July is the perfect time to visit the Ninh Thuan Grape Festival.

Grapes are a delicious, nutritious, and visually appealing fruit, so leisurely strolling through a vast, lush green vineyard would undoubtedly be a wonderful experience.

The lush, verdant vineyards of Phan Rang stretch as far as the eye can see. Photo: Calitravel

Ninh Thuan is a coastal province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. Its provincial center is Phan Rang - Thap Cham city, located approximately 350 km from Ho Chi Minh City, 105 km from Nha Trang, and 110 km from Da Lat. The nearest airport to Ninh Thuan is Cam Ranh, about 60 km away.

Ninh Thuan is famous for its grapes and vast vineyards. To reach the vineyards, you'll travel by motorboat across the river. The cool air and scenic riverside landscape will soothe your mind from the very first moment. Upon arriving at the verdant vineyard, a feeling of excitement and delight will wash over you as you witness hundreds of bunches of grapes laden with fruit. This is a great opportunity to take romantic photos and touch the grapes themselves. Moreover, you can enjoy fresh grapes that you've picked yourself, experiencing the full sweetness of ripe grapes.

You can enjoy each plump, fresh grape. Photo: ihay.thanhnien

After a tiring day, spread out a mat under the grapevines, enjoy some afternoon tea with green apples, bask in the gentle sunlight that the lush vines have shielded from the harshness, and listen to the farmers, born and raised in Phan Rang, tell their stories of grape cultivation. The more you listen, the more you understand the hardships and toil, but also the happiness of tending, pruning each vine, cultivating, and protecting them from rain and sun, so that the grapes bear sweet, fragrant fruit that fills the entire region. You will also learn about how to preserve grapes to prevent spoilage, how to choose good grapes, and enjoy wine distilled and aged directly in the vineyard.

Remember to buy a few bottles of special "made in Phan Rang" wine as gifts for friends and family, and also to keep a little taste of Ninh Thuan in your memory.

In 2014, the Ninh Thuan Grape and Wine Festival will be held from July 17th to 19th. Therefore, you should plan your trip to coincide with the festival so you can both visit the vineyards and enjoy the unique cultural programs.

Join the farmers in listening to their stories about growing and harvesting grapes. Photo: yeutretho

Below is a list of activities that will take place at the Grape and Wine Festival, provided by the festival organizers. Please refer to it to plan your schedule accordingly, so you don't miss any of the unique activities and beautiful sights of Ninh Thuan.

Official program:

Opening day: July 17th

8hA parade of floats with the theme "Sea and Grapes" will take place in the streets.

9amPhoto exhibition and awards ceremony "A Charming Land". Featuring entries from photographers nationwide.

10 AMBasket boat racing

3 PM: Sand sculptures with the message "Vietnam's Seas and Islands" (before the opening ceremony).

5 PMContest: Who is the strongest? Who eats the fastest?

6 PM:Four street bands perform around the central lake area. (The theme follows the wine stalls of various countries located around the lake). This is in conjunction with stalls selling local specialties.

7 PMGuests participate in wine tasting at the festival's central area.

- A parade of floats with the theme of "Sea and Grapes" will take place through the streets.

8 PMOpening of the festival

Low-altitude fireworks display to open the festival.

Venue: Central area of ​​16/4 Square

The following day, July 18th

9amA workshop on the grapevine development chain in Vietnam was held in Hall 01 of a prestigious hotel in Phan Rang - Thap Cham city, organized by the Southern Institute of Crop Development, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ninh Thuan province, the Nha Ho Cotton Institute, and the Ninh Thuan Department of Science and Technology.

10 AM: Remote-controlled aircraft demonstration

3 PMKite flying competition

5 PMCooking competition: Making the largest fish cake in Vietnam.

7 PMLocal music, folk dance, floating lanterns, fireworks.

8 PMA gala dinner at a large resort in Ninh Thuan to raise funds for the poor.

Closing date: July 19th

2 PM: Climbing a pole to pick grapes.

6 PMSummary and awarding of prizes and certificates of merit to participating units and individuals.

7 PMClosing ceremony of the 2014 International Grape and Wine Festival in Ninh Thuan, musical performance.

9 PM: Lucky draw

The Thanh