VietNamNet Bridge - Before leaving Vietnam, the “Kong: Skull Island” crew has to pay taxes to the Vietnamese government, said Mr. Tran Nhat Hoang, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Hoang told Dan Tri online newspaper that the film crew finished their job in Vietnam on March 18, after shooting the last scenes in the area of Cong La - Ba Hang in Halong Bay, Quang Ninh Province and Tung Gau and Cat Ba in Hai Phong City.

Many people questioned why the “Kong: Skull Island” crew had not announced they would film at the island of Cat Ba in Hai Phong port city.

Hoang said the crew had made surveys in Cat Ba, and named Cat Ba on the list of working places in Vietnam. However, as Cat Ba is very near Ha Long Bay and similar in geography so the crew considered Cat Ba and Halong Bay as the same location.

Hoang said that the film crew has finished their job in Vietnam and the crew is waiting for the calculation of the taxes and fees they have to pay to the Vietnamese authorities.

"Taxes that the crew has to pay is for the us of services at Vietnam’s heritage sites under the current regulations of Vietnam," Hoang said, adding that the amount is not much.

"Vietnam is my second home"

Jordan Vogt-Roberts takes photo with a snake at a restaurant in HCM City. Photo: Jordan Vogt-Roberts instagram

Hoang said after the crew finished its job in Vietnam, some members returned home immediately while some stayed in Vietnam for traveling.

Some crew members like leading actress Brie Larson and director Jordan Vogt-Roberts posted many photos taken in Vietnam on their instagram.

Brie Larson posted a photo of herself smiling on a motorbike in Vietnam on her Instagram page on March 19. Brie Larson wrote: "Riding on the back of a moped of a girl named Strawberry. We are halfway through our mission of hitting eight street food stands in one night,”

She also posted photos of Vietnamese cuisine, especially street food such as Vietnam banh mi (sandwiches) and noodles. "Vietnamese truck-stop-snack-break heaven," she captioned a photo taken at a cake shop in Quang Ninh.

After leaving Halong Bay, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts toured Ho Chi Minh City and was very excited about the pace of life and people here. He posted many photos and clips of Saigon streets and dishes. “Adding to the list of reasons to love Vietnam,” the American director captioned a photo featuring motorbikes on the street. Motorbikes! He said that the motorcycles in Vietnam were one of the reasons he loved the country.

Vietnamese actress Ngo Thanh Van on Jordan Vogt-Roberts instagram.

The director posted pictures of Vietnamese actress Ngo Thanh Van, with the caption: “Faces of Vietnam Vol.4: Van. Warrior Princess” and a picture he took with the Vietnamese band 365.

Before leaving Vietnam, Jordan Vogt-Roberts wrote: “Goodbye Vietnam. I am so sad to be leaving. I cannot wait for the world to see how beautiful your country is and fall in love with it the way I have. I love your food, I love your landscapes, I love your culture, I love your people. You are one of my favorite places on this earth and I will return to you and make more movies in your country. Thank you for everything. You are my second home.”

"I met with some members of the film crew. Some said this was their first time in Vietnam and they all said the scenery in Quang Binh, Ninh Binh, and Ha Long Bay is more beautiful than in pictures. They wondered why the earth has such beautiful places that they did not know before? They also said that the Vietnamese people are very friendly and hospitable. And that is why they wanted to return to Vietnam,” Hoang said.

T. Van