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Vietnam Open Tour News & EventsFRIDAY 07 AUGUST, 2009 |
 Seven tours to welcome Thang Long-Hanoi grand celebration
Thay Pagoda. The tours include a journey through ancient capital cities in Thua Thien-Hue, Binh Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Phu Tho, Ninh Binh, and Nam Dinh. Other tours will visit sites closely connected with Buddhism and the Ly Dynasty, such as Huy Lau, Yen Tu, Huong Pagoda, Tay Phuong Pagoda, Thay Pagoda, and museums in Hanoi. The tourism sector will also conduct surveys and develop tours of eco-tourist resorts, traditional craft villages and vovinam. VietNamNet/VOV
Dak Nong’s lesser-known falls
Space of soul escaping bustling life Once visiting the central coast city of Nha Trang, aside from the beach and the Cham towers and Nha Trang Bay with its many splendid islands and islets for relaxing and discovering nature, tourists should stop at Long Son Pagoda in the west of the city.
A statue of Buddha at Long Son Pagoda in Nha Trang City. (Photo: Internet) The pagoda makes an impression on visitors right at the entrance. The ceilings are decorated with mosaic dragons constructed of glass and bits of ceramic tile. The pagoda has two tiled roofs heaped up together with has relief depicting stories of Buddha. The main sanctuary is an attractive hall adorned with modern interpretations of traditional motifs. Note the ferocious nose hairs on the colorful dragons wrapped around the wooden pillars on either side of the main altar. Parallel sentences and teachings Buddha are carved on the pillars. Even with the noise of the near-by bustling street, the pagoda keeps a quiet ambiance by a barrier of surrounding seasoned green trees. At the top of the hill, behind the pagoda, is a huge white Buddha (Kim Than Phat To) seated on a lotus blossom and visible from all over the city. The platform around the 24 meter high figure, which was built in 1963, is surrounded by images of seven martyrs who died while fighting the Diem government. Standing at the statue, visitors will catch great views of Nha Trang and nearby rural areas as a colorful painting depicting lively images of lines of vehicles on streets, multicolor houses and crowds bustling. To approach the pagoda from the street, the 150 stone steps up the hill to the Buddha begins to the right of the structure. Once trekking the mountain, tourists should visit Hai Duc Pagoda on the top and Buu Phong Pagoda on the south face of the mountain; both were built in Asian architectural style. Following the stone steps, visitors will see pentagonal bells made in Chinese style of the Minh Dynasty with elegant and meticulous patterns. Nha Trang is one of the most important tourist hubs of the country thanks to its beautiful beaches with fine, clean sand and clear ocean water with mild temperatures all year round. Lying off Nha Trang is Hon Tre Island (Bamboo Island) and Hon Tam Island where tourists can see fascinating landscapes and raw Vietnamese culture in houses that are hundreds of years old. Island hopping, scuba diving, squid fishing, sail boating, yachting and other sporting activities can be enjoyed in or from the city. Good local cuisine is also on hand. VietNamNet/SGT Flu virus fears hammer tourism industry In the past week, business at Vietnamese travel firms has suffered as news spreads that the H1N1 is becoming epidemic in ‘Hope of August’ may be dashed
The Ministry of Health and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism have not issued any advisory guidance on flu-related travel limitation At ‘The He Tre’ (Young Generation) Travel Agency, a deputy director, Dung, said his firm did not anticipate the seriousness of the flu epidemic. Dung said that the flu scare plus bad weather have sharply reduced the number of travellers between Though Vietnamese travel firms have scrambled to take advantage of a Vietnam Airlines discounted domestic tickets promotion, buying tickets for resale to customers, Dung said, the flu scare causes the travel firms to worry about the business outlook over the next month. A deputy director of Vietnamtour in According to a deputy director at HaiVeNu Travel, if clients have already booked tours, they will still travel. Those who are really worried about the flu may change the departure time. Alarmingly, the number of clients booking new tours has decreased significantly. Agents say the combination of global economic recession and swine flu have significantly reduced the number of travelers from Vietnam’s top markets (the US, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, China, Malaysia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, France, Singapore and Canada). There were 278,000 foreigners to Vietnam in July, 16 percent less than in July 2008. Vietnam has greeted 2,172 million tourists in the last seven months, a decrease of 18.7 percent over the same period of 2008. Traveling in the flu period: protect yourself The Ministry of Health and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism have not issued any advisory guidance on flu-related travel limitation. Precautions are a matter of travellers’ individual discretion. Dung of The He Moi said that travelers should not be too worried about the flu pandemic. He advises travellers to wear protective masks at airports or crowded places, avoid close contact with local residents and report to the tour guides if they have any signs of sickness. Dung said that while foreign travel to Vietnam is ‘dead,’ domestic tourism can save the day. He has asked Vietnam Airlines to keep selling air tickets at preferential prices to travel firms until the end of the year. Since June, Vietnam Airlines has been providing free masks to prevent transmission of H1N1 flu virus on all its international flights from HCM City. All ground staff serving international flights departing from HCM City also wear protective masks. Vietnam’s national carrier is keeping a close watch over the spread of the flu pandemic in Hanoi and other localities to make well-reasoned decisions. Ngoc Ha - VietnamBridge Cruising in Ha Long Bay
Tourists enjoy the beauty of Ha Long Bay on a typical cruise ship. For nearly a decade, the nominee for a Natural Wonder of the World title has attracted more tourists since the bridge linking Bai Chay (Chay Beach) and Hon Gai (Gai Islet) was built. In the bay area, there are many caves, beaches, restaurants, hotels and entertainment sites. Among its well-known scenic spots and tourist sites are Thien Cung, Dau Go and Trinh Nu caves, and Ti Top, Tuan Chau and Ba Trai Dao beaches. At hotels on Bai Chay, visitors can ask at reception desks to hire tourist ships to visit the bay. You can choose which ship from photos and decide beforehand how long the tour should be and which places to visit or if you will have lunch on board. The ships usually have sofas on the top deck for tourists to sit and watch the seascape. The deck below has tables and chairs made from precious woods worth billions of dong. Some cruises from big travel agencies also have karaoke rooms and bars. According to Ha, who is a helmsman, tourist ships have to compete with one another because hundreds of them operate in the bay. A ship is considered successful if it is recommended by its customers. For this reason, tourist ships strictly observe the itinerary and respect customers. Tourist ships usually take people to see Bai Chay Suspension Bridge first and then take them to visit Thien Cung Cave, one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in the bay. If there is time, they will stop at other caves and Ti Top Beach, a beautiful coral beach. The ships also go past Ga Choi Islet, two rocks which look like roosters fighting each other. The crew normally brings along fresh seafood for customers’ lunch. During the boat tour, you can see small boats selling fish, crabs and shrimp that you can buy and grill them to eat on board. VietNamNet/Thanh Nien
Motorised kite flying over Ha Long Bay for to visitors
This kind of motor kite weighs 216 kilograms with a 11.5 metre long wing, and 64 horse power engine which is imported from Italy. The kite can carry two people, including one driver and one visitor with a maximum loading capacity of 406 kilograms. The maximum speed is 80km/hour and the kite flies at the maximum 150 metre above the land. Earlier, such a service has been provided in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa. The fee for each kite flight is US $70 for 15 minutes. VietNamNet/Nhan Dan
Escape to Doc Lech Beach
Serene Doc Lech Beach, located 50 km from the beach resort town of Nha Trang Situated around 50 km north of resort town Nha Trang, the 10 km stretch of beach attracts many tourists because of its white sands, clear waters, and lush vegetation. The area is a tranquil getaway, perfect for holidaymakers and anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the country’s urban centers. Here, one can swim in the sea and luxuriate in the crystal blue waters, or lie in the sand and bask in the warmth of the sun. An impromptu game of beach volleyball, tug-of-war, or soccer makes for entertaining group activities. As Doc Lech is located near a fishing village, tourists can try being a fisherman for a day with tours organized by local travel agents or by the fishermen themselves. Tours include a demonstration and practice session to net the fish, and the catch can be cooked and eaten later. At night, a campfire on the beach is a great way to stay warm while singing songs, telling stories, and eating seafood caught earlier in the day. Doc Lech Beach is also located near famous Van Phong Bay, which is currently being developed as a tourist destination. Near the bay are a range of hotels and resorts for tourists to stay at with a diverse host of entertainment activities. Visitors can also check out a fishing village in close proximity, a salt field, and Heo Islet. To get to Doc Lech Beach from Nha Trang, take National Highway 1A heading north. You will pass Ninh Hoa Town and then turn east onto a newly constructed, paved road. Continue for an additional 14 km until you see a 10 m tall sand hill. Doc Lech Beach is located on the opposite side of this hill. VietNamNet/Thanh Nien
Place your bets on Phu Quoc casino A new master plan is being developed for Phu Quoc island. The chairman of the Kien Giang provincial People’s Committee, Bui Ngoc Suong, spoke to the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper about possible changes. How do the changes compare to the first plan? Phu Quoc island will be soon upgraded into a special administrative region. With its important role in national defence and security as well as its potential to become a regional and international bio-tourism destination, the Government has instructed the Minister of Construction and Kien Giang People’s Committee to seek international consultancy companies to revise the island’s existing development master plan with a vision toward 2030 and beyond. We’ve received one proposal from the American Consultant company WATG, which claims it is the world’s number one hospitality design firm. It says the island should be divided into five key functional areas - urban, national, forest protection, tourism and transportation.
Phu Quoc island will be soon upgraded into a special administrative region. The tourism area would consist of several beaches that have been described as "the golden land" of the island, such as Truong, Vong, Dai, Sao and Thom beaches. Other projects would include ports, industrial parks, golf courses and a casino will be built at various relevant locations. It is planned that the island would have a population of about 540,000 people. At present, only about 100,000 live there. Do you think the changes will have negative impacts on projects presently underway? Of course, there will be some impacts, but I don’t think that they will be very serious. Several projects granted licences are presently under construction. Fortunately, they are all small in scale. Large ones, mostly tourism in nature, are still waiting for the completion of infrastructure development under the final development plan. They include projects for the Tructsse Corporation from Switzerland, and the Viet Nam Starbay company – an affiliate of British Tarbay Holdings Ltd. Phu Quoc island is known for its forests and sea. How will these be treated in the new master plan? The great attractions of the island are its maritime-eco system, forests and landscape. At present the forests have been zoned off in order to protect and conserve them. But we’ve asked the consultants to consider letting tourists make sight-seeing tours in the forests at certain times or go diving in the coral reefs with tourist guides. Our point of view is crystal clear that tourism can be developed in conservation areas, but not to their detriment. What’s about the plan of building a casino on the island? The consultants have suggested that we should build a casino on the island. But many scientists and investors say the island is not an ideal place to build a casino. Should Phu Quoc get the permit to build the casino or not, we’re still waiting for comments from relevant agencies. So far we have received support from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Construction. Next week we’ll consult with the Ministry of Finance and then submit the proposal for the construction of the casino to the Prime Minister for approval. The Kien Giang People’s Committee wants a casino to make tourism more diversified. Is it correct that many investors have expressed an interest in investing in the casino? Yes! We’ve received many letters of interest from investors. Most of them are foreigners. Some investors have stated in the letters that they’re willing to spend their own money on infrastructure development, such as electricity and water supplies from the mainland. What’s the current status of the island’s infrastructure? The Government and Kien Giang province have focused their efforts on building Duong To airport, the main roads and some essential infrastructure. The construction of the airport was commenced last November and half the work has been completed. It is to be operational by mid 2012. Main ring roads and arteries on the island are under construction. If things go smoothly, the north-south artery will be completed later this year. For power, the Viet Nam Coal and Mineral Industries (Vinacomin) will invest in building a thermal power plant and lay a cable system under the sea from Ha Tien town on the mainland to the Phu Quoc island. VietNamNet/Viet Nam News
Ministry to boost advertising for Ha Long Bay The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is building a plan to promote Ha Long Bay in the online vote for the world’s seven new natural wonders of New7Wonders, as the bay has entered the final round.
The Ministry’s International Cooperation Department chief Nguyen Van Tinh said that if Ha Long Bay is selected as one of the seven new natural wonders of the world, it would be the basis for the bay to become The Vote for Ha Long Bay Promotion Council will announce specific criteria and procedures for the final round. Some ideas have been introduced to promote the image of Ha Long Bay, such as launching a trans-Vietnam cycling tour and advertising the bay on taxis in The New7Wonders on July 21 announced the names of the 28 landscapes that advanced to the final round of the online poll for seven new world natural wonders, including According to New7Wonders announcement, the poll will last until 2011. On July 7, 2011, the names of seven new world natural wonders will be made public. The 28 finalists: Amazon rainforest, Bu Tinah Shoals archipelago (United Arab Emirates), Galapagos islands (Ecuador), Iguazu Falls (Brazil – Argentina), Komodo National Park (Indonesia), Milford Sound (New Zealand), Table Mountain (South Africa), Angel Falls (Venezuela), Cliffs of Moher (Ireland), Grand Canyon (USA), Jeita Grotto (Beirut), Maldives Islands, Mud Volcanoes (Azerbaijan), Ayers Rock (Australia), Bay of Fundy, Dead Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Jeju Island (South Korea), Masurian Lake District (Poland), Puerto Princesa Underground River (Philippines), Mount Vesuvius (Italy), Black Forest, El Yunque National Forest (Puerto Rico), Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Matterhorn Mount (Switzerland and Italy), Sundarbans Delta (Bangladesh – India) and Yushan (Taiwan). VietNamNet/ANTD
One in seven Hoi An visitors come again
Of the 200 foreign visitors to the UNESCO-recognized world cultural heritage town surveyed, 85.5 percent came for the first time, 11.5 percent had come for the second time, and 3 percent had been there three times or more. The Hoi An Relic Area Management and Preservation Center on Tuesday said it had conducted the survey in cooperation with a voluntary group from Germany for the last three months. The findings showed 76 percent of the foreigners from Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand were ‘very pleased’ with the old town; while the rest were not pleased with the traffic, costs and the environment. Forty percent found out about Hoi An via guide books, 18 percent via the Internet and 3 percent via the media. None of the visitors had obtained any information about the ancient town via UNESCO. VietNamNet/Thanh Nien
Conquering the height of a challenge Recreational climbing, a popular sport worldwide, is loved by passionate adventurers and now it is also a safe, healthy and fun activity for families, groups of friends, companies, schools and universities and individuals to keep fit, build communication and teamwork skills and defeat a fear of height. The sport is suitable for anyone older than three. Anyone interested in indoor activities can visit X-rock Climbing Club at Phan Dinh Phung Indoor Stadium in HCMC’s District 3 to conquer a manmade mountain.
A climber conquers the manmade mountain at X-rock Climbing Club at Phan Dinh Phung Indoor Stadium in HCMC's District 3. Everyday, the club is busy with “amateur athletes”, both foreigners and locals. Applause is awarded to everyone who conquers the mountain quickly and gracefully. Kenneth Bruce Fudge, a businessman from Canada, established the X-rock Climbing Company and built a 22-meter concrete wall at Binh Trung Supermarket in HCMC’s District 7 some years ago. The wall enticed a lot of foreigners in the city but did not gain much attention from locals. This trend has changed. Indoor rock climbing seems to excite more and more Vietnamese thanks to its attraction and usefulness as climbing builds strength, flexibility, balance and control, said Fudge. He said the sport especially gave climbers the experience of conquering a challenge and a fear. To meet the increasing demand for the activity, the Phan Dinh Phung Indoor Stadium will open a new facility with a 16 meter high climbing wall and ropes. Climbing commands a total focus on the task at hand and toes. Each move drives away distractions and provides a release from the stresses of the daily grind. This method of learning increases self-esteem, confidence, leadership and decision making skills. To maximize these benefits, the club often hosts camps or birthday parties for children to make them more active. The challenges are infinite but the climber has so much fun that he forgets it’s also a rigorous workout from head to toe. For further information about costs and equipment, contact X-rock Climbing Company at Phan Dinh Phung Indoor Stadium, 75 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ward 6, District 3, HCMC. VietNamNet/SGT Serenity amidst bordered city The bus stops in front of Tam Thanh Pagoda, which, from the outside looks like other ancient mountain pagodas. The street in front of the pagoda is home to wine and medicine vendors catering to the pilgrims. However, entering the pagoda, a wonder world amazes tourists with mysterious Nhi Thanh Grotto.
Stepping through the gate, tourists first catch a view of Tam Giac Pagoda which lies in a stone cave and is surrounded by groves hiding the grotto from the sun. The pagoda, which was built in 1779, is also called the Pagoda of Triple Religions as it is dedicated to Confucius, Buddha and Laotze. Except for a single wood table, everything inside the pagoda is made from stone. After burning some incense and praying for good health and luck, tourists can leave the sanctuary for Nhi Thanh Grotto. Legend says that Poet Ngo Thi Si (1726-1780) first discovered the grotto in May, 1779 while he was a Mandarin guard in Lang Son and that he carved one of his poems on the grotto wall. The poem praises the magnificent natural beauty of the area and, more specifically, the sound of the stream falling onto hundreds of rocks, almost like a graceful murmur. At that time, the grotto was untouched and blanketed by plants and trees, so he asked people to make a 500 meter corridor from the front entrance to the back entrance decorated with beautiful pictures of the surrounding landscape. Thousands of stalactites and stalagmites in different shapes and sizes sparkle in the sun. Along the grotto is the Ngoc Tuyen river, a striking carpet amidst dark-colored rocks that helps visitors indulge the grotto as a scene in a fairy tale. Inscriptions engraved by famous personalities and poets from different epochs can still be seen here. These inscriptions serve as sources of precious historical record and literature of the province. There is also a beautiful statue of Ngo Thi Si dating back to 1779. Another recommended attraction in Lang Son Province is Vong Phu mountain which resembles a woman holding a baby. The mountain is also known as Lady To Thi after a character in a legend who must wait patiently for her husband to return from war. After strolling around the splendid landscape, tourists should stop by Dong Kinh market and Ky Lua market to purchase indigenous specialties. VietNamNet/SGT
Accor secures management for third hotel in Hanoi Accor announced on Tuesday that it had reached an agreement to manage the Hanoi Horison Hotel, making it the third hotel under the management of the European group in the capital city of Vietnam.
The 250-room Hotel on Cat Linh street will adopt Accor’s Pullman brand following the extensive renovation scheduled to complete in mid-2011. The Hanoi Horison Hotel was located in a prime location of Hanoi, with easy access to embassies, Government offices, commercial institutions, Giang Vo Exhibition Center and tourist attractions such as the Temple of Literature, Accor said. “The Hanoi Horison Hotel has been a significant part of the Hanoi landscape for the past decade and serves as host to many of the city’s important events,” said Patrick Basset, Accor vice president of operations for Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan and South Korea. The Hanoi Horison Hotel is the third hotel and the first announced Pullman hotel under the Accor management in the city, and is part of the group’s strategy to expand its presence and to cash in on tourism potential in this market. Currently, the largest international hotel operator in Vietnam manages the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi and Sofitel Plaza Hanoi. “Accor remains strongly committed to Vietnam’s tourism and continues to develop quality hotels covering all segments of the market,” Basset said in the statement. He disclosed the Mercure Hanoi La Gare would open next month as a four-star hotel, which would help further strengthen Accor’s diversified portfolio. Accor now operates around 10 hotels in different parts of Vietnam, with such brands as Sofitel, Novotel and Grand Mercure in HCMC, Hanoi, Dalat, Phan Thiet, Hue, Nha Trang, Halong and Phu Quoc. Basset told the Daily earlier this year that Accor would launch and push the development of the new brands ibis and Pullman in Vietnam, and the economy brand ibis is now popular with some 700 hotels around the world. Basset said Accor would operate over 10 properties under construction in major cities and tourist sites of Vietnam, and would employ more than 3,000 employees in the coming three years to support the group’s expansion in Vietnam. Accor’s brands including the Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 now represent 4,000 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries and territories. VietNamNet/SGT A common plan to promote tourism in Greater Mekong Sub-region
Foreign tourists in Vietnam.
The strategy says that GMS countries, including Vietnam, encourage investment in tourism, support community-based tourism, protect natural resources and humanity while developing tourism business and advertising GMS as a common destination.
Vietnam is emerging as an attractive, safe and hospitable destination in Southeast Asia. However, the global economic slowdown and the A/H1N1 pandemic have hit the tourism industry. The number of foreign tourists coming to Vietnam dropped in the first half of 2009.
It is expected that the world economy will recover in late 2009 and early 2010 and the number of tourists will grow again.
To welcome this positive trend, the Vietnamese tourism industry needs to build both short-term and long-term policies.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s Market Department chief Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong disclosed that the marketing plan for the tourism sector in 2010-2015 had been approved.
According to Huong, this plan covers the design of new logos and slogans for the new period; developing tourism products on a wide scale in provinces at risk of great unemployment and developing tourism products in depth in localities in which tourism has developed to a certain level.
The plan also states that Vietnam will attach importance to the international and domestic tourism market but promotion activities will concentrate on the international market, particularly Japan, South Korea, China, ASEAN, India, Australia, Western Europe and Northern Europe.
VNAT will choose 2-3 foreign markets for marketing within 3-5 years to change the images of Vietnamese tourism there. One or two key tourism products will be advertised each year. VietNamNet/VH HCM City to not raise museum entrance fees
The HCM War Remnants Museum.
According to the city’s Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, museums are allowed to keep100 percent of entrance fees to invest in museum activities.
The HCM City People’s Committee instructed the local Department of Finance to combine with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to set reasonable entrance fees for museums.
Accordingly, the fees for local and foreign visitors must not be too different. There will be exemptions and reductions for Vietnamese visitors based on age, social class and health conditions (war invalids or the disabled).
A decree of the Finance Ministry dated October 2006 said that the entrance fees to relics must be the same for Vietnamese and foreigners. The fees must not exceed 20,000 dong for adults and 10,000 dong for kids.
VietNamNet/PLTPHCM
Tourism joint ventures gain access to outbound segment Tourism joint ventures between local and foreign investors can arrange outbound tours from next Monday for Vietnamese and foreigners living and working in Vietnam, a segment so far privileged for local companies only, a tourism official said on Wednesday.
“We now allow joint ventures to offer all kinds of outbound tours to any destinations like local companies”. According to the guidance, joint venture tour operators with foreign involvement can start outbound business as early as August 10, a move aimed at creating a level-playing field for all travel firms, he said. “We now allow joint ventures to offer all kinds of outbound tours to any destinations like local companies,” Binh said. The guidance was launched one month after Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung had agreed to a proposal by joint venture companies to run this kind of travel. Prevailing rules allow these firms to arrange inbound tours only for foreigners in Vietnam. In fact, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, aware of the decline in international tourist arrivals, had submitted a plan to the Prime Minister in May to help the tourism sector overcome the difficulties, and the new incentive was also included in the ministry’s plan. Binh said that six out of the total number of 12 joint venture travel firms in Vietnam sent their representatives to the meeting. “They were pleased with the new rule allowing them to make outbound tours. Benefits from outbound tours will help them cope with the decline in revenue,” he said. Binh said that such joint ventures had better advantages when arranging outbound tours. “They will find it easier to attract outbound tourists who are employees in foreign-invested companies in Vietnam. Furthermore, these travel firms also enjoy wide business networks and have good partners in their resident countries as destinations for outbound tourists from Vietnam,” he said. However, Binh projected that the new rule would not trigger any harsh competition between foreign-invested joint ventures and local tour operators in the outbound segment, because local companies had their own partners and customers as they had started such tours since many years ago. “They understand the market and tourist demand so they can compete,” Binh said. VietNamNet/SGT Vietnam to appear in world-famous tourism magazines Around 20 reporters from 13 of the world’s leading tourism magazines are coming to Vietnam on August 5 to survey and write about Vietnamese tourism, announced the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Tourism journalists from National Geographic, Travel & Leisure, CNN Traveller, Voyage, Photographer, Lifestyle Travel Asia, Business Traveller and The Improper will travel across Vietnam, from HCM City to Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hanoi and Quang Ninh.
They will spend more time in outstanding destinations of Vietnam, such as Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hoi An in the central region and Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh.
They will also learn about cultural activities, daily life, traditional cuisines, and typical handicraft villages of Vietnam.
Besides inviting foreign tourism journalists to Vietnam, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) will advertise the country’s heritages in UNESCO’s World Heritage Magazine, the sole magazine on world heritages.
The Impressive Vietnam campaign will be advertised in JESTAR magazine of Jetstar Airways in September 2009. With over one million readers, this magazine is available on all flights of Jetstar Australia to Australian cities, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, Hawaii and Vietnam.
A page about Vietnamese tourism is now in the JESTA Asia magazine of Jetstar Asia Airlines. This page introduces the Impressive Vietnam programmes on all Jetstar flights to Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
VNAT will also market Vietnamese tourism in the UK ABTA Members Handbook in 2010. This is a manual for UK travel agents, and will reach more than 55,000 tourism policymakers, tourism experts and travel agents.
Another page about Vietnam’s tourism will be printed in the ABTA Magazine, which will be presented at big tourism fairs and exhibitions in the world.
To promote its image in the US, VNAT published an advertisement in the worldwide Destination Guide and a publication of the American Society of Travel Agents.
Promotion in China
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to launch new campaigns to introduce Vietnam’s beauty and potential to boost tourism growth and improve Vietnam’s image in the world. One of the key programmes is the Beijing Roadshow.
This will be a key programme to hit the Chinese market, the largest market for Vietnam. China is also a highly potential market with a population of over one billion people, whose incomes are rising.
During the Beijing Roadshow, Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh will pay an official visit to China and attend an Asian ministerial meeting in China.
A seminar, a meeting between officials of the Vietnamese Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry, Vietnamese tourism firms and Chinese tourism officials will be held in Beijing during Tuan’s visit.
The Ministry plans to invite big Chinese newspapers and TV channels to introduce Vietnam and Vietnamese tourism to Chinese people.
VNAT will widely promote the “Impressive Vietnam” campaign in China and invite Chinese partners to participate in a tourism fair and seminar on tourism in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in October 2009 in HCM City.
In China, Vietnam will be introduced as a destination for the winter tourism season, especially for Chinese golfers. In the winter, Chinese golfers often go to Southeast Asian countries to relax and play golf because China has snow in this season. This is an opportunity for Vietnam to attract high-class tourists.
VietNamNet/VH
Cha muc - an eating-out special of Halong Boiled or steamed squid is not the specialty of the northern coast city of Halong, but the unique flavor of cha muc (fried squid paste) arouses the desire of travelers from near and far.
You can enjoy a view of the Bai Chay bridge and the flavor of Halong cha muc and steamed glutinous rice. (Photo: SGT) We had cha muc several times during our visit to Halong, whose sea provides a plentiful source of fresh squid for local cooks to make the fried squid paste which appeals to so many visitors. Locals net fresh squid and then pound it by hand in a mortar until it becomes an elastic paste. Then they mix it with broken pepper and fish sauce before shaping it into cakes for deep frying in a pan until the paste cakes turn brown and smell good. People eat cha muc when it is hot and with steamed rice rolls or steamed glutinous rice as the oily broth from the paste cakes mixes with the steamed rice rolls or rice to turn it into a delicious dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In Halong, a dish of cha muc and steamed rice rolls or steamed glutinous rice is served with pepper fish sauce and bamboo slices pickled with slices of red chili. Such a dish helps stimulate blood circulation and keeps people warm on chilly winter nights in the north. Visitors can eat cha muc with steamed glutinous rice at street eateries on Ha Long street, near Cong Doan hotel or near the Bai Chay bridge for VND20,000 a portion. The flavor and reputation of Halong cha muc has gone beyond the tourist city to Hanoi, HCMC and other cities of Vietnam. However, it is in Halong where you can enjoy the authentic taste and flavor of fried squid paste. In HCM City, Cuong Chung Co. will deliver squid paste to your door. One kilogram of regular cha muc is VND160,000 and one kilogram of special is VND220,000. Orders can be placed by calling 016 8865 6556. VietNamNet/SGT
News for Thursday 06 August, 2009
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