TRAVEL IN BRIEF 7/8

French organisation to help preserve Ha Long heritage sites
French voluntary organisation Solidarites Jeunesses Viet Nam will begin a two-week campaign to preserve world heritage sites in Ha Long City next week.
Seven Vietnamese and one volunteer each from Canada, France, Germany and South Korea will clean up the beach, speak to local residents about the need to protect the environment, and consider measures to mitigate the adverse effects of economic and tourism development on the environment and people’s lives.
To be done in co-ordination with the Ha Long Bay Management Board, it is one of a dozen voluntary campaigns to preserve and popularise world heritage sites under the "World Heritage Volunteers: Patrimonito Rolls up the Sleeves" programme by UNESCO and Co-ordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service.
Solidaretes Jeunesses Viet Nam has undertaken environmental and social activities in Viet Nam since 2004.
French consulate holds contests for bartenders, sommeliers
The French Consulate General in HCM City, in co-ordination with the Sai Gon Bartender & Sommeliers Association, organised the Viet Nam Best Sommelier Competition on Wednesday.
The event was attended by president of the Sommeliers Bordeaux, Jean Pascal Paubert.
Hoang Anh Tuan, Sommelier at the Sofitel Metropole Ha Noi, won the contest, with the second place going to Nguyen Ngoc Nha Phuong of the Fine Wine Company.
Tuan will compete against peers from Southeast Asia on October 23 in Singapore to select a regional winner.
California Dreamin’ at the New World Hotel Saigon
From August 5-12, diners at New World Hotel Saigon can experience unique food and wines from California prepared by guest chef from San Jose, California.
The event started with a gala buffet on Wednesday, with wine consultant from Kendall Jackson, Jeff Cook, presenting wines from California’s best vineyards.
For the rest of the week, Chef Daniel Patino will showcase his signature recipes from the Napa Valley, San Francisco and Arcadia areas, including Butter Poached Prime Rib, Ahi Tuna Tartar and Rock Shrimp Risotto.
He will also hold a cooking class on August 11. Each participant will receive a signed menu with his recipes and will be entitled to join the dinner buffet.
Victoria resort group organises annual clean-up day
Victoria Hotels & Resorts will launch on September 12 its sixth "Green Day" clean-up of beauty spots around its six resorts and spas in Viet Nam and Cambodia.
The campaign will extend from Viet Nam’s northwest highlands and coastlines to the Mekong Delta region and the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, home to the famous Angkor Wat temples.
The annual clean-up campaign welcomes volunteers including hotel guests and local community members to participate and promote "green" awareness.
The Victoria Chau Doc Hotel recently won an award from The Guide, a travel publication of the Vietnam Economic Times, for its "Ingenious use of plants to make a green statement".