Decorative Lighting

                                     

Using decorative lighting is another way of enhancing the beauty and character of the house. Earlier on lighting was done from the functional point of view. Today homeowners want their lighting fixtures both interior and exterior to make a statement. More so the interior lighting. They select interior lighting fixtures to match the rest of the Decor. Decorating homes with elegant and tasteful light fixtures is a must these days. Decorative home lighting fixtures come in different shapes, sizes, finishes and materials. There are a wide variety of finishes to choose from. Some of the most popular ones are:

Lamps that have a brushed nickel, stainless steel and copper finish, have become popular displacing the old favorite that was brass finished. These new finishes easily blend with the multi-colored Decor of modern houses.

Some lamps are finished in different colors and the consumer can choose one that exactly matches his needs. These are painted and may be textured or have silver and gold flecks.

Another much in demand finish to the one that gives an antique and timeless look. This finish gives the lamps a very conventional look.

Today a lot of attention is paid to detailing. Every aspect of the lamp is made decorative that gives the fixture more style and elegance.

The market flooded with a variety of decorative lighting fixtures. Selecting ones that are both functional and decorative can be a difficult task. Here are a few tips that to follow while choosing decorative lights:

Employ a certified lighting consultant. He will help you find lamps that are functional and decorative.

It you have a picture, of what the lighting fixture should look like, take it with you while shopping for fixtures.

Plan a budget and decide by how much, you are willing to exceed that budget, for something you really want.

While buying lighting fixtures for rooms bring something that matches the color of the walls. This will make it easier to find lights that match the rest of the Decor.

If you are looking for something specific and cannot find it, then you can get it specially made to order.

While buying decorative lighting fixtures do not forget the practical purpose of lighting the room.

Gadgets showcase for Euro 2012

Many electronics stores in Ho Chi Minh City have launched promotions, especially for television sets, ahead of the 2012 European Football Championships. 

                                     

Nguyen Kim, one of the largest, is offering discounts of 5-20 percent on many "super thin" TVs, and gifts like disk players, ovens and electric irons for buying LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs. 

It is also offering a 45-day, refund trial of two Samsung LED models for people not living in Hanoi or HCM City . 

Five customers taking part in a programme to predict the winner of Euro 2012 and the score in the final stand will win a BMW X1 sDrive car. 

Other electronics supermarkets like Cho Lon, Phan Khang and Dienmay.com are offering discounts of at least 10 percent on TVs and other products for Euro 2012. 

Cho Lon has announced a 15 percent discount for customers using Vietinbank cards to buy a Samsung LED or LCD TV of 40 inches and larger. 

It has also slashed the prices many other electronic products by up to 50 percent. 

Thien Hoa Electronics and Furniture Shopping Centre is offering free lease of LCD TVs to people in HCM City and Binh Duong Province during Euro 2012. 

Customers' deposits – equal to the value of the TV they want to lease – will be refunded when they return it. 

The number of customers had shot up in recent days, Bui Tan Cuong, marketing director of Thien Hoa, said, adding that sales of TVs, especially of the LED and LCD varieties, went up by 30 percent last month compared to May 2011. 

Dinh Anh Huan, general director of Dienmay.com supermarkets, said sales were up by more than 30 percent. 

Euro 2012 will be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine from June 8 to July 1.-VNA

Mui Ne

Someone says 'Mui Ne is another Nha Trang 10 years ago'. We have to agree with it. Mui Ne will be a big destination for beach lover in the future. This place gains a great support form nuture, with stable weather, sunshine and dry year around. It is an ideal of sea sports like windsurfing, kitesurfing. Mui Ne is known as a famous beach resort in Vietnam, Tourist season begins in December to May. Foreign tourist continuously increased, especially in retreat tourism. There are many hotels and resorts along Mui Ne beach center. Ranging from 2 to 5 star for traveler's choice

Getting thereThere is no flight to Mui Ne. Travelers can only get there by bus or train. Local bus is not recommended as they are all busy and Mui Ne is mostly not their stops so you have to take another transfer to Mui Ne. Open bus could be a good choice if you are in budget. Private transport is available in most of travel cafe in Saigon. 

If you want to take a train, there are quite a few of options for you. Make sure you will be off at Muong Man train station, then take your taxi to Mui Ne. You can also arrange transfer from your booked hotels in Mui Ne to pick up from Muong Man. 

What to see in Mui Ne?

There are few tours and places that you can visit while your vaction in Mui Ne. Most famous place would be Sandunes, ask your resort reception for transportation for Sand dunes visit. The best time to go is around 5 or 6 am when sand dune is not mixed up yet. There are some local games that you can join with local tourist. Trip takes couple of hours. 

                                   

Another worth half day trip is Poganu Cham Tower which is one of the oldest Cham Tower in Vietnam (1.200 year old). Besides, there are temples, pagoda and other interesting sightseeing in Binh Thuan areas for your choice. 

Restaurant in Mui Ne

Mui Ne is famous for fresh and affordable seafood. Many restaurants serve seafood, but only a few restaurants have good service and good pricing. Here are the list of local restaurant for your choice

Cay Bang Restaurant: This is a very popular restaurant in town serving fresh seafood and other local dishes.

Dung Su Restaurant: It is also much much focusing on seafood. Reservation in advance is needed.

Ngoc Suong Restaurant: Upscale restaurant in town. 

Western food & Bars

Good Morning Vietnam Restaurant: The same group of the one in Hoi An & Saigon. Owned and run by an Italian, offer pizza and pasta

Wax Bar: Live music and open air

Sankara: Most popular hangout place in Mui Ne. Hot area!

Hanging Chandelier

                         

A Chandelier is a decorative light that is hung from ceiling. It is one of the most attractive and dainty form of lighting. If a chandelier is of proper size and matches with the decor of the room, then it adds a completely new dimension to your room. It was first made by glass makers. Earlier these lights were found in houses of very wealthy and high-class people, but now they can be seen in almost every house. They have become an important lighting object which adds beauty to a place. In previous times, candles were used in chandeliers, but now they have bulbs. There are different designs of chandelier lights; you can choose a design according to the color, size and decor of your room.You can also select designs from interior design magazines. Apart from this, if you are unable to decide, ask the retailer to make suggestions on the best chandelier lights available. You can put chandelier lights in any room. These days kitchen and bathrooms have become popular areas for hanging chandelier lights. Here are a few tips which are important to follow while hanging a chandelier light.

Tips On Hanging Chandelier Lights:

• It is best to buy a chandelier that is about a foot smaller than your dining table.
• It must be placed at a distance of about forty-eight inches from the edges of the room.
• A rule of thumb for chandeliers - If your ceiling is eight feet high then the chandelier should be hung about thirty to thirty-four inches above the dining table.If the ceiling is more than eight feet high, then chandelier chains can be shortened by three inches.
• Use a wall dimmer to control the intensity of light and to set the mood. Apart from this, it also adds versatility to your room.
• Placing a chandelier in a lobby or foyer is an excellent way of demarking the interior of the house from the exterior.
• While fixing a chandelier in the foyer, hang it at a height so that it can illuminate stairways clearly.
• Chandeliers hung in the lobby can be bigger and broader than the ones used in dining room.
• Cover the wire or chain of the chandelier with some pretty fabric. Use fabric that is thrice as long as the chain and it will give the chain a beautiful bunched up appearance.
• You can go for iron chandeliers which will give a classic and antique look, or you can also think about crystalchandeliers which offer a glittering and impressive look.
• Before hanging the chandelier think about how you will clean it and replace the bulbs.
• Put decorative chandelier lamp shades that add to the mood you want to create and filter the light. You can hang two-tier chandeliers which will distribute the light completely.
• The height of the chandelier depends on its style-crystal, simple and elaborate. It also depends on the height and decor of the dining room.
• Crystals of chandeliers need special cleaning. You must clean your crystal chandelier and chandelier lamp shades in lukewarm water and put three parts of isopropyl alcohol in it. Clean the chandelier gently with a soft cotton cloth.

Chandelier lights you select will be part of your home for a long time. Go for complete research and then buy a chandelier that suits your place the best. Undoubtedly, chandeliers are very beautiful and elegant.

Pham Ngu Lao Street in Ho Chi Minh City

The Pham Ngu Lao area of District 1 is where most backpacking travelers first land in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a similar scene to Southeast Asia's most famous backpacking centre, Khao San Road in Bangkok, but on a smaller scale. The main thoroughfares (with lots of lanes and back alleys) that make up the popular area include Pham Ngu Lao, De Tham, Bui Vien and Do Quang Dao streets.

These are where tourists can find Western-style eateries and bars, countless travel agencies, cheap guesthouses (as well as many of the so-called ‘mini-hotel’ buildings usually with six to seven floors, rarely offering an elevator), internet shops, pharmacies and souvenir-and-craft shops.

Pham Ngu Lao is not limited to only low-budget travelers. Its own unique vibe draws people from everywhere. Visitors sometime prefer to enjoy local street food or do nothing but people watching over the incredibly cheap bia hoi draught beer on the roadside as there is always something going on in Pham Ngu Lao.

                                     

Pham Ngu Lao Attractions

Pham Ngu Lao is an attraction in itself. Though this area has been developing fast over the past decade, there are still lots of charming old buildings as many families have been living there for generations. The street scene can seem a little crazy with hawkers selling just about everything from cigarettes to massage services. 

Pham Ngu Lao is also close to many city landmarks as well as interesting attractions. The famous Ben Thanh Market is just a 10-minute walk and the Fine Art Museum, Reunification Palace and Phu Dong Statue are less than a kilometre away.

                                   

Pham Ngu Lao Dining

Saigon’s street eating scene is a must for first-time visitors to the city and the only risk is the ice served in your drinks which can be from doubtful sources. Reward yourself with local favourites such as sandwiches with all the fixings, banh xeo (pancakes), pho (the most common and popular rice noodle soup), bun bo hue (a rice noodle soup thicker than pho) and local coffee.

Take advantage also of the restaurants in the Pham Ngu Lao Area as they’re known for delicious and well-priced food. Some of the venues have high-speed WiFi.

                                 

Pham Ngu Lao Nightlife

Ho Chi Minh City comes alive at night. Street vendors, bia hoi stalls, bars and downtown clubs are part of the lively scene.

Pham Ngu Lao, as can be imagined, also has interesting nightlife entertainment spots including Allez Boo and Le Pub as well as many smaller pubs known for their cheap drinks. It’s common around here to meet some friendly expats who are more than willing to share a few tips about travelling in and beyond Vietnam.

                                 

Pham Ngu Lao Shopping

If your shopping list in Vietnam includes any of the following list, you will definitely find them in Pham Ngu Lao; conical hats (the unofficial national symbol), handicrafts, paintings, silk products, T-shirts, rice paper (Vietnamese spring rolls anyone?), tea, coffee, coffee containers, coconut candies and tropical fruits.

Pham Ngu Lao has extensive markets nearby as well as boutique shops, malls, and art galleries. Even though shopping here can be so much fun for most people because of the attractive prices, it’s still wise to compare prices and bargain before making a purchase.

                               

Pham Ngu Lao Activities

If you want to observe real local life, get up early and visit the parks in the area to see (and even to join in on) a morning exercise activity. It is interesting to see all those ‘uncles’ and ‘aunties’ into their Tai Chi-like sessions.

Pham Ngu Lao is not such a large area, making it the perfect place to sightsee by foot and the best time to do this is either in the morning or late afternoon when the heat has ebbed away. You will find plenty of travel agencies to select activities and tour packages along the way too.

Ho Chi Minh City Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Founded more than 100 years ago, Ho Chi Minh City Zoo and Botanical Gardens (aka Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens) are listed as one of the oldest zoos in the world, opened in 1865 by French botanist JB Louis Pierre. There are currently more than 550 animals exhibited in the zoo and more than 1,830 trees and 260 plant species in the botanical gardens with some dating back over 100 years.

There are a number of different sections to explore including the animal conservation area, orchid garden and plant conservation centre and a children’s amusement area. Lakes brimming with tropical fish form part of the zoo and botanical gardens which is also home to a monument dedicated to Vietnamese killed in World War I. The Ho Chi Minh Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a popular place to while away an afternoon and is visited by locals and tourists who are often surprised by the fact that you can get up close and personal to some of the animals and feed them.

                                     

Ho Chi Minh City Zoo & Botanical Gardens Highlights

The Botanical Gardens has a vast array of flora and fauna including 20 different orchid types, 32 species of cactus and 34 species of bonsai in addition to trees, plants and ferns some of which are as old as the gardens.

The zoo exhibits a diverse range of animals including monkeys, tigers, hippos, lions, elephants; turtles and snakes. There are also rarer animals such as the white tiger that are being displayed for the first time ever in Vietnam. The zoo aims to help animal conservation of endangered species through a breeding-in-captivity program and recently bred the crested argus pheasant – being the only zoo in the world to do so.

The Botanical Gardens are striving to use the area as a knowledge centre where visitors can learn more about the species on display and how to protect them for the future.

In addition to creatures and plants, the zoo and botanical gardens also have the Saigon National Museum and the World War I monument within its vicinity. The museum covers the entire history of Vietnam and includes war weapons from the French colonial era and thousands of important documents within its walls.

                                      

Good to Know about Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Ho Chi Minh Zoo has in some parts seen better days and is certainly not on par with western zoos; however it is better than some zoos seen in other Asian countries. If you have any reservations regarding animals in captivity then this might not be the place for you.

The zoo is located close to Saigon District 1 and the easiest way to reach it is via taxi. The entrance fee allows you to visit both the zoo and gardens, although you will need to pay more if you wish the feed any animals. There are two main gates, one on Nguyen Binh Khiem and the other on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.

                                  

Shrimps: A key export for Vietnam

                                        

The turnover from Vietnamese fisheries exports in May hit 500 million USD, raising the sector’s total export revenue for the first five months of this year to 2.3 billion USD, up by 9.8 percent over the same period last year. 

The key products are still shrimp, fish and shellfish. 

Japan remains the largest market for Vietnamese shrimp, making up 26.9 percent of the country’s total shrimp export revenue, followed by the US which imported 150 million USD worth of shrimp, a four percent year-on-year increase. 

Asia proved to be a promising market for Vietnamese shrimp, while the Australian market saw an impressive rise of 70 percent in shrimp imports, passing Canada and has become Vietnam’s 6 th largest shrimp market. 

Meanwhile, several experts pointed out that there are still no positive signals coming from the EU market due to impacts of public debt and the recession in Europe , compounded by tariff barriers. A significant drop could be seen in all three of Vietnam ’s main EU markets, namely Germany , the UK and France . 

Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said that few of its members can meet the high standards demanded by the EU on imported shrimp. 

After falling in price for quite a while, the cost of prawns for processing has now recovered to reach from between 140.000 VND to 195.000 VND per kilo, an increase of 3.000 VND to 5.000 VND per kilo over last week.-VNA