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Vietnam’s tourism aims US$10 billion in revenue in 2015

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:54:48 +0000

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, pinning high hopes on the development of the country’s tourism industry, targets to triple its revenue to around US$10-11 billion by the year 2015.

Vietnam has 764 international travel firms, and a huge number of domestic travel companies as well as 10,800 accommodation facilities with 208,000 rooms.

In its tourism development strategy draft, the Government body expects the country’s tourism sector to welcome seven to eight million foreign travelers and around 32 to 32 million local tourists a year in 2015. This compares well with last year’s international arrivals of some 4.2 million and revenue of around US$3.5 in 2008.

In 2020, Vietnam’s hospitality industry should be a strong player in the region with around 11 to 12 million foreign tourists and 45 to 48 million domestic travelers, according to the draft.

The draft was presented to tourism experts, tourism entrepreneurs, officials last week in a meeting held by the national tourism department in Hanoi.

Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the administration, told the Daily on Wednesday that the agency would complete the strategy after receiving feedback from participants. The strategy will then be submitted to the central Government this month, with clear plans about building new products, developing markets as well as building the national tourism images among others.

The tourism administration has once expected Vietnam would receive around six million foreign visitors in 2010. However, this target now looks highly unlikely as the country received merely 3.4 million international travelers in this year to date, down 12.3% year-on-year.

In a previous talk with the Daily, Tuan had said that the goal of six million looked unattainable because of slowdown in the tourism industry but he was confident that Vietnam’s tourism would grow strongly in the next ten years.

He expected Vietnam to welcome around 4.2 to 4.5 million international tourists in 2010 and a huge number of domestic travelers.

Vietnam has 764 international travel firms, and a huge number of domestic travel companies as well as 10,800 accommodation facilities with 208,000 rooms.

Source:english.vietnamnet.vn

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Airlines plan direct flights to Viet Nam

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:53:13 +0000

Foreign air carriers are planning to launch several direct routes to Viet Nam, with the first due to begin this month.

Photo: Internet

Transasia Airlines will start flying from Taipei in Taiwan to the central city of Da Nang on December 26, operating two flights a week to begin with before possibly increasing the frequency next year.

It will become the second foreign airline after Singapore’s Silk Air to fly to Da Nang.

Silk Air operates three flights a week.

German carrier Lufthansa has announced plans to begin direct flights from Berlin to Ha Noi.

Besides German businessmen and tourists, there is also a huge demand from the tens of thousands of Vietnamese living and studying in that country.

Vietnam Airlines only flies to Frankfurt.

The national flag carrier has announced plans to begin direct flights on the Japan-Da Nang route on December 21.

It is expected to introduce more direct flights from Da Nang to other countries next year.

Source:english.vietnamnet.vn

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French colonial architecture still marks Gieng Islet

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:18:13 +0000

Lying peacefully in the Tien River and surrounded by an immense expanse of water and green orchards, Gieng Islet in Cho Moi District, An Giang Province attracts tourists from around the country who come to admire the stunning natural beauty and colonial architecture to be found here.

A view of Cu Lao Gieng Church on Gieng Islet in An Giang Province.

Cu Lao Gieng Church in Tan My Commune, Cho Moi District was built in 1875 under the reign of King Tu Duc by a French Catholic priest named Gafignol and was inaugurated in 1887.

With colonial architecture and French materials, the over 100 year old cathedral still remains what it was, despite the ups and downs of its life and history. The church boasts a majestic European design and solemn decorations including a towering bell-tower, large round pillars, vaults and small polygonal towers.

The imposing architecture and sacred atmosphere of the church evokes visitors with a feeling that they seem to be tiny creatures.

Other structures in the district worth visiting are the wooden houses built in the early twentieth century in traditional Vietnamese design and shaded by bonsai trees, a local custom.

Old pagodas such as Ong Dao, Phuoc Thanh and Phuoc Minh are fine examples of Asian décor and are also must-see works which allow visitors to indulge in sacred stillness and peace.

Source:vietnamnet.vn

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Vietnam Airlines to open Hanoi-Osaka direct air route

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:55:10 +0000

Vietnam’s flagship carrier, Vietnam Airlines (VNA), will open a new direct air route from Hanoi to Osaka on January 13, 2010, said VNA spokesman Le Hoang Dung.

There will be five flights a week from Hanoi to Osaka on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, bringing the total number of flights between the two countries to 33 every week.

The Hanoi-Osaka route is VNA’s fourth direct air route from Hanoi to Japan.

VNA now holds a 50 percent market share of passengers flying from Vietnam to Japan.

A Malaysian Budget Airline, AirAsia, has opened a direct air route from Hanoi to Thailand. The airline hopes to attract more passengers with its cheap tickets.

Source:vietnamnet.vn

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Quang Nam to promote culture tours

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:11:49 +0000

Central Quang Nam province will introduce its special culture and tourism potentials at the biggest ever Tourism Culture Week slated for the end of November in Hanoi, a provincial official said.

Deputy Director of the provincial Culture, Sports and Tourism Department Ho Tan Cuong said that the two world cultural heritage sites – My Son relics and Hoi An ancient town – and the cultures of mountainous ethnic people will be introduced at the event.

Quang Nam will showcase Thanh Ha porcelains, Ma Chau silk, Ban Thach mats and Kim Bong carpentry and Phuoc Kieu bronze casting products among its traditional craft products.

The week will also include Quang Nam’s traditional costume show, folk arts and games performance as well as the introduction of the provincial gastronomic arts with its specialties, such as “Cao Lau” (pork noodle soup), “banh beo” (bloating fern-shaped cakes) and “banh bao” and “banh vac” (white rose).

Apart from the two world cultural heritage sites, Quang Nam is home to hundreds of historical and cultural sites and ethnic-imbued culture.

According to the statistics of Quang Nam’s tourism sector, the province has welcomed around 200,000 tourists each month since the start of the year. Despite the A/H1N1 flu epidemic, 212,000 tourists flocked to Quang Nam in August.

Cuong said that his province will continue implementing advertisement campaigns in local and foreign markets, organise promotion programmes at hotels and restaurants and develop tours to traditional craft villages, in a bid to lure more visitors.

Source:vietnamnet.vn

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Da Lat presents adventurous tours

admin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:59:01 +0000

The lover’s city, Da Lat, not only presents beautiful and romantic landscapes, it also gives adventurers opportunities to explore, with a series of spectacular waterfalls, tall and dangerous cliffs, and forests to be discovered.

Adventurers can hike a ten kilometer route at the foot of Prenn pass and difficult trails through the forest.

To finish the journey, visitors will also climb up five cliffs, reaching between seven and 25 meters in height.

This tour has attracts around 1,000 visitors a year. The price is just US$35 per foreigner and VND350,000 for Vietnamese.

Camping tours are also a leading choice for groups, which often have 20 to 300 campers, especially Vietnamese.

The tour introduces Da Lat’s famous landscapes, such as Langbian Mountain, Tuyen Lam Lake, Love Valley and the Highland’s special ethnic culture to tourists.

According to the director of Hoi Huu Da Lat Phattireventuers, his firm also organizes teambuilding exercises.

Beside these adventurous tours, there are also other activities, including trekking, biking, rock-climbing, and other central Highland discovery tours.

Source:Vietnamnet.vn

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Hoabinh – Maichau

vietnam — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:57:44 +0000

Depart from: Hanoi
Stop off: Hoa Binh
Duration: 2 days 1 nights

Depart: Mon, Wed and Sat. The Northwest of VietNam is still relatively untouched by the outside world. Beautiful scenery and traditional wooden stilt houses make this area is well worth a visit. See the extraordinary structure of the Russian built Hoa Binh Dam. Stay in traditional stilt house, travel through fertile valleys and along roads snaking through high mountain passes. MaiChau is the nearest place from Hanoi where you can see the real Montagnard village (elevation of 400m). It is a beautiful place. Some one call here “Another Sapa”

Package	1 pax	2 – 3 pax	4 – 6 pax	Over 7
Standard	$165	$115	$95	$75
Deluxe	$195	$135	$115	$95

• Click to price to book package or customize here

Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau

Departure at 7h00. The drive to MaiChau takes 4 hours, enjoy scenery along the way see the interesting churches, pagodas and villages. At noon arrive Thai’s village. Have lunch on the stilt-house. Short walk around the Thai’s village (5kms) to take picturesque Mai Chau valley and enjoy the relaxing surroundings of Ban Lac village. Dinner and sleep on the traditional stilt house.

Day 2: Mai Chau – Hanoi.

Breakfast. Visit Lac village. Lunch. Back to Hanoi. Stop over in Hoa Binh for seeing biggest hydroelectricity plant. 18:00 arrive Hanoi.

Inclusions

• Transport, entrance fee, All meals and soft drink, accommodation, Tour guide, and travel insurance.

Exclusions

• drinks and personal expenses.

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Sapa-Bac Ha market – Sunday market

vietnam — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:23:30 +0000

Depart from: Hanoi
Stop off: Sapa
Duration: 3 days 4 nights

A former French hill station, located in the middle of the breaktaking landscapes in the north of Vietnam, Sapa is one of the most wonderful places in Asia and is a magical combination of landscapes, ethnic cultures and bracing mountain air. There are excellent areas for hiking through lush mountain valleys to the remote villages of diffirent minorities, including the Black H’mong and the Red Dzao …..Bac Ha Sunday Market – Some 100km (62 miles) from Sapa, this is probably the most famous market in the region and more along the lines of what Sapa was once like. Here, various hill tribes converge every Sunday morning to conduct commerce. As a visitor, you’re certainly part of the trade here because folks are keen to sell you their wares, but this market isn’t as much about the tourist buck (yet) as it is about small-time commerce

Package	1 pax	2 – 3 pax	4 – 6 pax	Over 7
Standard	$195	$165	$145	$130
Deluxe	$285	$215	$175	$155

• Click to price to book package or customize here

Night 01 : 21:00 pickup at the hotel. Transfer to railway station for a night train SP3 at 22:00 to Sapa.
Day 1 : Sapa – Cat Cat
Am: 7h30 arrive in Lao Cai,get picked up at Lao Cai Train Station then tranfer to Sapa.Check in and have breakfast in the Hotel then you have free time to visit Sapa by yourself.After lunch walk to visit the Black H’Mong people in Cat Cat village. Enjoy the waterfall in Cat Cat and beautiful sceneries on the way. Back to the hotel for dinner and enjoy the night in Sapa town.

Day 2 : Sapa – Lao Chai – Tavan
After breakfast – make sure that you have walking shoes and water – the guide takes you to visit the Black H’Mong tribe in Lao Chai village then keep going along Muong Hoa valley to TaVan village which is supposed to be the most beautiful one in the area to visit the Day tribe, have a picnic lunch here and then go up to the main road to go back to Sapa by motor bike/ jeep.
Day 3 : Sapa – Bac Ha – Hanoi
Leave Sapa early in the morning at about 6h30 .We take the jeep/bus to Bac Ha market .with the distance of 100 kms It takes about 3 hours to get there ( moutain road) We arrive in Bac Ha at 9h30, the best time to visit this traditional market with its entire colourful ethnic people such as: Flower H’Mong , Phu la , Black Dao gather to buy and sell. and have party with lots of corn wine ( strongest wine in Vietnam – 55 % alcohol)
After visiting the market and have lunch the guide will take you for 2 hour- hike to visit the Flower H’Mong trobe in Ban Pho Village.
After that get back to the jeep / bus to go back to Lao cai Station for the night train to Hanoi.

Day 4: Hanoi
5a.m Arrive to Hanoi . End of the tour

Inclusions

• English Speaking Tour Guide

• Train ticket Hanoi – Lao Cai 02ways

• Bus transfer, travel insurance.

• Hotel ( Twin/ Double sharing)

• All meals as mentioned in programme

• Entrance fees.

Exclusions

• Personal expenses, drinks

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Sapa Adventure – Difficult trekking

vietnam — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Depart from: Hanoi
Stop off: Sapa
Duration: 5 days 4 nights

Spectacular scenery and ethnic minorities of Sapa. The northwest of Vietnam is a captivating blend of dramatic landscapes and colourful hill tribes. Sapa is set in a spectacularly beautiful valley close to the border with China. Its breathtaking mountain scenery is some of the best in Asia. Ethnic minorities from many of the surrounding villages don their most colourful costumes and head for the famous Saturday market and hiking and trekking opportunities are in abundance.

Package	1 pax	2 – 3 pax	4 – 6 pax	Over 7
Standard	$185	$155	$145	$135
Deluxe	$265	$215	$185	$155

• Click to price to book package or customize here

21:00 pick up at the hotel. Transfer to railway station for a night train SP3 at 22h00 to Sapa

Day 1: Lao Cai station – Sapa – Hau Thao (Meals: B-L-D)

AM: 7h30 arrive Lao Cai, pick up at Lao Cai station then transfer to Sapa. Check in and have breakfast in the hotel before the trip starts. We walk along the main road for a while then take a small path up hill to get to Hau Thao village of Black H’mong tribe. The trekking brings you through the upper mountain rage of Sapa overlooking down to it’s valley. Our guide will prepare lunch in a local house while you walk around the village to meet the tribe and visit their catholic church. After lunch the guide take you back to Sapa on a different way which goes further to the other side the mountain.

Day 2: Sapa – Lao Cai – Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai (Meals: B-L-D)

Have breakfast and check out before the trip starts. Trek down to Lao Chai village to visit the Tay and Day tribes. Have a picnic lunch on the way then keep going along the bottom of the Sapa valley to get to Ta Van village, which is supposed to be the most beautiful one in the area. Afterward you head up to Giang Ta Chai village of the Red Dzao tribe where you will see the amazing scenery and beautiful waterfall. Stay overnight in a local family.

Day 3: Giang Ta Chai – Ban Ho – Sapa (Meals: B-L-D)

Rise up easly in the morning for breakfast then head to Ban Ho. You will trek up and down hills through a jungle and pass the Muong Hoa river and waterfall. Ban Ho village where you have lunch there live the Tay tribe with their special wooden house on stilt will amaze you, let alone the peaceful scenery and friendly people. And the last 45 min climbing up hill to get to the waiting point is ready a challenge for you. You get back to Sapa by motorbike/ jeep.

Day 4: Sapa – Cat Cat – Sin Chai (Meals: B-L-D)

Breakfast in hotel, the rest of the morning is free to explore the town on your own. After lunch you check out and leave your luggage in the hotel then get yourself ready before heading down to Cat Cat and Sin Chai villages of Black H’mong tribe. Enjoy the waterfall in Cat Cat and beautiful scenery along the way. Back to Sapa and get fresh with a shower in the hotel’s day room then transfer to Lao Cai station for the night train back to Hanoi.App. 4 hours trekking-8km. Meals: B-L. Accommodation: Overnight train.

Day 5: Hanoi

Inclusions

• Entrance fees

• English Speaking Tour Guide

• Hotel – Meals as mentioned

• Homestay and Permit

• Train and bus tickets return

• Jeep pickup from the village, travel insurance.

Exclusions

• Drinks ,Personal expenses

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Classical Transvietnam 10 days 9 nights

vietnam — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:22:13 +0000

Depart from: Hanoi
Stop off: Saigon
Duration: 10 days 9 nights

All the highlights of this stunning country are covered in this compact trip. History, old-world charm and vibrant colour are just some of the things you’ll experience on this journey through startlingly beautiful Vietnam. The trip starts in Ho Chi Minh, going through the central Vietnam before ending in Hanoi.

Package	1 pax	2 – 3 pax	4 – 6 pax	Over 7
Standard	$1875	$1135	$865	$775
Deluxe	$2235	$1305	$1045	$965
VIP	$2595	$1485	$1225	$1135

• Click to price to book package or customize here

Day 01: Arrival – Ho Chi Minh City
On arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ho Chi Minh City is a center of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This bustling metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with motorbikes and cars, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. (If time permits) we stroll around the down town to explore the different local ways of life. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 02: Ho Chi Minh City – Tay Ninh – Cu Chi – Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)
The head quarter of Cao Dai sect is located in Tay Ninh. This religion was founded in 1923 and now numbers over 2 million members. After breakfast we travel by roads to Tay Ninh to see the ornate temple of Cao Dai and attend the fantastic mid-day service when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Afterwards we continue to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 03: Ho Chi Minh City – MeKong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)
Heading out of the town, we travel by roads to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho we embark on a boat navigating around the intricate small canals in the delta region, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a view dotted by many islands. The exciting excursion will pass the lush green vegetation before arriving at the famous Unicorn Island. Here we have opportunities to stroll around an orchard, taste many seasonal fruits and enjoy wonderful traditional music.
The next stop of our trip is Ben Tre Province to visit some fascinating local industries. After feasting on a huge lunch we return to Ho Chi Minh, stopping off along the way to see the beautiful Ving Trang Pagoda and the Cho Lon, Saigon’s Chinatown, which is crammed with sacred temples and mysterious, narrow lanes. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 04: Ho Chi Minh City – Danang – Hoian (B)
Today we spend a half day seeing some major sights of the city. We pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before we visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!. The next stop of our trip is Danang via a short flight from Ho Chi Minh. On arrival you are greeted and driven to Hoian, which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. Stay overnight in Hoian.

Day 05: Hoian – Hue (B,D)
The ancient architecture of Hoian is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence. There are plenty to see in this delightful and tranquil town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tam Ky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. We visit these on our morning walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town’s multi-cultural past. Upon leaving Hoian, we drive north to Hue. Along the way, we make stopover at the sensational Marble Mountains, the China Beach and Danang City for a visit to the Cham Museum. We then follow the road crossing over the scenic Hai Van Pass before arriving in Hue, Vietnam’s last imperial capital of Vietnam. Stay overnight in Hue.

Day 06: Hue (B,L)
After breakfast we embark on a boat for cruise upstream on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to The beautiful pagoda of Thien Mu. Upon leaving this symbol of Hue we continue navigating to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. The next stop of our trip is the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and the famous pagoda of Tu Hieu. On return to the city, we then take a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market and pass many fantastic eating spots where visitors have a chance to sample some local delicacies. Stay overnight at in Hue.

Day 07: Hue – Hanoi – Halong (B,L,D)
The massive citadel of Hue, containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City, is not to be missed. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins. We visit this masterpiece and have free time to explore the town before boarding a short flight to north. On arrival in Hanoi, we embark on a three and half hour drive to Halong, truly one of Vietnam’s most scenic impressive sights. Along the way we will have chance to make stop as you please, to stretch your legs and take pictures. Stay overnight in Halong.

Day 08: Halong – Hanoi (B,L)
The wondrous Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. Heading out of the town we embark on a boat for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay. This exciting five hour cruise will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. After a seafood lunch on board we return to Ha Noi, stopping en route at Dong Trieu pottery village. Stay overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 09: Hanoi (B,L)
Today we enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam and the impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. The beautiful West Lake and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history are also highlight of our trip. We visit these sights before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem. In front of this lake is the famous water puppet theatre where we will see a fantastic performance. Stay overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 10: Hanoi – Departure (B)
There is a free time for you to relax or further explore Ha Noi. The trip ends after your transfer to Noi Bai Airport for departure. End of the tour.

Inclusions

• Travel insurance

• Entrance fees

• Accommodation ( hotels or resorts)

• Brandnew AC bus transfer

• All meals as mentioned

• English or French speaking tour guide

• Flight tickets : Ho Chi Minh City – Da nang, Hue – Hanoi

• Boat trip in Halong bay, Mekong Delta

• Soft drink

Exclusions

• Personal expenses, tips, Single room supplement, drinks

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