TMG – Join Thien Minh Group (TMG) in ringing in the Lunar New Year 2025 with springtime Tet experiences throughout the country.
From viewing the springtime landscapes of Halong Bay from a height of 300m on a seaplane and celebrating the traditional Cau Bong Festival in Tra Que vegetable village to the speedy tailoring of an ao dai tunic in Chau Doc and taking in the festive atmosphere aboard a cruise in Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta, each destination has a unique story to tell about Vietnamese New Year.
1. Hai Au Aviation’s scenic flights over Halong Bay and scheduled flights from Noi Bai to Tuan Chau
Discover the magical beauty of Halong Bay from above with a scenic seaplane flight operated by Hai Au Aviation. Departing from Tuan Chau Island, each thrilling 25-minute flight allows visitors to admire the bay’s many beautiful limestone islands including Dau Be, Cong Do and Bo Hon, as well as the jade green waters and majestic natural landscapes of the World Heritage Site from an altitude of 300m above sea level.
In addition to scenic flights in Halong Bay, Hai Au Aviation also operates scheduled flights from Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport to Tuan Chau Marina. Flights not only save precious travel time and time spent waiting at the airport for those planning to cruise Halong Bay but offer a great experience right from the moment of takeoff.
This Lunar New Year 2025, Hai Au Aviation will be closed on the afternoon of the 30th (January 28) and the entire first day of the new year (January 29, 2025). On the 2nd day of Tet (January 30), Hai Au Aviation will reopen per usual to serve guests traveling over Tet. For 6 consecutive years, starting in 2019, Hai Au Aviation has been honored by the World Tourism Awards (WTA) as Asia’s Leading Seaplane Operator. Hai Au Aviation flies the Cessna Caravan C208B-EX seaplane, featuring modern equipment and safety features, and certified as the world’s largest single-engine aircraft as well as the safest single-engine aircraft for landing on water (according to the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] and ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organization]).
* Total duration of scenic flight over Halong Bay: 25 minutes
Ticket price: VND 2,500,000/person from 1/1/2025
Departure: From Tuan Chau Island, with 9 flights per day
* Total duration of flight from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay with sightseeing: 60 minutes
Ticket price: VND 11,700,000/person from 1/1/2025
* Total duration of flight from Halong Bay to Noi Bai Airport: 45 minutes
Ticket price: VND 9,250,000/person from 1/1/2025
2. Travel in a sidecar to the Cau Bong Festival in Tra Que, named one of the world’s best tourism villages in 2024
Visitors to the Tra Que vegetable village in Cam Ha commune, Hoi An in spring can attend the Cau Bong Festival which takes place annually on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month. In 2025, it will be held on February 25. This traditional festival with deep meaning is organized to pray for favorable weather and good harvests and to show gratitude to the ancestors who founded this unique village in the 16th century.
Located 3 km from Hoi An’s Ancient Town and 20 km from Da Nang, the village is situated on an island, surrounded by the Co Co River and the Tra Que lagoon. Local residents have long been cultivating organic crops here thanks to the mild climate and sandy alluvial soil which is rich in nutrients. In November 2024, Hoi An’s Tra Que vegetable village was named one of the “World’s Best Tourism Villages” by UN Tourism, the only village in Vietnam to make the list.
The Cau Bong Festival usually begins with traditional rituals, including offerings, incense and dragon dances. People in the village wear traditional costumes and bring offerings to the communal house to show their gratitude to their ancestors. Following the ceremony are a host of fun activities including a “best housewife” contest where village women compete to cook tom huu, and in plowing and planting games, amidst a raucously fun atmosphere. Tom Huu, also known as Tam Huu, is a popular specialty dish from Tra Que vegetable village.
Tom Huu is prepared by stir-frying shrimp and pork together with spices. These ingredients are then rolled together with fresh herbs in rice paper to be served with a special dipping sauce. More than just a tasty dish, tom huu has become a symbol of friendship and unity as it’s often served at gatherings of friends and family.
To make your trip to Hoi An even more memorable, guests can choose to tour the area by sidebar, a classic 3-wheeled vehicle that was a popular form of transportation in the early to mid-20th century. Today, Hoi An is one of the few places where you can still ride this unique 3-wheeled vehicle. Guests can choose to ride pillion behind the driver on the way out and sit in the sidecar on the way back. This comfortable vantage point is superb for taking photos or simply to admire Hoi An’s peaceful countryside scenery.
A sidecar tour costs VND 1,200,000 per hour for a maximum of 2 passengers.
To visit the Thanh Ha pottery village + Tra Que vegetable village, the tour costs VND 2,300,000 per vehicle for a maximum of 2 passengers.
3. Head to Chau Doc for a 24-hour tailor-made ao dai with a side of bananas flambé
At the border town of Chau Doc in An Giang province, guests can have a Vietnamese tunic garment (known as an “ao dai”) tailor-made by skilled local artisans in just 24 hours.
The Chau Doc-style ao dai is square cut (known as “ly vuong”) which accentuates feminine curves and doesn’t expose the stomach like some other ao dai styles. This cut provides support to the bust and flows like an evening gown, adding an extra touch of elegance. The square cut style also avoids wrinkles at the armpit and puckering at the neckline. Depending on the material chosen – brocade, silk, or even more expensive fabrics – the price of a Chau Doc ao dai can range from VND 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 or more.
For men, the male ao dai is made from brocade or linen, in the traditional five-panel ao dai style favored by court officials of the past. Modern men’s ao dai styles have been updated to suit the needs of today’s men and prioritize comfort. The sewing and cuts of the male ao dai are even more intricate and meticulous than the female ao dai.
The ao dai tailor shop is located within Bassac Restaurant at #1 Le Loi Street, overlooking the spot where three rivers meet in Chau Doc. At the workshop, visitors can learn how to make a mini ao dai by hand or purchase one as a souvenir. Each mini ao dai costs VND 200,000 VND (USD 8) and mini trousers cost VND 100,000 (USD 4). There are other souvenirs for sale at fixed prices, including lovely pine gift boxes, a mini handbag hand-woven from water hyacinth, and hand-painted fans.
The shop can also arrange group workshops on Vietnamese ao dai including making a mini ao dai to take home. Workshop prices start from VND 1,500,000 (USD 60) for groups of 1-5 people.
Ms. Truc Quan manages the speedy ao dai tailoring service located within Bassac Restaurant. She remarked that even though the shop has only recently opened, it has proven very popular with tourists. A foreign female tourist collected her ao dai just before boarding the Victoria Speedboat to Phnom Penh while another guest ordered one just before she left to be sent to her home in the USA. The ao dai tailoring service not only results in a beautiful garment that is quintessentially Vietnamese, but guests to Chau Doc, especially foreign ones, appreciate the convenience and speed.
Another specialty of Chau Doc not to be missed is bananas flambé, made from local bananas with orange sauce, chocolate and spirits such as vodka. Each serving of delicious, nutritious and beautiful bananas flambé is priced at just VND 120,000 (USD 5) and is a firm favorite with guests visiting this riverside town.
4. Celebrate the Lunar New Year aboard an overnight sampan cruise in Can Tho
If visiting Can Tho in spring, why not celebrate Tet in a completely novel way, leaving behind the traditional eating and drinking for a cruise on the Song Xanh Sampan to experience authentic life in the Mekong Delta?
From candlelit dinners on the river to seeing how life is lived both on and by the water, a Mekong Delta cruise is all about immersing yourself in local life, customs and culture surrounded by the canals and rivers that crisscross the region. As day turns to night, find yourself in the quiet of the countryside with just the sound of the waves gently lapping on the side of the boat to lull you to sleep.
A 2-day / 1-night cruise on the Song Xanh Sampan in the Mekong Delta is priced at VND 10,120,000 (USD 400) per person with a minimum of two persons. Rates include transporation from the town of Cai Be to Ho Chi Minh City.
| For more information about Victoria Hotels & Resorts, please contact:
Hotline: 1800599955 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.victoriahotels.asia/ |
| For more information about Hai Au Aviation, a member of Thien Minh Group (TMG), please contact:
Hotline: 0962 069 689 Email: [email protected] Website: www.haiauaviation.com |
Established in 1994, TMG has grown from a company with just three employees to an enterprise with more than 2,500 employees worldwide. Thien Minh is now Asia’s leading package travel provider, founded on the mission of always putting our clients front and center. With four business pillars: Destination Management, Hospitality, Online, and Aviation, TMG is the ideal host for distinctive journeys featuring truly memorable travel experiences.
