How Celebrity Chefs Shape the Fine Dining Scene in Phú Quốc

Like special events everywhere in Vietnam, the local festival days based on the lunar calender falling on August 27th at Nguyen Trung Truc Temple, 19th at Dinh Ba Ong Lang and 15th and 16th at the Water General’s Tomb. Tourists should never wear short dresses, skirts, and sleeveless shirts when visiting temples in Vietnam in general as it is considered offense to the traditional spirit. Nguyen Trung Truc Festival This festival has been held annually since 1996, when the Nguyen Trung Truc Temple was built in the commune. The festival plays an important role in the local life to preserve and promote the traditional and cultural values of the nation, to honor the merits of the predecessors who sacrificed for the national cause against foreign invaders. The organization of the festival also reflects the tradition of Vietnamese, and helps educate the present and future generations on Revolutionary tradition… From the 27th of August on the lunar calendar every year, there are many people from all over the island, including tourists who go to the temple of Nguyen Trung Truc in Ganh Dau commune, 40km far from the center of Phu Quoc to attend the festival. The ceremony is solemnly held to ensure the traditional ritual of the nation. The festival, main part of the whole, mainly organized with theatrical programs and outdoor games to reflect the history and image of Nguyen Trung Truc the hero. Dinh Ba Ong Lang Festival Dinh Ba Ong Lang is located 7km from Duong Dong town center, about 1km from the road to Dinh Ba. The number of visitors to Dinh Ba festival is growing in recent years. According to the local people, Dinh Ba Ong Lang reflects the belief of people on the island in Mrs. Kim Giao, wife of the national hero Nguyen Trung Truc, that she will bring good health and happiness for the people on the island. Every year, on the 18th and 19th of the first lunar month, people come to this palace to  incense, and pray for safety and favourable weather. Couples also come here to wish for a lifetime of staying together. Nghing Ong Festival History: The festival is the worship of whales associated with the custom of worshiping fish which is very popular from Ngang Pass back to Ha Tien and Phu Quoc Island. It is the biggest fish festival of fishermen. That “fish” is a sacred creature and a savior to fishermen in the sea. This has become a common belief among fishermen in these localities. In each locality, the festival takes place at a different time. Ceremony part: Along the way of the parade, fishermen arrange offerings and incense. There are hundreds of small and big boats with splendid decor to escort “Ông”. Small boats are used to carry thousands of guests and locals attending the procession. Sacrifice part: Solemn ceremony after the ceremony parts with many rituals. All of them are held at the tomb of Water General. Festival part: Before the festival, hundreds of fishing boats decorated with flags and flowers anchored on the river. During the festival, fishermen often invite each other, including guests to eat together, have fun, and talk.

1. Where to stay in Vietnam? The tourism industry has been rapidly developed, thus there is a wide range of options for any types of journey, from luxury to budget tours. Luxury hotels and resorts High-end hotels and resorts are available for travelers who want to get the best services and do not care much about the expense. 4 and 5-star hotels are plentiful in big cities and tourist attractions, while resorts are mostly located near the beaches or in the famous mountainous tourist destinations. Visitors will be served with extensive guest services and recreational facilities. Some groups and companies that are reputable for luxurious hotels and resorts are Vingroup (Vinpearl Resorts and Entertainment Centers), FLC (FLC resorts), Intercontinental Hotel Groups (Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza), Sheraton, and La Veranda Resort. Beside the international enterprises, Vingroup and FLC are two big Vietnamese corporations that have hotels and resorts in many parts of Vietnam. Medium and small hotels, motels and hostels This kind of accommodation ensures a good level of amenities for tourists at not a very high price. Thousands of hotels are built in almost every city and tourist spots in Vietnam. Hostel and motel are more suitable for backpackers and budget travelers. They offer inexpensive smaller rooms and communal facilities. Homestay Homestay is the popular way to stay in Vietnam, especially in mountainous areas like Sapa and Ha Giang. Travelers will use shared rooms with others. The facilities and services have nothing much to say, the experiences are great. Visitors can experience the daily life of the local people, as well as learn more about the culture. You can get unique experiences at a smaller expense. Homestay is suitable for travelers of all ages such as gap year students, backpackers, friends, couples, and even families. 2. Vietnam hotels and beach resorts Followings are some recommended hotels and beach resorts: InterContinental (IHG) InterContinental Hotels Group holds a number of luxury hotels in Vietnam. It manages eight luxury hotels and resorts in the prime locations of the three major cities: Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. InterContinental brand has 6 hotels including Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Hanoi Westlake, Hanoi Landmark 72, Asiana Saigon, Asiana Saigon Residences, and Phu Quoc Resort. Regarding Crowne Plaza brand, there are The Crowne Plaza Danang, West Hanoi, West Hanoi Residences, and Crowne Plaza Phu Quoc. They are more modest than the InterContinental ones. (talkofthetownatlanta.com) VinPearl (VinGroup) VinPearl is a system of hotels with 5-star services and facilities in beautiful beaches of Vietnam. Starting with Vinpearl Nha Trang, Vinpearl has developed into a chain of luxury hotels and beach resorts throughout Vietnam. Vinpearl is currently developing its tourism and hospitality products with Vinpearl Resort (five-star standard), Vinpearl Luxury (over 5 stars), and Vinpearl Resort & Villas. List of Vinpearl Resorts is as follows: – Nha Trang: Vinpearl Nha Trang Resort, Vinpearl Nha Trang Bay Resort & Villas, Vinpearl Luxury Nha Trang, Vinpearl Golf Land Resort & Villas, and Vinpearl Nha Trang Long Beach Villas. – Phu Quoc: Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort, Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort & Golf, Vinpearl Phu Quoc Ocean Resort & Villas, Vinpearl Phu Quoc Paradise Resort & Villas, and Vin Oasis Phu Quoc. – Da Nang: Vinpearl Da Nang Resort & Villas, Vinpearl Da Nang Ocean Resort & Villas, and Vinpearl Hoi An Resort & Villas – Ha Long: Vinpearl Hạ Long Bay Resort – Nghe An: Vinpearl Nghe An – Ha Tinh: Vinpearl Hà Tĩnh Ocean Villas FLC Resorts (FLC) Another big Vietnamese corporation with a series of luxury hotels and resorts is FLC. This group has resorts at the most beautiful beaches, namely Halong (FLC Ha Long), Quy Nhon (FLC Quy Nhon and FLC Sea Tower Quy Nhon), Sam Son (FLC Sam Son Beach and Golf Resort, FLC Luxury Sam Son Resort),  and Quang Binh (FLC Quang Binh). La Veranda (MGallery Hotel Collection) La Veranda looks like a French mansion on the beach. It is among the top resorts in the beautiful island of Phu Quoc, Vietnam. With high-end services and perfect natural settings, the resort offers unforgettable moments to tourists, especially for those who are on honeymoon or family holidays. The majestic beauty of Phu Quoc Beach makes it even more romantic.

Located on the eastern coast of mainland Southeast Asia, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is bordered by China to the north and Cambodia and Laos to the west. The country is long and narrow, shaped like the letter S, with Hanoi (the capital) and the Red River Delta to the north and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam’s largest city, also known as “Saigon”) and the Mekong Delta to the south. Vietnam has a coastline of 3,444 km (2,140 mi) with the East Sea (also called the South China Sea) to the east. Vietnam’s climate is tropical in the south and monsoonal in the north. While there are slight variations in temperature, Vietnam’s climate can generally be divided into the rainy season (May to September) and the dry season (October to March). With an estimated 95 million people, Vietnam ranks 14th in the world in population. About 85-90% of its population is ethnic Vietnamese (also known as “Kinh”), with 53 other ethnic groups recognized by the government. Vietnamese is the official language, and has some similarities to Khmer, Thai and Chinese. Under Chinese rule for a thousand years, an estimated 30% of Vietnamese vocabulary is derived from Chinese. Thanks to French colonial rule, Vietnamese uses a Romanized alphabet, unlike most of its Asian neighbors. While Vietnam has no official religion, the majority subscribe to what’s known as the “Three Teachings” of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Ancestor worship is common. It’s estimated that up to 10% of the population are Roman Catholics, followed by smaller numbers of Protestants, Muslims and Hindu. In the Mekong Delta, the Cao Dai and Hoa Hao sects are popular, in part based on Buddhism. Vietnam’s main exports include seafood, rice, crude oil, clothing and coffee. The monetary unit is the Dong (VND) where VND 22,700 is equal to USD 1.