Travel Four northern provinces sign deal to develop tourism

On November 11th, the capital city of Hanoi signed a deal to develop tourism with three northern provinces of Vinh Phuc, Tuyen Quang and Thai Nguyen in Vinh Yen, Vinh Phuc.

According to the deal, the four cities and provinces will cooperate to establish a project to develop infrastructure as well as to make tourism products suitable to specifics of geography, natural resources, and market of each region but still reflecting trans-regional connection. Moreover they will cooperate to build mutual tours linking destinations of the four cities and provinces together.

The localities will cooperate to upgrade skills and management capability in tourism to improve the quality of tourism human resources.

 

 

Four northern provinces sign deal to develop tourism

Travel Direct air route between Hanoi

The LOT Polish Airlines on Nov. 14 officially opened a direct air route from Warsaw to Hanoi with the first flight landing at the Noi Bai International Airport the same day.

LOT head representative to Vietnam Krzysztof Kolodziej said that Hanoi is the airline’s only destination in Southeast Asia and is expected to be the gate to Asia for its passengers.
LOT serves three flights per week on the route.
He also said that leaving Hanoi in the early morning and leaving Warsaw late at night, the time of the route’s fights is ideal for passengers to flight to other airports in the Europe and vice versa.
On the occasion of the route launching, LOT offers a special discount for flights to Europe from Nov. 15. 
Accordingly, a one-way ticket from Hanoi to Poland is 199 USD and from Hanoi to other destinations in Europe is 299 USD./.

 

Direct air route between Hanoi

Travel MICE tourists expected to soar

According to several travel agencies in Ho Chi Minh City, the number of MICE (Meeting-Incentive-Conference-Event) tourists arriving in the city is expected to soar at the end of the year.

In the beginning of November, Vietravel Company opened a MICE tour for 600 visitors from Manulife. Figures showed that during the first ten months of 2010, MICE tourists from Vietravel rose by 30% over the same period last year.

In October, Saigontourist Travel Services Company also received around 3,500 MICE tourists, bringing its total number of such visitors in the first ten months of this year to 70,000 people, a year-on-year increase of 20%. Notaby, international MICE tourists mainly came from Japan, the U.S, Singapore and Europe, with an average rate of 50-300 visitors per delegation.

 

MICE tourists expected to soar

Travel Sapa through the lens of diplomats

More than 70 photos about Sapa taken by diplomats are on display an exhibition which opened in Hanoi on November 9th to popularize the image of Sapa tourism to international friends.

The event is being held by the northern mountainous Lao Cai provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Club for Culture, Economics and International Cooperation and Embassies of Marocco, France, Brunei, Laos, Indonesia, and Venezuela in Vietnam.

Photos reflect unique feelings of Sapa and districts in Lao Cai provinces as well as folklore dances and the beauty of people in this land.

All the photos will be presented to the Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee after the exhibition.

 

Sapa through the lens of diplomats

Travel Hanoi honoured contributors to the 1000th celebration of Thang Long – Hanoi

On November 9th, the Party Committee, the People’s Council, the People’s Committee, and the Fatherland Front of Hanoi City held a ceremony to review activities that marked 1000 years of Thang Long – Hanoi.

According to Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, vice-chairwoman of Hanoi City People’s Committee, the great celebration was successful and had an important significance, which left deep impression in each Vietnamese’s heart. The success was based on five dimensions.

Firstly, fine traditions of Thang Long – Hanoi over the past 1000 years were glorified. UNESCO Council issued a resolution on the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi, that confirmed the significance and position of the event. Traditional and modern values of Hanoi were honoured during the 10 days and attracted multitudes of people in Vietnam and foreign countries.

Secondly, the event cultivated the patriotic spirit, national pride and love for the party among Hanoians and Vietnamese people. This was indicated through the success of contests towards the great celebration.

Thirdly, more than 100 works to serve material and spiritual life and the demand of the national and capital development were put into operation. They include Thang Long boulevard, Vinh Tuy bridge, Hanoi museum….

Fourthly, activities to mark the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi strengthened the national solidarity towards the capital.

Fifthly, the event was an opportunity to popularize the images of the capital and the country to international friends to improve its position and prestige, and showed that the capital had enough capacity and conditions to hold national and international events in the near future.

On this occasion, chairman of Hanoi City People’s Committee presented flags of emulation to 52 groups and ceritifiicates of merit to 564 groups and 908 individuals for their great contributions to the 1000th celebration of Thang Long – Hanoi.

 

Hanoi honoured contributors to the 1000th celebration of Thang Long – Hanoi

Travel Russian festival to bring iconic arts to Vietnam

Russian troupes will perform some of their celebrated art forms like ballet, classical music, and circus at the Russian Cultural Days in Vietnam festival later this month in three cities.

There will also be a photo exhibition in Hanoi on November 14 and the public film screening of five feature films “We are from the future”, “One war”, “Tsar”, “Kandahar” and “I’m still ok” at the National Cinema Center in Hanoi, Thang Long Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City, and Le Do Cinema in Danang.
The highlight of the program will be an exchange between the visiting Russian artists and students at the Vietnam National Music Institute.
The event, organized by the two culture ministries, will be held from November 14 to 22. It will be the second such festival after the first one in 2007.

 

Russian festival to bring iconic arts to Vietnam

Travel Training tourguides for heritage sites

Training tourguides at heritage sites aims to help local people and tourists improve their understanding about the value of heritage sites as well as awareness of heritage conservation.

In the framework of project "Developing the strategy of Culture -Tourism integration for the sustainable development in Quang Nam province", the UNESCO office in Hanoi supports the Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the provincial Heritage sites Administration to hold a training course for heritage tourguides according to the training program and certification of UNESCO.

This course will take place in Hoi An from November 7th to 11th, with the participation of a cultural expert of UNESCO in Bangkok, Mrs Montira Horayangura and lecturers of Tourism Faculties from Vietnam colleges and universities who successfully graduated  the human source training program of UNESCO in 2007.

It is hoped that once the pilot training program succeeds,valuable experiences would be draw and practical recommendations would be summited to relevant authorities about improvement and popularzation the value of heritage conservation, creating a strong human source to promote the heritage sites in Vietnam.

Vietnam has 6 world heritage sites of outstanding values recognized by UNESCO. These sites are becoming the destinations of tourist activities, specially, cultural and heritage tourism.

Well-trained tourguides will be a precious resource for destiantion promotion by offering  tourists special experiences about impressive heritage sites, gaining advantage over other destinations in the region.

 

Translated by: Thanh Pham (TITC)

Source: Vietnamnet

Training  tourguides for heritage sites 

Travel Promoting to vote for Ha Long Bay in oversea

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) sent an offical document to Vietnam's  representative boddies in oversea about the vote for Ha Long Bay becoming a new world's natural wonder. Accordingly, during the final voting stage, Ha Long Bay has continously been among destinations earning  highest voting rate. 

The MoCST proposed the Vietnam's representative boddies, Embassies, media agencies, economic and cultural organisations, pupils and students associations and Vietnamese communities in oversea to put active effort into promotion of Ha Long Bay, calling for international votes. 

Furthermore, The MoCST also sent to these boddies many pisturesques, documents of Ha Long Bay as well as instruction for voting steps.  

The final voting result will be informed in November 2011.

 

Translated by: Thanh Pham (TITC)

Source: Vietnamnet

Promoting to vote for Ha Long Bay in oversea 

Travel Millennial anniversary raises Hanoi’s prestige

The successful organization of the millennial anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi has contributed to raising the capital city’s position and prestige for the whole country’s people as well as among international friends.

The remarks were made at a meeting to review the millennial celebrations held in Hanoi on Nov. 9 by the municipal Party Committee, People’s Committee, People’s Council and Fatherland Front.

Addressing the meeting, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi said the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi was successfully organized.

The traditional values of the capital city over the past 1,000 years of development were honoured, with UNESCO’s resolution on celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the recognition of 82 doctoral steles in the Temple of Literature as a world literary heritage, the People’s Committee said, adding that UNESCO Director General attended the opening ceremony of the millennium anniversary and handed over a certificate to recognise the Thang Long-Hanoi ancient citadel’s central area as a world cultural heritage site.

Hanoi has set up friendly and cooperative ties with more than 60 cities of about 50 nations and territories around the world. It was recognised as the city of peace.

The patriotism, national pride, the trust in the Party and regime in all walks of life were shown in the participation of over three million people in the Thang Long-Hanoi contest, 700 works of more than 100 press agencies in the millennial anniversary press prize as well as 400 cultural and art works on the celebrations.

During the 10-day festival, thousands of people nationwide and Overseas Vietnamese flocked to the city for celebrations, including Party and State leaders, representatives from ministries, departments, organisations and 62 provinces and cities, 1,000 Vietnamese heroic mothers and heroes, 31 delegations from 30 foreign cities and 22 international delegations, 91 ambassadors and chief representatives from diplomatic missions and international organisations in Hanoi.

More than 1,200 local and foreign reporters were in Hanoi to cover the anniversary.

Besides, hundreds of precious gifts were presented to the capital city, hundreds of projects were inaugurated, and a series of festivals, contests, cultural and art performances was also held in Hanoi and other provinces to celebrate the anniversary.

 

Millennial anniversary raises Hanoi’s prestige

Travel Phu Quoc island receives public infrastructure investment

The Prime Minister recently agreed to use 100% State budget to afford site clearance activities for transport infrastructure construction in Phu Quoc island of the Southern province of Kien Giang.

The funding will be spent on building the North-South axis, peripheral road network, and Duong Dong port.

The local authorities are speeding up infrastructure development projects. Especially, the Duong To International Airport is under construction while An Thoi Port was inaugurated.

In the first six months of 2010, the local investment management board granted 13 licenses with a VND 2,957 billion registered investment capital.

So far, the island has lured 65 investment projects worth of VND 46,938 billion.

 

Phu Quoc island receives public infrastructure investment

Travel Developing tourism in beaches and islands area of the North

The Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism starts a cooperation program on the development of tourism in beaches and islands area of the North-East from November 7th-11th basing on the survey on tourist routes and spots at Hai Phong sea area. 

This survey evaluates the current situation and potentiality of tourist routes and spots at the Port city.

Additionally, the Department will survey at Bach Long Vi island and Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve area on the systems of infrastructure, communications, medical rescue, accommodations, services, featured products, souvernirs on the islands... to build high-quality tours on such beach and island area.

In fact, many travel companies in Hanoi had carried out the exploitation of  tourism in the North East in the last few years but there was no conection focusing on beaches and islands.

From November 20th-25th, The Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will survey Co To, Van Don and Quan Lan Islands in Quang Ninh province.

 

Translated by Thanh Pham (TITC)

Source: Vietnam+

Developing tourism in beaches and islands area of the North

Travel Picturesque lake attracts day trippers from Hanoi

The romantic name attracts a lot of visitors to Tien Sa (The Fairy Descends) Lake, located about 60km from Hanoi at the base of Tan Vien Mountain in Ba Vi district. 

It's an ideal destination for a relaxing day or weekend in the fresh air in a quiet atmosphere that's hard to find in the city. 
There is much to see around this lake where, according to local legend, fairies once descended to earth to bathe. When they returned to heaven, one hurriedly followed them, leaving her scarf blowing in the wind. The scarf then turned into a white cloud above Tan Vien. 
Due to the topographical and geologic conditions, the lake is clear all year round. The surrounding mountains and forests, along with the floating houses on the lake, create a dreamlike and idyllic landscape. 
The green forests covering part of the mountain and surrounding the lake have created a cool, pleasant and romantic atmosphere, said Banh Thanh Ban, head of the area's management board. 
"Many young couples visit on the weekends where they relax and enjoy the quiet atmosphere together," Ban said. 
The couples can explore the lake by boat, enjoy a leisurely walk around the hills or sit in the shade of a tree to read a book, he said. 
In the summer, tourists enjoy bathing at Nhi Long Waterfall nearby or at the water park, which has three pools and nine water slides, as well as recreating facilities for tennis, football, volleyball and badminton. An amusement area includes electric cars and rides, and a resident troupe of monkeys. 
Pham Hung Anh and his friends have come to the site many times to enjoy it at different seasons of the year. 
"I prefer visiting the lake in summer," Anh said. "I can swim at the waterfall, which is dry in the winter. I can also check out the lake by boat and enjoy the cool air. After driving in the dust and heat, reaching the lake is a wonderful feeling." 
In winter, the weather is fairly cold, but tourists from Ha Noi still choose Tien Sa Lake for weekend getaways because they love the cosy atmosphere. Sauna and massage services are available featuring herbal remedies of Dao ethnic people, which help relax and refresh the muscles after a long day of climbing and trekking. 
At night, visitors can enjoy folk dances and songs by the Muong ethnic people, or join in a bonfire and try such local specialities as baked maize and sweet potatoes. 
In addition to the natural beauty, the tourism site features architecture built in a traditional style with rich detail and harmonised colours. A hotel with a red roof sits among green leaves beneath the blue sky, and the surrounding structures are given romantic names like Ngu Phuc (Five Good Fortunes) Gate, Thuan Thien (Following God's Order) Bridge, Lien Hoa (Lotus) House, Uyen Uong (Inseparable Couple) Pavilion, and Vien Son (Mountain's Garden) 
"We intend to invest more and increase services to lure more tourists to stay longer," Ban said. "This is a wonderful place to rest. Tourists can live in harmony with nature and enjoy our entertainment services away from work and ordinary worries." 
At 400m above sea level, the Tien Sa Lake tourism area has a total area of 150ha, including 120ha of forest and 20ha of water. The tourism site was developed in 2003 by the Cuong Thinh Company with a total investment of VND60 billion (US$3 million) over ten years. 
Last year, the site attracted more than 90,000 visitors, according to the director's statistics./.

Picturesque lake attracts day trippers from Hanoi

Travel Ba Ria – Vung Tau greets more than 8 million tourists

The Ba Ria – Vung Tau Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported that in October the province welcomed 204,000 tourists, raising the figure for whole ten months of this year to 8 million reaching 95.95% of the year’s target. Of this, nearly 300,000 foreign tourists visited the province.

Total revenue from tourism in the first 10 months of 2010 reached an estimated VND 1,71 trillion, 96% of the year’s target.
By October 2010, the province had 76 hotels and motels ranked from one to five stars with 4,195 rooms. In the near future, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will coordinate with the Hotel Department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to continue to appraise the rankings for hotels.

Ba Ria – Vung Tau greets more than 8 million tourists

Travel HCM City to welcome 3.5 million foreign arrivals by 2011

“HCM City plans to welcome 3.5 million foreign arrivals in 2011, 11 percent higher than this year’s figure, said La Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director of the HCM City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Khanh said the city also strives to obtain a total revenue of VND49 trillion from tourism by 2011, 20 percent more than the previous year.

“To fulfill the target, the city will continue to launch a campaign to improve the quality of products and tourism services by highlighting the tourism sector’s leading services”, he said.  

The city also aims to maintain and improve the quality of the current tourism products and establish new tours. Agencies will also strengthen promotional activities to introduce the city’s destinations through the propaganda channel, as well as actively get involved in the activities of international tourism organizations and hold periodical cultural and tourism events.

The city will also actively implement post-tourism activities to facilitate businesses’ operations, and train human resources to improve the qualifications of staff for the tourism sector.

This year, HCM City is expected to welcome 3.1 million foreign arrivals, 20 percent more than last year’s figure, fulfilling 111 percent of the yearly plan.

The total turnover of the tourism sector is expected to reach VND41 trillion, up 17 percent and fulfilling 103 percent of the plan for 2010.

 

HCM City to welcome 3.5 million foreign arrivals by 2011

Travel Phu Quoc Airport to be operational by October 2011

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has just instructed the Southern Airports Corporation to actively collaborate with the Kien Giang People’s Committee to thoroughly settle problems related to ground clearing in the project to build Phu Quoc Airport.

He also urged the Corporation to mobilise all of its efforts and assets to accelerate the project implementation and to put the airport into operation by October 2011.

According to Southern Airports Corporation, the project covers over 900 ha and will cost some VND 16,200 billion, which is 100 per cent invested in by the company.

Under the design, a modern airport will be built on the Phu Quoc Island to serve large passenger aircraft like the Boeing 777 and Boeing 747-400 and have a capacity of 7 million passengers and 27,600 tonnes of cargo per year.

The project is one of key projects on the island as Central and local authorities wished to develop Phu Quoc as an international financial, economic and tourism center and a national and regional communication hub.

 

Phu Quoc Airport to be operational by October 2011

Travel Saigontourist receives luxury cruise liners

The Sai Gon Travel Service Company (Saigontourist) welcomed 5,000 European tourists and crew sailing aboard the cruise liners Costa Romantica and Costa Classica, which docked at the Lotus and Navi Oil ports in HCM City on November 2.

The visitors will have a six-day trans-Vietnam tour.

In November this year, Costa Classica is scheduled to arrive in Vietnam on November 15 and 23 for Ha Long-Da Nang and Ha Long-Da Nang-Nha Trang-HCM City tours.

Saigontourist has welcomed more than 45,000 tourists arriving by sea so far this year, mostly from Europe.

 

Saigontourist receives luxury cruise liners

Travel A direct flight route linking Istanbul to Ho Chi Minh City to be opened

Turkish Airlines has announced it will officially open a direct flight route between Istanbul and Ho Chi Minh City on December 30. This is a new opportunity for Vietnamese and Turkish tourists to discover specific cultural traits between the two countries.

Accordingly, flights between Istanbul and Ho Chi Minh City will operate on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday while those vice versa will depart on every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

By late December 2010, Turkish Airlines in Vietnam will coordinate with the Turkish Administration of Tourism to kick off a tourism program named “Hello Turkey” visiting five cities, including Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Kusadasi, and Istanbul. The nine-day and eight-night tour will have a special price of USD 2,300 a person for Vietnamese tourists.

Turkish Airlines is one of the four largest carriers in Europe and the only carrier with four-star standards for every seat class. The carrier became a member of the Star Alliance in April 2008.

 

A direct flight route linking Istanbul to Ho Chi Minh City to be opened

Travel Da Nang stimulates tourism for the first time

The central city of Da Nang has launched the first Month of Tourism Stimulation from November 1-30, featuring such programs as Tourist Privilege Card and Shopping Coupon.

Tourists having cards or coupons will enjoy 10-50% reduction in prices and fees of travel services, tickets, accommodation, foodstuff, garments and cosmetics.

Travel agencies have pledged to reduce prices of tours from Da Nang to Hoi An, Hue, and My Sơn by 15%.

Five trade companies, 24 travel agencies, restaurants, hotels and shopping centers in the city, including Danatours, Vietravel, Saigontourist, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Sandy Beach, Phuong Dong, Ba Na, Saigontourane, Royal, Big C, Intimex, Metro and CoopMart, have participated in the program.

According to the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city received 1.6 million visitors in the first 10 months of this year, up 42% on-year, and earn the revenues of VND 1,051 billion, up 62%. It welcomed 336,000 foreign tourists in the period, up 26%.

 

Da Nang stimulates tourism for the first time

Travel Vietnam to survey location for int’l yacht race

Vietnam’s tourism and sport authorities are joining hands with the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) to look into conditions in Halong to see whether the northern city is fit for an international yacht competition.

Representatives of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Vietnam National Administration of Exercise and Sports and WMRT on Tuesday begin a fact-finding trip in Halong, which is known for the World Heritage-listed bay of the same name.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, General Director of the VNAT, told the Daily that an administration mission visited the Asian Match Racing Championships final held by WMRT in Malaysia last week to draw on experience in organizing such an event.

The tour of Halong is a preparatory activity so that organizers can find a good location for the competition, which is expected to take place late next year. “It’s a professional event. So if it is hosted here, Vietnam can get worldwide publicity”, he said.

Two months ago, Yap Kai Keng, chief representative for Indochina of WMRT, said that apart from Nha Trang, other places in the nation like Quang Ninh, Danang, Phu Quoc and Phan Thiet were also good for organizing boat races.

He said WMRT and Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in hosting the forthcoming race. The event, together with related activities, would be broadcast for no less than 20,000 minutes on TV, including Star Sports channel, to 180 countries and territories.

If the race takes place here, Vietnam will become the newest stop on WMRT’s list next year, Tuan said. However, a lot of homework should be done in the preparatory process following the signing of the MOU.

“We will need to make surveys and consult relevant ministries before a race organizing plan goes before the Government. And the trip to Halong is one of the activities,” he said.

Tuan said Nha Trang would be a good venue for sailing as it meets the strict requirements of WMRT in terms of infrastructure, sea and wind conditions. However, the city does not have an international standard tourist wharf while Halong does have it.

The World Match Racing Tour is the professional sailing series, featuring 10 World Championship events across the globe. The race is an annual event that happens in nine countries.

This year the race started in France and is currently taking place in Switzerland. Malaysia is the final venue for the competition this year.

 

Vietnam to survey location for int’l yacht race

Travel Long Bien Bridge in the eyes of US photographer

Long Bien Bridge, famous for its unique architecture and long history, has been a great inspiration for many artists including American photographer Douglas Jardine.

He will display his black-and-white photos of the bridge until next Friday at an exhibition titled Long Bien Bridge - The Connection at Maison des Arts, Van Mieu Street, Ha Noi.

Ha Noi's Long Bien Bridge was built in 1903 by French architect Gustave Eiffel. It was then called the Doumer Bridge, after Paul Doumer – The Governor-General of French Indochina and later the French president. At the time, it was one of the longest bridges in Asia with a length of 1,682m.

"I hope that the bridge will remain a place of cultural and artistic importance, linking Viet Nam to countries across the world and becoming a symbol of the capital city, like Paris' Eiffel Tower", said Nguyen Nga, owner of Maison des Arts.

 

Long Bien Bridge in the eyes of US photographer

Travel VN Airlines to launch HCM City –Yangon route

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) has announced that it will open a direct air route between Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon, Myanmar on Nov.15.

VNA will conduct three flights per week on the route every Monday, Friday and Sunday by Airbus A320. A two-way ticket applied for each passenger from Vietnam to Yangon during the promotional period from Nov.15 to Dec.25 will be 1,95 million VND (99,45 USD).

Earlier in March, VNA launched direct flights between Hanoi and Yangon which serve passengers every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

 

VN Airlines to launch HCM City –Yangon route

Travel Photo exhibition on My Son opens in France

A photo exhibition themed “My Son, a thousand years of culture” by French photographer Xavier Nory is open to visitors in Paris from Oct. 30-Nov. 15.

With 79 photos on show, Xavier Nory wants to depict the unique beauty of the old tower sculptures at My Son, which was discovered in 1898 by Frenchman M.C Paris. It is the most grandiose and specific religious vestige of the Champa people who built the complex more than 1,000 years ago. In December, 1999 along with the old city of Hoi An, the tower and temple at My Son were recognised as world cultural heritages by UNESCO.

 

Photo exhibition on My Son opens in France

Travel Vietnam to receive 5 million foreign visitors

Vietnam expects to welcome 5 million visitors this year, up by 800,000 over the yearly target, according to the tourism sector. In the first ten months of this year, almost 4.2 million foreign tourists arrived in Vietnam, up 39 percent over the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office.

In October - the month of the 1000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, the number of tourists arriving in Vietnam increased sharply with over 440,000, higher by 99.3 percent over the same period last year.

Tourists from Asian countries also rose rapidly, including China, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
Tourist numbers from ASEAN countries also increased strongly, by 97.2 percent from Cambodia, over 41 percent from Thailand and 28.4 percent from Malaysia.

 

Vietnam to receive 5 million foreign visitors

Travel The 2010 Long Bien Bridge Memory Festival

The Hanoi People's Committee and the Maison des Arts are to sponsor a 2010 Long Bien Bridge Memory Festival with the theme 'Dragon Bridge tells the story of 1000 years' from November 19-21, 2010 in Hanoi.

Maison des Arts director Nguyen Nga said that the Long Bien Bridge is a symbol of peace more wonderful and immortal than any other structure in the world. Spanning the Hong (Red) River, the 100-year-old bridge has fulfilled its function very well and has now become part of a cultural heritage. Nga calls the bridge a live museum that symbolizes the 1,000 year old Hanoi.

The 2010 Long Bien Bridge Memory Festival is expected to attract the participation of 69 countries that have an embassy in Vietnam. Apart from continuing activities of the 2009 Long Bien Bridge Memory Festival, the 2010 festival will make the bridge a big 'museum'. Exhibitions will showcase pictures, photos, the art of arrangement, and different objects featuring the formation and development of Vietnam over the past 10 centuries. The festival will tell stories about national ancestors, heroes, and celebrities like Lac Long Quan, Au Co, Ly Cong Uan, and will have art performances featuring country protection activities and related victories. The festival will also have an area introducing Vietnamese and foreign gastronomy, an area about the old Hanoi, and more focused exhibits as well.

Notably, a 12-night music program, in which 100 saxophone instrumentalists will perform on dragon boats, is to take place along 400 kilometers of waterway from Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh Province to Long Bien in Hanoi and to the Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province. The program will advertise the image of the Vietnamese country and people through telling the 'con rong chau tien' or 'Dragon and Fairy descendants' legend. 

The festival will also have a great ceremony of praying for the peace of soul of people who died for the country's construction and protection over the past 1,000 years. This event will attract a large number of Buddhists, Buddhist monks and nuns and a lot of boats of different sizes.

The Long Bien Bridge will be decorated to look like a dragon with an eight meter high head and a total length of almost 50m.

All of the above-mentioned exhibits along with special art performances will make the festival a memorable, outstanding event.

 

The 2010 Long Bien Bridge Memory Festival

Travel More Danang tourism properties join market

The central coast city of Danang is witnessing more tourism property projects emerge into reality as several resorts reach completion or final stage of construction.

Among the projects, Fusion Maia Danang, developed by local company 559 Investment JSC, has been put into service after three years of construction.

The luxury resort on Son Tra - Dien Ngoc Street in Ngu Hanh Son District, has 87 villas and individual houses designed with private swimming pools and other serviced facilities including spas. In addition to three restaurants, the resort has a small ballroom that can accommodate 100 people.

The developer says the facility is designed to target high-end customers, with room rates at US$260 (VND5.1 million), inclusive of services such as transport and spa.

In another development, Vinpearl Danang JSC is pressing ahead to open its tourism property project in Danang City after nearly a year of construction.

The company had invested US$100 million in its Vinpearl Danang Luxury Resort & Residences project, which covers 15 hectares on Son Tra - Dien Ngoc beach.

The on-going project is designed for a five-star hotel with 209 guest rooms and a 39 luxury villa section named Vinpearl Danang Luxury Villas with average selling prices of US$2 million per unit.

To promote sales, the developer is wooing villa buyers by assuring a 10% profit annually over the price of a villa in the first three years through the project’s rental program.

Tran Van Tang, general director of Vinpearl Danang JSC, says the program is designed to share profits with individual investors, making them feel safe in their investments, as well as showing investors confidence in the project’s potentials.

The developer says the project has finished basic construction. As scheduled, the hotel section will be up and running by May next year and the villa section will be finished and handed over to buyers by late next year.

 

More Danang tourism properties join market

Travel CAAV welcomes European airlines

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has pledged favorable conditions for European airlines to launch services to Vietnam, especially those from European Union (EU) member states.

Vo Huy Cuong, director of CAAV’s Air Transport Department, said the aviation authority was implementing policies to open the market to European carriers with an aim to strengthen aviation cooperation between the EU and Vietnam.

“We welcome all qualified airlines (from the EU) to Vietnam,” Cuong told the Daily after the EU and Vietnamese authorities renewed an aviation agreement earlier this month to remove nationality restrictions in the bilateral air services agreements between EU member states and Vietnam.

“The agreement will allow any EU airline to operate flights between any EU member state and Vietnam, where a bilateral agreement exists and traffic rights are available,” the European Commission (EC) announced on its website.

The agreement means all carriers of the bloc will be able to be designated by any of the 17 member states with which Vietnam has bilateral agreements. But they will only be able to fly if there are unused traffic rights in these agreements and will not be able to fly from those states with which Vietnam does not have bilateral agreements.

The EC said the agreements would bring several provisions in bilateral air services agreements between 17 member states and Vietnam in line with European law.

The EC said the new agreement represented an important step towards boosting air transport between the EU and Vietnam, and that air transport was crucial for the two sides to link people, cultures and businesses.

Cuong of CAAV said airlines of the EU and Vietnam had been allowed to decide and offer their own fares in line with the market demand for the flights between Europe and Vietnam. Aviation authorities will only step in to deal with unhealthy competition, such as low fares.

Cuong said Vietnam’s previous agreements with EU member states required airlines to propose and submit their fares to aviation authorities for consideration and approval. However, this requirement is not necessary in the current context of strengthened aviation relations between the EU and Vietnam.

Currently, Lufthansa and Air France of the EU bloc carry out passenger services between Frankfurt and Paris respectively and Vietnam via the Thai capital of Bangkok. Vietnam Airlines operate flights between these European cities and HCMC and Hanoi.

Another European carrier, LOT Polish Airlines, is preparing to launch direct services between Warsaw and Hanoi from next month, with a frequency of three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and using the Boeing 767-300 aircraft on this route.

 

CAAV welcomes European airlines

Travel Saigontourist, MasterCard cut deal to target travelers

The country’s leading hospitality company Saigontourist Holding Co. and MasterCard on Tuesday announced their cooperation program to give more benefits to MasterCard cardholders, especially foreign travelers to the country.

The two partners said at a ceremony in HCMC on Tuesday that all those cardholders who pay for services by the card will receive benefits at Saigontourist’s chain nationwide and at many partners of the tourism service provider.

The program, named Discover the Charm of Vietnam with Saigontourist and MasterCard, is running until the end of next June.

Under the program, travelers will receive preferential offers in travel and accommodation, dining, and entertainment among others. Those travelers staying for three nights will get the fourth night for free at participating hotel partners.

Tran Hung Viet, deputy general director of Saigontourist, said that both foreign and local card holders could receive the incentives when using the card for payment. However the two companies were focusing more on foreign guests, with an aim to promote Vietnam’s tourism worldwide.

“We hope the program will attract more international travelers to come to discover the beauty of Vietnam,” he said.

Saigontourist has eight travel companies, 54 hotels, 13 resorts and 28 restaurants. The company also has many local and foreign joint venture companies

Pham My, account manager at the Vietnam representative office of MasterCard, said that this is the first time MasterCard joins forces with a local tourism service provider to make a promotion program of this scale in the country.

“MasterCard and Saigontourist have jointly selected partners for the program very carefully to make sure that our customers can receive good services,” she said.

 

Saigontourist, MasterCard cut deal to target travelers

Travel Qatar Airways to operate four flights a week to Hanoi from November 1

Qatar Airways detailed its commitment to expanding its presence and offering in the Asian Market at ITB Asia, the region’s largest travel trade show taking place in Singapore from October 20 - 22.

The airline is promoting new routes to Phuket and Hanoi as well as increased services to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, together with exciting stopover packages for international events in Doha to make a trip to Asia an even more attractive option for European travelers. 

Qatar’s new route to Thailand’s premier resort island of Phuket offers flights six times a week, increasing to daily flights in November via Kuala Lumpur and connecting to several of Qatar Airways’ key markets in Europe. Launched on October 12, this is the Qatar’s second route to Thailand and the 8th new international destination it has launched this year.

Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, said that the airline’s route to Thailand’s largest island reinforced the airline’s commitment to target underserved Asian markets. On November 1, Qatar will commence four flights a week to Hanoi, as well as increased frequency to Ho Chi Minh City from three flights a week to daily.

“Visitor numbers to Asian destinations such as Phuket and Hanoi are on the rise and Qatar Airways will look to take advantage of our European connections from countries like Russia, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the UK and other parts of Europe to expand the market. With only a handful of airlines offering flights from Europe to these destinations, the opportunity is there for us to acquire market share,” added Al Baker.

In Asia-Pacific, Qatar Airways’ route network now extends to 17 destinations and makes up almost 20% its global network.  

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 89 aircraft to 93 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and North and South America. It has already ordered for more than 200 aircrafts worth over 40 billion USD to meet the increasingly demand of passengers.

 

Qatar Airways to operate four flights a week to Hanoi from November 1

Travel Number of Russian tourists to Binh Thuan rises

The Binh Thuan Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported that in the first nine months of 2010, the province greeted nearly 62,600 Russian tourists, making up one third of the total foreign tourists there.

Since 2008, Russian tourists took the lead in the number of foreign tourists to Binh Thuan with nearly 30,000. In 2009, the figure increased nearly double to 57,000.

The high tourism season starts in November as foreign tourists travel to avoid winter and the Cam Ranh International Airport welcomes direct flights from Russia. The conditions are expected to contribute to the increasing number of Russian tourists to the province.

Currently, Mui Ne in Binh Thuan has became a Russian village with many hotels, resort, restaurants, spas and sport centers opened by Russians in cooperation with Vietnamese.

Mrs. Tran Thi Phong Thu, Head of the Board of Directors of Anh Duong International Travel Co. said that more and more high-income Russians are spending money on long winter vacations.

Russian tourists like traveling to Binh Thuan because the province is nearly 200km from Ho Chi Minh City, has high quality accommodations, delicious and inexpensive seafood.

Mr. Le Van Nghia, Head of the board of directors of Nhat Minh International Tourism Co. said that Russian tourists to Vietnam are mainly from Moscow and tourists from the Russian Far East will rank second.

Since December 2010, Rusian carrier, Vladivostok Avia, will carry tourists from Khabarovsk and Vladivosto to Vietnam by aircraft TU240 or A330 with one flight a week to Cam Ranh and Hanoi.

Aiming to offer opportunities for tourists to visit and relax in Binh Thuan, Mr. Nguyen Van Thu, Deputy Head of the Binh Thuan People's Committee said that the province will call upon investment in an old airport to be upgraded as a local airport to welcome small-sized aircraft and an international airport in Hoa Thang, Bac Binh District will be built in the future.

Together with Ham Tien – Mui Ne Resort, Phan Thiet has been completing Tien Thanh Resort into becoming a sea eco-tourism site.

 

Number of Russian tourists to Binh Thuan rises

Travel Climbers to plant flag of Thang Long – Hanoi on Fansipan peak

A tour to climb up and plant the flag of Thang Long - Hanoi on the nation’s highest mountain, the Fansipan peak, will be organized from October 30th to November 2nd in the northern province of Lao Cai to mark the capital city’s millennium birthday.

More than 60 competitors at home and abroad will take part in the event, said the organizing board. There will be two foreign teams to climb the Fansipan Peak, including the Kunming Association of Climbers (China) and a Thailand team.

The organizing board will award prizes for winners in stages. Those who take the lead in the second stage will possess the flag of Thang Long – Hanoi procession from the 2,800 meter point to plant it on the summit of Fansipan Peak.

Exciting and impressive photos during the competition will also be presented with prizes.

 

Climbers to plant flag of Thang Long – Hanoi on Fansipan peak

Travel National carrier to offer more flights to central Vietnam

Vietnam Airlines will operate more international and domestic flights to and from central Vietnam in the winter schedule and beyond in response to increasing demand for air travel to economic and tourist hubs in the region.

The airline will add four flights to its HCMC-Quy Nhon schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in addition to its daily service to the central coastal city.

Currently, Vietnam Airlines uses Airbus A320 for its services from HCMC and Hanoi to Quy Nhon in Binh Dinh Province. However, Vietnam News Agency quoted the airline’s representative in the city as saying that the carrier had been asked to operate the bigger aircraft Airbus A321 to match a pickup in air travel to the province toward the end of this year and early next year when the country celebrates the biggest Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet.

Vietnam Airlines announced it would carry out 46 charter flights between Hong Kong and Danang from next month to May 2011 under an agreement it signed with a partner there. The Airbus A321 configured with 184 seats will fly the route on Tuesdays and Fridays in the period.

The airline said more travelers in Hong Kong and visitors to this territory wanted to explore attractions in Danang as well as UNESCO-listed Heritage Sites of Hue, Hoi An and My Son Complex of Towers.

Vietnam Airlines has daily flights from HCMC and Hanoi to Hong Kong, which is considered as an international commercial hub in Asia.

At present, Vietnam Airlines is working with the authorities of Danang over a plan to open a direct service between this economic hub in central Vietnam and Japan later this year.

Besides Hong Kong, Vietnam Airlines is also rolling up its sleeves for chartered flights from Korea, Taiwan and other parts of China to the central coastal city of Danang, and vice versa from next month till January 2011.

As for the domestic segment, Vietnam Airlines plans its flights connecting Danang and the northern city of Haiphong and the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho to bring more tourists to the central city and places of interest in neighboring provinces.

 

National carrier to offer more flights to central Vietnam

Travel Visit Holland Village in HCM City

Holland Village in HCM City will be held at 23/9 Park, District 1, near Ben Thanh market from this 23 to 31 October by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in HCM City. This is an excellent opportunity for Vietnamese people to learn and understand more about the Dutch culture without having to travel to the Netherlands.

The Holland Village consists of 12 traditional Dutch canal houses, a large windmill, plus a number of typically Dutch attractions, such as a fish stand, a cheese stand and a street organ. Come to the Holland Village, visitors can view demonstrations of wooden shoe making, glass blowing, discover Dutch floricultural products, meet artists from Holland and enjoy so many interesting games such as: Learn and enjoy game where Dutch Lady comes from, how to milk a cow, mingle with village Dutch Ladies, Ironing competition, Me artist, etc. Besides, so many typical Dutch sceneries of photo panels will be display for visitors’ souvenir; you can take some memorable pictures and find yourself back in Holland. You can access to http://www.holland-village.com for more detailed information. Opening daily from 3pm to 11pm, entry to Holland Village is free.

 

Visit Holland Village in HCM City

Travel Vietnam Airlines increases flights between HCM City and Quy Nhon

The representative office of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) in the coastal central province of Binh Dinh on October 21 announced that it would add one more flight by ATR aircraft a week for the route Ho Chi Minh City – Quy Nhon City – Ho Chi Minh City since the end of this month.

Thus, besides seven flights by 150-seat A320 aircrafts every morning, there will be four flights by 72-seat ATR aircrafts in every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday afternoon.
This is the second time VNA increases flights for this route this year. Earlier, the carrier added three more flights by ATR aircrafts in April.

For the route Hanoi – Quy Nhon – Hanoi, the carrier still provides six flights per week by A320 aircrafts.

The number of passengers travelling on these two routes reached 117,964 in the first nine months of this year, an increase of 37 percent year-on-year. The efficiency for HCMC- Quy Nhon – HCMC and Hanoi – Quy Nhon - Hanoi route was at 87 percent and 60 percent respectively.

 

Vietnam Airlines increases flights between HCM City and Quy Nhon

Travel A special Khanh Hoa offering

Undulating white sand dunes all along the beautiful Doc Let Beach have made it a favorite in the central province of Khanh Hoa. The absence of artificial decorations along the resort’s beach spanning more than a kilometer makes it a fond spot. The beach is decorated perfectly naturally and beautifully by the purple color of morning glory flowers (Ipomoea pescaprae) that grow wild at several spots.

Visitors often choose to stay at highly popular Doc Let Resort, but winning the hearts and minds of increasing numbers of tourists in recent years is the White Sand Doc Let Resort & Spa, which opened in 2004.

Covering 12 hectares, the resort houses 54 bungalows with balconies opening to the sea, allowing you to sunbathe during the day, and watch the moon at night, not to mention the unforgettable early morning sunrise.

An added attraction at the resort is that it is virtually a botanical garden with many different kinds of trees and flowers. And willing to talk with you extensively about the flowers, from roses to daisies to orchids, are the resort’s owners - Chau Thi Thanh Truc and her husband, Hoang Van Hien. Both spend a lot of time taking care of the flowers and trees to make the resort an ideal destination for those who want to learn about the flora.

As the sea is shallow – the water only reaches your head more than a 100 meters from the coast - even those who can’t swim can have a relaxing, fun time. When the tide is low, the sight of thousands upon thousands of sand crabs running across the beach is one of the special images that White Sand offers.

The resort also makes space for a seafood market where tourists can buy crabs, prawns and other items and then ask the sellers or the resort’s chefs to cook them. It is recommended that the seafood is steamed or grilled and eaten with pepper salt.

Tourists can rest assured that they are not paying exorbitant prices, because outside sellers are allowed to join the market for free on condition that they sell fresh food and at market prices.

The resort also has a spa, a bar with pool tables and a range of water sports for those looking for outdoor excitement.

 

A special Khanh Hoa offering

Travel Vietnam, Cuba move to step up cultural cooperation

Vietnam wants to join efforts with Cuba in exploring new and effective methods of cooperation to benefit their people, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

While receiving Cuban Minister of Culture Abel Enrique Prieto Jimenez in Hanoi on Oct. 20, PM Dung promised to support and create favourable conditions for Vietnam’s concerned agencies to expand and boost cultural cooperation with the island country.

Together with bilateral cooperation in politics, diplomacy and trade, the enhancement of cultural relations would make the two nations more close-knit, the leader said.

Jimenez said the Cuban delegation’s visit was aimed at accessing Vietnam’s experiences in developing and preserving cultural values, thereby contributing to the building of relevant policies in Cuba.

The two sides are to sign a cultural cooperation programme for the 2011-2013 period, which would help the Cuban and Vietnamese people better understand each other’s cultures, he said.

The same day, Politburo member Truong Tan Sang received Minister Prieto Jimenez, who was also a Politburo member of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee.

Sang, a permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Secretariat, said Vietnam always stood side by side with Cuba and would do its utmost to promote the bilateral relationship.

The Party official conveyed the best regards from Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and State President Nguyen Minh Triet to Cuban President Fidel Castro and President Raul Castro.

Jimenez said Vietnam’s renewal achievements have proved the Vietnamese revolution was advancing forward firmly and that its experiences were very useful to Cuba.

Having thanked the Party, State and people for their valuable support and assistance, the minister affirmed that Cuba would spare no efforts to strengthen and step up the traditional and loyal relationship between the two nations.

Later in the day, Jimenez held talks with Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh, during which they reviewed the results of cultural cooperation over the recent past and signed a cultural cooperation programme for the next three years.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two sides pledged to increase cultural exchanges such as art performances, exhibitions of paintings, photos and books and film screenings.

The two sides will boost the sharing of experiences in cultural management, heritage preservation and management and facilitate cooperation between labs, museums, film studios and training establishments.

Cuba also vowed to participate in international cultural events which will be held regularly in Vietnam, including the Hue Festival, the 4th International Circus Festival, the 3rd International Puppetry Festival and the 2nd International Film Festival.

 

Vietnam, Cuba move to step up cultural cooperation

Travel Pakse

The air route of Pakse-Ho Chi Minh City linking the Lao province of Champasak with Ho Chi Minh City, which was canceled in 2003, was resumed on October 19.

The air route, also connected to the Lao capital city of Vientiane, will help bolster transport of goods and tourists between Viet Nam and Laos, between Ho Chi Minh City and Champasak in particular.

There will be three flights using ATR or MA planes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, starting on October 19.

 

Pakse

Travel HCM City explores new routes for river tourism

The HCMC tourism authority will survey a new tourist route upstream the Saigon River to the neighboring province of Dong Nai early next month as the city government on Monday gave approval, an official said. 

Nguyen Viet Anh, head of the Travel Division of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said the city’s vice chairwoman, Nguyen Thi Hong, had allowed the department to undertake the survey following a meeting on Monday about a plan to explore some river tourist routes to develop this kind of tourism for the city.

Officials at Monday’s meeting also discussed the possibility of opening another river tour linking the city’s center, neighboring Binh Duong Province, and Cu Chi District in the city’s outskirts.

A report prepared by the tourism department after a survey in July shows that this medium-length river tour is of high potential owing to the beautiful scenery and attractions along the route.

The route should start from Bach Dang Wharf, take in Thanh Da-Binh Quoi and then Binh Duong Province’s craft villages before ending in the historical Cu Chi Tunnels.

But at Monday’s meeting, some expressed concern that this tourist route could hardly be launched later this year as had been expected due to the lack of required infrastructure facilities.

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the Department, told the meeting that there were not enough berths along the route for boats to anchor, let alone the mobilization of other transport means along the route to cater to tourists.

Khanh also complained that several bridges along the route had a low vertical clearance, preventing bigger boats from navigating underneath.

So far, the Department and some tour operators have surveyed a short route from Bach Dang Wharf in District 1 to District 7. “We will launch this tourism product by the year-end or early next year,” Anh of the city’s Department said.

The city is pining high hopes on river tourism as strong potential of the industry, which once brought into play will also help linking attractions in the city with those in other provinces.

The city government has asked the tourism authority to draft an action plan this year to develop a river tour taking tourists from HCMC to attractions in the city and to other places such as the Mekong Delta province of An Giang and Cambodia.

At Monday’s meeting, vice chairwoman Hong also agreed in principle to assign Saigontourist Holding Company to build a tourist wharf in District 1. Earlier, Hong also gave the company the go-ahead to build a tourism wharf in Nha Be District. 

 

HCM City explores new routes for river tourism

Travel City praises excellent tourist operators

The Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a ceremony to honor individuals and organizations that got high positions in the “National Skill Contest 2010-Cooking and Restaurant Service”.

23 units and 90 persons received certificates of merit from the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

On the occasion, the HCM City People’s Committee gave certificates of merit to 26 organizations and people that have outstanding contribution to tourism skill contests.

The City People’s Committee also granted certificate of merit to deputy director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism La Quoc Khanh who was awarded the “Best destination operator” by the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asian Pacific Cities.

 

City praises excellent tourist operators