The greatest festivals you should join in Da Lat

Da Lat located in Vietnam's highland with many ethnic minorities. So, Da Lat has many festivals. If you are spending time on your research, you will easily realize that Da Lat is absolutely well worth a visit, and especially it is better to come here on season of festivals. Let’s see how wonderful those festivals are.

Da Lat Flower Festival

It is probable to say that the festival has gradually become a glittering characteristic in the culture of Da Lat as the thought that the event is associated with the romantic highland city is leaking into the Vietnamese’s mind. As for the aim of Da Lat flower festival, to encourage the economic growth of Da Lat and popularize the city’s tourism as well as its beautiful image, the event is where vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants from the locals are displayed and introduced to visitors. The exhibition is also considered to be the best approach to the potential investment in Da Lat flower industry from other places whereby the culture and people of Da Lat will be more well-known.

Da Lat flower festival has been organized every two years since 2005. Regularly at the end of the year. It is also an exclusive tourist product which attracts lots of domestic and foreign tourists. The main stage of this festival is put on the water surface of Xuan Huong lake and Lam Vien square.

Gong Cultural Festival

Be curious about Gong Festival? At first, let yourself grab a little understanding of what Gong is? In fact, Vietnam people don’t simply mention Gong in their culture, instead, they will talk about the space of Gong culture in Vietnam Highlands. The gong culture was designated as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO on November 15th, 2005.

The space of Gong culture in Vietnam Highlands stretches in highland provinces, such as Daknong, Gialai, Kontum, Lamdong, and Daklak. Artists performing that culture are ethnic minorities, including Ma, Ede, Bana, Lach, etc. What makes up the gong culture’s performance consist of Gong music melody, Chime, artists, long-houses, fields, graveyard, forests next to villages, etc. As for Gong Cultural Festival, it will take place in the above highland provinces in turn. Tourists coming to Da Lat, Lam Dong in the occasion when the city plays a role as the host can learn more about unique and quintessential features in the gong culture. It is really fantastic.

Tea Cultural Festival

Previously, Tea Cultural Festival – one of the festivals in Da Lat city used to be a periodic event held once each two years with the purpose of honoring the tea industry; the first flower festival took place in December, 2006. It is supposed that the festival is not merely a cultural event, but it is also a lever to push up the economic and tourism development of Da Lat. Specifically, it is where Vietnamese tea enterprises grab chances to popularize their brands. Besides, visitors experiencing the festival in Da Lat city can know more about the art of making tea and sample amazingly fragrant kinds of tea.

Nonetheless, because of some reasons making the tea producing industry go down, in the next time, Tea Cultural Festival will be organized as a part of Da Lat Flower Festival instead of taking place separately as usual. Therefore, it will be great to join Tea Cultural Festival when you are also enjoying Da Lat flower festival.

Buffalo Stabbing Festival

Every year, at the end of the crop (year-end), ethic minorities organize the greatest festival of the year to offer sacrifice Ndu God and other gods and genies to express their gratitude to the gods who have provided the villagers and tribes with a prosperous year with many lucks and a good crop. This festival is name Sarơpu (buffalo eating Festival) and commonly called Buffalo Stabbing Festival.
The first thing to do is putting a tree called ‘Neu’ which indicates their desires for wellness and happiness indispensable in this festival.

Read more: Chill out in the newest spots in Dalat

Source tnktravel

Explore the interesting lego village in Busan, Korea

The Gamcheon Culture Village in the southern port city of Busan has a number of nicknames such as Santorini of the East, Busan’s Macchu Picchu, the Favelas of Korea, and the Lego Village. It is easy to see why. Sprawling the central-west hills of Saha-gu district, this collection of steep streets and narrow alleys, colourful buildings, and unique community vibe is not your typical Korean village.

A brief history of Gamcheon Village

Before the 1950’s, Gamcheon was a small village of around 20 houses. By 1951, the small hilltop town had expanded to accommodate over half a million residents, many of whom were refugees fleeing from the Korean war. Then the place was burgeoning with shanties made from corrugated tin and planks of wood.

Why is Gamcheon so colourful?

One day, Gamcheon’s creative residents launched a public art project and the whole village was drenched in a kaleidoscope of colours. At first, the reception to the village’s bold new look was mixed. Some loved it straight from the get go. Other residents felt self-conscious about what little they had to show off, but soon saw the positives of meeting the curious tourists who wanted to see the village for themselves.

Gamcheon now stands as a hopeful testament to the beauty that comes from diversity. Had the original villagers not welcomed hundreds of thousands of war-torn refugees, the village would look very different to the labyrinthine maze of colours it is today.

What to see and do there

Look at another side of Busan’s local life when visiting Gamcheon. Wear your most comfortable walking shoes and get lost as you explore its alleys, corners, and streets.

If you are weary of getting lost, just “follow the fish”, a fish-shaped route marker for visitors to follow, leading them to major attractions within Gamcheon. As a village revived by art, street arts are found everywhere. Gamcheon is one Instagram-worthy place in Busan. From iconic murals and sculptures like the Little Prince and the Desert Fox, you can be unique from other social media images taken from Gamcheon.

There are buildings that you can check out like the former hot spring, turned library. It has some quirky statues and sculptures. Don’t skip the Little Museum that will give you a clear glimpse of how the village was transformed. You can also see everyday things that residents use.

With its topography, it can be a good workout as you walk uphill but try going to the observation deck. Here, you will get a panoramic view of the whole village with sea views. Waiting for you are the Little Prince and Desert Fox for the iconic shot from Gamcheon Culture Village.

Together with the various street art, dainty cafes and shops make Gamcheon Culture Village hip and interesting. Drop by to buy souvenirs or for some drinks and bites. Check out street food for some fuel-up after your walk around the village.

Read more: Visit Busan, the biggest coastal city in Korea

How to get there

To access the village via public transportation, take the subway to Toseong Station. From exit six, walk straight and turn right. You will see a small bus station board in front of the Pusan National University Hospital building (Block C, Cancer Centre, aka the PNU Cancer Centre). Hop on the market village bus route to Gamcheon Culture Village. An English announcement will let you know when you have arrived.

Source Culture Trip

5 best places to admire cherry blossoms in South Korea

When spring comes, the whole Korea is even more breathtaking as the sight of cherry blossoms blooming in every corner of the country. To have the best cherry blossom experience in Korea, don't forget to visit these 5 destinations below.

Jinhae Gunhangje Festival (Jinhae)

Perhaps the most popular place to see the cherry blossoms in all their glory is in the small military port of Jinhae near Korea’s south coast. Once a year, usually in early April, the city hosts thousands of tourists at its Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, the largest and most famous of the country’s cherry blossom festivals. In addition to the spectacular displays of cherry blossom trees, the festival also gives visitors the opportunity to tour a replica of one of Admiral Lee Sun-Shin’s famous turtle ships, a Korean warship that was used by the Royal Korean Navy from as early as the 15th century.

Hwagae Cherry Blossom Festival (Hwagae)

Situated in the foothills of Jiri Mountain, Hwagae is about as rural and isolated as Korea gets. When April arrives, the region becomes blanketed in a snow of white and soft pink. The highlight of the festival is the “10ri Cherry Blossom Road,” a romantic, four kilometer long stretch of cherry blossom trees. It is also known by locals as “Marriage Road,” as it is said that lovers who walk hand-in-hand under the trees will get married and live happily ever after.

Gyeongju

Although Korea’s “museum without walls” doesn’t have a dedicated festival to celebrate the cherry blossom, the city of Gyeongju is still a great place to see the beloved flower. The city’s unique landscape, made up of giant tumuli, or ancient, grass-covered royal tombs, provides a colorful contrast to the blooms, while the trees make the beautifully preserved historical artifacts that dot the city even more picturesque than usual. To experience the best of Gyeongju in spring, rent a bike from one of the many rental shops near the central bus terminal.

Yeouido Spring Flower Festival (Seoul)

Seoul, too, has its fair share of cherry blossom viewing sites, and Yeouido, an island situated on the Han River, is the most accessible (and most visited) of the bunch. The focus of the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival is, of course, the cherry blossom trees, of which there are more than 1,400 in full bloom. There are also a variety of street performances, food vendors and countless exhibits, making the festival a great place to enjoy the great outdoors and defrost after a long, cold winter.

Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival (Seoul)

Another well known cherry blossom viewing site is Seokchon Lake in eastern Seoul. It is especially popular with photographers who are eager to capture shots of the cherry blossoms and their reflection in the lake. The roller coasters and Cinderella-esque castle of the nearby Lotte World theme park add to the backdrop.

See more: Top tourist attractions in Seoul, South Korea

Source: theculturetrip