sacred temples, which are the spiritual destination of pilgrims.

1. Giac Lam Pagoda (Chùa Giác Lâm)

As an ancient and famous temple in HCM City, Giac Lam Pagoda in District 11 attracts a lot of visitors. The architecture of the temple is considered typical in the south, with three interconnected blocks. The main hall is in the traditional folk style, with four main pillars.

The whole scenery is quite large and very quiet, suitable for Buddhists and pilgrims. Coming here visitors can learn more about the cultural, historical, architectural and sculptural values that have been preserved in the temple until today.

2. Ngoc Hoang (Jade Emperor) Pagoda (Chùa Ngọc Hoàng)

Turtles in a pond in the Ngoc Hoang Pagoda.

In the past the temple was called Ngoc Hoang Shrine, worshipping the Jade Emperor of the Chinese people in Saigon. Therefore, the architecture of the temple features Chinese characteristics. The temple has beautiful and rare wooden sculptures.

Entering the temple visitors will enjoy the lotus lake, the smoke spiraling up around the yard. There is a pond with thousands of turtles, released by pilgrims.

3. Vinh Nghiem Pagoda (Chùa Vĩnh Nghiêm)

The temple is located on an open campus, with the typical architectural style of the temples in the north. Both the name and the architecture of the temple are similar to a wooden pagoda in Bac Giang province, the center of the Truc Lam Yen Tu school.

The unique feature of the temple is a 14 m high stone tower with 7 floors, built and carved with patterns of the Ly - Tran dynasties.

Located on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street in the city center, visiting the temple is always crowded with visitors and pilgrims.

4. Xa Loi Pagoda (Chùa Xá Lợi)

Located on Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street, District 3, the ancient tamarind trees along the way make the space inside the temple more subtle.

The pagoda was built by the contributions of people of the southern provinces to worship Buddha remains.

The special feature of the temple is a 7-storey tower of 32 meters high. The top floor has a great bell of 2 tons, which is cast in the form of the famous bell at the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue City. 

5. Viet Nam Quoc Tu (Vietnam National Pagoda) (Việt Nam Quốc Tự)

In a pure space, with the shade of ancient trees, Viet Nam Quoc Tu Pagoda on 3/2 Road is a beautiful architecture with historical significance.

The temple is known for its typical Vietnamese architecture. It is one of the most famous pagodas in HCM City.

Pha Le

5/ An Hoi incense burners

Despite the changes of over 200 years, the bronze casting of incense burners has been preserved and developed by the people of An Hoi Village in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City.

The craft village of An Hoi is now on Phan Huy Ich Street, Ward 12, Go Vap District in Ho Chi Minh City. Over the years, many famous bronze casting villages in the city such as Cho Quan and Phu Lam disappeared and only exist in the minds of the locals. 

Yet, the craft in An Hoi Village has been maintained and developed by the villagers. Here, there are about 10 workshops casting bronze incense burners which are sold mainly in the market in South Vietnam.

During our trip to the village, we visited the workshop of Tran Van Thang, also called Hai Thang whose family has five generations engaged in the craft. 

“During prosperous times, bronze incense burners of An Hoi Village were sold in six provinces of the south and were also exported to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. At present, the craft is not in demand as much as in the past but I will try my best to preserve the craft,” Thang said.

He then introduced us to his son who was concentrating on his work and said: “It is the fifth generation of my family who will continue preserving and developing the bronze casting of incense burners.” 

During the last Tet Holiday, the workshop of Hai Thang sold more than 2,000 sets of incense burners. The price of a set is from 4-20 million dong, depending on its size.

Bronze incense burner making consists of many meticulous phases that must be done manually, such as mixing materials, making moulds, moulding, processing and carving. 

To make beautiful and durable products, the artisans must master all the techniques and it also depends on the experiences and secrets of each family.

According to artisan Hai Thang, it is not difficult to distinguish between An Hoi incense burners and mass-produced ones. The mass-produced burners are green-gold and turn black after several years of using.

Meanwhile, An Hoi incense burners will be golden and shining if they are cleaned. Furthermore, An Hoi incense burners are made in the ancient style so they are sought much after by the people in the south.

In recent years, the authority of Ho Chi Minh City and locals have made joint efforts to seek markets for the products, making a contribution to preserving and developing the traditional craft.

 An Hoi incense burners are made by the traditional method.

 Moulds are made from a mixture of clay, ash and rice husk.

 The technique of making mould requires artisans' meticulosity.

 Creating the shape of a casting mould.

 Carving patterns on the moulds.

 Cleaning incense burners.

 Processing incense burners.

 Completing the products. 

 The set of incense burners on the altar of  the family of Hai Thang.

 The typical golden colour of An Hoi incense burners.

 Sophisticated patterns of An Hoi incense burners.

6/ Saigon Flea Market

VietNamNet Bridge – With nearly 60,000 likes on its Facebook page, Saigon Flea Market (SFM) in HCMC’s District 7 has become a popular rendezvous on second and forth Sundays of month to many locals and foreigners who wish to find hand-made artworks, accessories and fashion items. The founder of this market is Moon Doan or Doan Thu Hang, a 26-year-old who has traveled a lot and brought this unique market concept to Vietnam.

“SFM is not only a place for craft artisans to share their passion but also a place where shopaholics and fashion lovers come and exchange their styles and ideas,” said Hang.

“Furthermore, the market is where I want to promote ‘made in Vietnam’ products by local artists and designers to foreign customers.”

 SFM is located at level 1, Boomarang Bistro Restaurant, 107 Ton Dat Tien Street, Phu My Hung Urban Zone, District7, HCMC. For further information, access the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/saigon.flea.market.

 Source: SGT

7/ Ho Chi Minh City's scrap market for the rich

By Thanh Hai - Tan Cu, Thanh Nien News

A Ho Chi Minh City scrap market sells everything from old-time oil lamps to sets of gilded spoons for thousands of dollars.

Location: Cao Minh coffee shop, No Trang Long street, ward 13, Binh Thanh district

(http://www.thanhniennews.com/travel/ho-chi-minh-citys-scrap-market-for-the-rich-32110.html)


8/ Farming in the city in Vietnam

Only a 30 minute motorbike ride from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Thanh District’s Ward 28 in the Thanh Da peninsula offers a different look at an inner city due to its rural appearance.

The small road leading to Ward 28 separates it from the nearby crowd of cafes, restaurants, hotels, and resorts.

For people who desire a breath of fresh air away from the city, a visit to the paddy fields in Ward 28 is ideal.

The area has been supported by rice farming for nearly a hundred years, an occupation locals grew up with and will continue to do until the day they cannot walk in the fields any longer.

The beauty of the golden paddy fields, riverbanks, lotus ponds, and white storks found in the area have become an inspiration for artists, attracting several filmmakers.

Western photographers have also come to take photos of the beautiful typical Vietnamese countryside found within one of the most crowded and modern cities in the country.

If visiting during a harvest, tourists may get the chance to have a hands-on farming experience thanks to the friendly local farmers who are willing to show visitors how to cut rice, offer guests cups of tea or coffee, and share amusing stories.

Nguyen Kim Hoang, a local farmer, told Tuoitrenews that locals usually start to clean their fields every March and grow rice at the beginning of April for the summer and fall harvest.

The remaining crop will be prepared so that they can harvest right before Tet, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year.

Previously, Ward 28 was made up of 40 households, which have recently increased to 50. Eighty percent of the households farm and breed animals.

On the decrease

However, in recent years, rice production in the area has been decreasing due to poor weather and pests.

Moreover, older farmers in the area are becoming the last paddy growers in the Thanh Da peninsula since younger generations have shown no interest in the job, as it offers an unstable income and is being replaced by jobs more suitable for the era of modernization, industrialization, and urbanization.

“My children have their own jobs, only I work in the fields until I can no longer do the job. They can sell the farms if they want,” Huynh Cong Ut, 60, said.

Sau Phuoc, another farmer in the area, said she harvested around 1 ton in the highest yield in the past but this year she produced only 110kg due to her old age and poor health.

“My children work for industrial parks, I’m the only one who harvests this field,” she shared. “I also hire people to harvest my field but the amount of rice this year is too small, so I’m keeping it for my family to use,” she added.

"My family has a tradition of farming; I have worked as a farmer since the age of 16."

Even worse, the ward has been listed in the city’s urban planning project for the past ten years.

To many farmers in the Thanh Da peninsula, this land is not only a place to live, it is also their neighborhood and a part of their life.

Many of them have expressed their worry that one day they will have to leave the land and move to modern and expensive condominiums when the planning project is implemented.

“According to the plan, we have to move to condominiums when they begin carrying out the project, but we won’t be able to afford the monthly fee,” farmer Nguyen Kim Hoang said.