A virtual trip to Thailand

Topic for Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009

Sawaddee! Welcome to Thailand! The book Travels in the Far East, published in 1909, provides us with a closing thought on the future of Thailand: “With all the available information about the kingdom of Siam, one cannot but feel that it has a future full of possibilities.”The sentiment written a century ago echoes loud and clear today. People all the world have known Thailand as a paradise of tourism. People come again again and again and they never feel bored about this land.

In series of topics of countries that we will visit, Thailand is an very important nominee that we should not ignore.

Let’s enjoy the topic with following questions:

1. Culture and people: what are important feartures of Thai culture and people?
2. Geography: What are typical characteristics of Thai landscape and advantages to tourism?
3. Government and politics: What is the main reason that make the Thai society in turbulence recently?
4. Economy: What really made Thailand become a Tiger in Southeast Asia in 20th century. What are strong points of Thai economy? What is about Thai economy future in your opinion?
5. Tourism: why Thai becomes a top country of tourism?
6. Drawback: What are biggest issues of Thai society currently?

With the purpose to share and provide more information and knowledge about other culture, countries and people around the world among Advance Club’s member and  starting by visiting Thailand, we hope you will learn more and find this topic useful for your life and future.

By: Cao Tuấn Vũ

References

1. http://wikitravel.org/en/Thailand
2. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand
3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1237845.stm
4. http://www.tourismthailand.org.vn/
5. http://www.thaiphotobox.com/

Backpacking Travel

Topic for Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009

Speaking of backpacking tourism, Vietnamese normally think about an image of a group of foreigners, wearing heavy bags on their back, arming with cameras, travelling everywhere for sight seeing, eating in a cheap restaurant, bargaining in local markets, etc. However, backpacking  now is getting more and more popular among Vietnamese youngsters communities. Whenever having free time, feeling the need to relax or change living environment, they usually get together and prepare for a self-organized tour to any interesting places such as Ha Giang, Apachai, Tay Nguyen…

Travelling in such as way offers backpackers a chance to spend less while gaining more freedom as well as knowledge in comparison with packaged tour organized by travel agencies. A backpacker can go and stop in anywhere he/she likes, and communicates with anyone they meet. However, backpacking tourism requires participants highly self responsibility and self reliant. Not only does it create a good time for tourists but also help people getting close, united and understand each other.

Backpacking is spreading out now and bringing to the people many interesting and challenging things so we take it in to discussion this session.

Questions for discussion

1. Have you ever joined in a backpacking group to travel to a remote area yet?
2. What is the difference between a backpacking trip and a fixed tour?
3. What are criteria to make backpacking a good experience?
4. Can you figure out benefits and risks that backpacking bring for participants?
5. Can you tell us about the tour you that have experienced and remembered the most ?

By: Nguyen Quang Vinh

References

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpacking_(travel)
2. http://www.phuot.com/forums/index.php

Facebook

Topic for Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009

“Facebook has recently reached up to 300 millions active users, to become the most popular  social network website”

Do you agree or disagree with this?