According to Singaporean investor Banyan Tree, the 875 million USD tourism area is expected to officially open on Sept. 1.

Two five-star hotels, the Banyan Tree resort with 120 rooms and the Angsana Resort with 320 rooms and a 18-hole golf course have been built in the first phase of the project, which started in August, 2009.

Once in full operation, Laguna Hue tourism area will be a venue of seven five-star hotels with 2,000 rooms, 1,000 villas, convention and trade centers and a golf course covering an area of 280 ha.

Source: VOV

Hello fellow blog-followers!

Margot and I had a very successful morning! After observing a total knee surgery yesterday.

We were able to teach/commence acute PT on 2 patients after their total knees today – Margot really saved the day as she put her expertise to work in working with the patients and educating the therapists on acute orthopedic PT therapeutic techniques. This is the first (to our knowledge) that the PT department has seen or been exposed to acute PT care so soon and functional after a total knee replacement and the patients did really well. Then, we were smart enough to run up to the surgery floor and catch the ortho surgeon and the american ortho surgeons between surguries to give them updates and recommendations to clarify the orders that are generated for the PT department. It was perfect timing and great to have collaborated with the Vietnamese surgeon and American surgeon on pain management (and timing with PT), use of cryotherapy, and PT treatment orders.

We think this also shed more light for the american surgeon in regards to post-op care so that he has a clearer picture as to how things are presently done and so that his recommendations and instructions regarding rehab protocal are more specific. Yea! We also learned that the 2 patients they did total ACL reconstructions on monday have not been down for PT/didn’t have orders for it – so, again, we are syncing up our collaboration efforts so that a more effective system is put into place – we hope, at least. This is ending up working out perfectly that these surgeons are here this week while we are here so that hopefully lines of communications for rehab between Dr.’s and PT’s are improved.

Oh and Happy Birthday to me – i’m happy and excited to finally have clean, dry clothes (we gained access to the hospital dryers – which being on the 6th floor – where lights are turned off at 5pm and floors are deserted – feels like we have the whole hospital to ourselves), a clean room/floors/garbage taken out (yea!) and happy birthday wishes from friends and family and even one of my patient’s daughters called me this morning to sing me “happy birthday” in English!

We have been getting to know the aunt and neice (Lynh) downstairs in the canteen. Her aunt is a riot – constantly laughing and teasing us – our nickname for her is “giggle pants“. Lynh’s English is really good and she gave us a vietnamese cake this morning “binbai” – no clue in spelling. So, it seems the culture-shock funk of last week has taken a turn for the better – but i’m sure its just part of the roller coaster of the international adventurous journey.

Of course, I miss my family and friends (more than I expected). And simple matters require much more energy, time and problem solving to figure out. But, little, by little we seem to be getting the hang of it. And this morning’s developments definitely makes it feel like maybe our presence here might do some good in helping develop the physical therapy they provide here (especially in light of the newer surgeries they are doing at this hospital: ACL, total knees, menisectomies, etc).

Tonight, Margot ordered a spiced birthday cake with butter cream frosting from the american bakery/care/resturant – we are about to go pick it up and we will have a little celebrations with anyone who is around after work today. Then, we will go to dinner.

To get to the islet, take a taxi to Cau Da Port and then take a cable car to Vinpearl Land at VND320,000 return. After playing some games at the Vinpearl Land such as outdoor games, 4D movies, water sports at Vinpearl Water Park and a visit to the bizarre marine creatures at Vinpearl Underwater World, it’s just a few steps more and your toes will be squeaking in the fine white sand of Bai Tru Beach.

The beach is like a postcard. There are lines of coconut trees leaning toward the sea, blinding white sand, azure water that is as flat as bathtub and bungalows under the shade of the palms. Get yourself an umbrella or lie back on a reed mat under the coconut palms and let Bai Tru help you forget your worries.

You can hire a motor boat and cruise around the island, even hire some diving equipment to go underwater and admire the reef.

If thrills are your thing, try the hot air balloon to take in an amazing panoramic view of the islet and Nha Trang City.

(Source: SGT)

Many luxury and deluxe hotels and resort newly built make Hoi An an ideal place for relaxation:

Con Dao is 180 kilometers off the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau and comprises 16 islets and is known worldwide for the groups’ notorious prisons and barbaric oppression during war times.

Con Dao Island, known as “The Hell on Earth” under the French regime and during the American War, draws many visitors who come to learn the history. Fishing is one of the interesting activities on this beautiful island. Some sportsmen have great luck in the channels between islets. Most people prefer the tamer waters near Wharf 914. Live bait is available at the market, which is a short walk from the wharf. Some sellers give the bait away.

“It is very small, I cannot sell it to customers to make food. So you can take it, just for fun”, a seller told us when we asked for a couple of small fish to try our luck.

You might not catch too many fish but you never feel lonely because the wharf is usually crowded with fishermen and kids. The kids are there just for fun. Despite going home empty-handed most of the time, these kids are ready to help you catch a fish and tell you what you are doing wrong and why your bait is no good and snap your camera for you when you do land a fish. They spend the great majority of their lives on the beach and usually have enough free time to keep you company all day.

On a full moon, when the tide ebbs, the islets grow taller giving you a chance to have a nice long walk straight into the ocean. Some nights you can walk more than one kilometer under the moon. You will bump into many friendly locals out here hunting for cuttle-fish.

This can also be a romantic setting, but the opportunity only lasts for a few hours and then the sea quickly reclaims the exposed skin of the island. Give yourself plenty of time to start walking back in.

There are daily flights from HCMC to the Con Dao.

Lang Co Beach is about 10km long in Lang Co Townlet, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien – Hue Province, located next to the National Highway 1A, near Hai Van Pass. With attractive natural landscape, lies on the most beautiful curve of the country, Lang Co has almost everything that the nature can offer: green mountains and tropical forests, smooth white sand, full of sunshine and the sea is cool, blue, clear as crystal.

So stunning, in the Nguyen Dynasty many complexes for vacation had been built for the kings here. The French also left their traces here, related to the name of this land. Lang Co, it is probably derived from “Lang Co” (literally means Stork Village) or L ‘An Cu (An Cư – Settle down) – its original names when the French pronounced as Lang Co.

It seems nobody can resist a nature beauty like Lang Co Town. This small and peaceful town will give you the most relaxing time and many games at the beach. In addition, you will have good time to enjoy the seafood with various kinds of shrimps, lobster, sea shrimp, crab, butter-fish, mackerel fish, oysters… and not far from the beach, there are many attractions such as Chan May scenery, Lang Co Fishing Village.

Located on the “Central Heritage Road”, Lang Co is very close to other famous attractions such as the Imperial City of Hue, Hoi An Ancient Town, Son Tra Peninsula where the famous Son Tra Natural Reserve and beautiful beaches located, and so many more. The beauty of Lang Co Bay, Hai Van Pass, Bach Ma National Park and a fishing village in this area always attract many tourists by a wonderful harmonious combination between people and the nature.

Lang Co is 60km from the centre of Hue City but about 40km from Phu Bai International Airport. If visitors drive to Lang Co from Da Nang City through Hai Van Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in Southeast Asia, the distance will be about 25km. However, the longer way, about 40km, is still the choice of many adventure lovers to drive on the pass to contemplate the beauty and majestic of Hai Van Pass and Lang Co Bay from above.

On the occasion of Lang Co became officially the 30th member of the “World’s Most Beautiful Bays” club (Worldbays Club), the 3rd bay of Vietnam, after Ha Long and Nha Trang named in the list of 30 most beautiful bays in the world in June 2009, there are various cultural, sport and tourism activities will take place here and Lang Co will be first choice of many tourists for this summer.

Additional Information:

+ Transportation:
- From Hue City, it costs one way about VND400,000 by taxi or VND35,000 by public coach.
- From Da Nang City, it costs one way about VND300,000 by taxi (included fee to get through Hai Van Tunnel) or VND20,000 by public coach.
+ Accommodation: From VND400,000 to 1,000,000 per room per night for 3-star and upper hotels; guest-houses cost from VND130,000 to 200,000 per room per night.

Most mornings I have been able to run along the beach without being chased by any small dogs, to my relief. One morning I was like a sports star, surrounded by old women watching me do my stretches, one lady even touched my arm and made a face at me. (Of course I had a mix of sweat and sun block causing my arm to be shiny and sticky).

The boat trip was really fun we went to a few islands and we met a lot of cool people. Dale and I really enjoyed the floating bar happy hour. Our bar tender got on a small floating boat and gave us tires to float on while drinking rice wine. It was heaps of fun and the water was so, so warm! We spent most of the day eating, drinking and swimming and were so tried by the end of the day.

While walking around last night we caught an interesting site of a man playing electric guitar and singing into a microphone while walking down the street. He had a lady pushing his speaker box along next to him. (ha-ha wish I got a picture).

Sorry kids no Mister Whippy here instead a man rides a bike playing music with a small box of ice creams attached to his bike. Or there is also a lady with blown up toys on a bike her music defiantly targeting the younger audience.
We managed to get pictures of ladies on the beach cooking up fresh lobster and sea food smelt so nice.

Blogger: Katrina Larsen

Bau Trang is the only lake of Bac Binh district, some 62 km away from Phan Thiet city, surrounded with white sand dunes and short pine ranges. Its surface is absolutely pure and peaceful with pink lotus and blue water. Pictures source: Vu Ngoc Quy.

Bau Trang Lake

Lotus Lake

White sand Dune

Phan Thiet beach

Sunrise on the beach

Peaceful beach

The place where the boat shelter from the storm

View to Vinh Hy Bay

Tide-washed stones look very strange

Magnificent cliffs among emerald water of the bay

White and long stretching beach

Stone-hand

Stone-dog