Vietnam Country

Ha Long Bay’s World Wonder bid receives a boost

hoannguyen — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:56:52 +0000

Vietnamese people will have the chance to vote for Ha Long Bay as a new World Wonder through a TV programme to be broadcast live on October 29.

The live programme will be concurrently aired on Vietnam Television’s Channel 1 (VTV1) linking four places: Ha Long Bay in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh, the capital city of Hanoi, the former imperial city of Hue in the central region and Ho Chi Minh City. Famous figures, including pop stars, will vote for the bay and deliver messages calling on audiences to take part in the vote. Ha Long Bay has been twice recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The programme will help promote the image of the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay and Vietnam as well, said Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) at a press briefing in Hanoi on October 19. According to MoCST Minister Hoang Tuan Anh, the voting campaign is entering the final stage. New7Wonders will announce the final results of voting around the world on November 11, 2011. He quoted New7Wonders as saying Ha Long Bay has received a relatively high number of votes compared to other nominees. Vietnamese people can vote for Ha Long Bay by logging on www.new7wonders.com and Facebook and using the SMS service. The voting will be closed at 11.11am (GMT) on November 11, 2011.

Source: Vietnam net

Ghenh Rang – memories of history and tragedy

hoannguyen — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:44:32 +0000

A tour to Quy Nhon is not complete without a visit to a national relic – the grave of poet Han Mac Tu in Ghenh Rang Hill.

Quy Nhon is a port town which traces its roots back to the last kingdom of Champa people in the tenth century who built the My Son Sanctuary which has been recognized as a world heritage by UNESCO.

Quy Nhon City is one of the most beautiful cities in the central region and is endowed with sea, mountains, lagoons and a beautiful bay.

Around two kilometers southeast of the center of the city is Ghenh Rang Tien Sa tourist area, a must-see destination for tourists. It has a hill covered by green trees and is striking with a stone cliff directing to the sea at the end section of Xuan Van Mountain 500-1,000 meters above sea level in the Truong Son Mountain Range.

Eighty years ago, the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty, Bao Dai loved this place so much he built a hotel for the royal family’s relaxation at the foot of the mountain. Now, there is a complex of hotels to serve tourists who relax at Hoang Hau (Queen) Beach following in the footsteps of Queen Nam Phuong, wife of King Bao Dai, who would bathe and relax there.

Visiting the grave of Tu is a more somber affair. After tramping around the hill under the shade of betel trees, tourists will see a white stone grave in an area surrounded by trees and flowers. The fragrance of the trees and murmurs of waves in the distance together with whispers of wind though leaves will make travelers feel they are straying into a fairytale location.

Tu is well-known as a talented but melancholic poet. His poems emerged in Vietnamese poetry circles during the 1920s-1930s as the heart-broken voice of a young soul who suffered leprosy, an incurable disease at that time.

His inner voice has stirred millions of hearts and his poems are loved and respected by many Vietnamese people. People visiting this area of Vietnam are intrigued by stories of the life and career of the tragic poet.

Source: Vietnam net

Vietnam, India plan direct flights

hoannguyen — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:02:36 +0000

A direct service between Viet Nam and India is on the cards following a memorandum of understanding signed between Vietnam Airlines and India’s largest private carrier, Jet Airways.

Under the MoU for comprehensive co-operation signed in New Delhi on Wednesday during the ongoing visit by President Truong Tan Sang, the carriers will jointly evaluate the possibility of direct services which will significantly contribute to the development of bilateral investment, trade, and tourism relations and a strategic partnership.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Sang hoped it would translate into fruitful co-operation and benefit both carriers.

“The signing of this MOU with Jet Airways, India’s largest private airline, is a step in achieving the two countries’ strategic partnership commitment,” said Pham Ngoc Minh, president and CEO of Vietnam Airlines.

Naresh Goyal, chairman of Jet Airways, said: “This agreement with Vietnam Airlines is an integral part of our strategy for increased international growth and providing seamless service for travellers between India and Viet Nam.”

There is no direct flight yet between the two countries and passengers have to transit in one of the Southeast Asian countries.

Vietnam Airlines has a young fleet of 72 aircraft, mainly Boeing 777s, Airbus A330s and A321/320s, and operates more than 300 daily flights to 20 domestic and 26 international destinations.

Jet and its subsidiary JetLite have a fleet of 116 aircraft, including Boeing 737-700s/800s/900s, Boeing 777-300 ERs, Airbus A330-200s and ATR 72-500s, and operate 620 daily flights to 80 domestic and overseas destinations

Source: Vietnam net

Ba Na – “the green fairy”

hoannguyen — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:04:16 +0000

Sitting 1,487km above sea level and within spitting distance of Da Nang City, the Ba Na resort area offers a wonderful respite for any weary traveller.

With its awesome landscape and year-round cool, Ba Na serves up the perfect alternative to the hustle and bustle of the city. However, the resort’s only accessible by a tortuous but spectacular 20km road running from the foot of the mountain across mist-covered hillsides.

The first attraction to thrill tourists is the clear skies and puffy clouds floating over the valleys below and spectacular panoramic views of Da Nang City, Thung Bay (with its semi-circle coastline from the foot of Hai Van Pass Tunnel to Son Tra Peninsula), My Khe Beach, Ngu Hanh (Marcle) Mountains, and Thu Bon River (embracing fertile fields in Quang Nam province).

The blue waves of the Eastern Sea lapping Cham Island are visible and the picturesque landscape is breathtaking.

Tourists can enjoy four seasons in one day: spring in the morning, summer at noon, a little of autumn in the afternoon, and a cold winter bite at night. Ba Na’s weather is unique. In Ba Na, rain often falls only halfway up the hill, leaving the peak and the sky above clear and the views spectacular.

The French turned Ba Na into a resort in 1901. In 1912, a progressive governor general of Indochina designated the area as a forestry reserve. However, in 1930, the French reclassified Ba Na as a holiday resort for French officers and built hotels and villas. After decades of war and neglect, the structures fell into disrepair. Then, in 2000, developers reclaimed Ba Na from the jungle. A tourist town rose from the ruins.

The areas greatest asset is its pristine eco-system and temperate climate. Ba Na is famous for its bio-diversity. Its flora and fauna contain over 544 tree species (including six rare species) and 256 vertebrates, all of which are recorded in Vietnam’s Red Book.

Endangered vertebrates include the crested argus, the Asian black bear, the yellow-cheeked gibbon, and lignum aquilariae, along with several other species yet to be listed that are thought to survive in small numbers, protected only by the pristine wilderness.

Stone steps lead adventuresome tourists to 18th century Linh Ung Pagoda, which houses ancient documents about the temple’s history and boasts a 30m tall statue of Buddha.

French wine cellars built during the colonial period which are still used for aging the locally grown products, are another attraction. Wine-tasting tours are popular with many visitors.

Suoi Mo (Mo Stream) near the magical Thach Tien Waterfall is another favourite spot for tourists during muggy summer days. Mist created by the waterfall looks like “fairy hair”.

The Ba Na area has many facilities, including villas, hotels, restaurants, tennis courts, and many other services. Most impressive is the new cable car that links the Ba Na Peak to Mo Stream. Strung between 22 pillars, its 94 cars can carry 1,500 people on a wonderful journey through the jungle.

People often call the unspoiled environment of Ba Na “Green Fairy”, for it provides a great opportunity for visitors to Da Nang to savor the jungle and enjoy an unforgettable experience among the clouds.

Source: Vietnamnet

Foreign arrivals up 18.4 percent in eight months

TRAVEL IN BRIEF 7/10

hoannguyen — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:31:15 +0000

Firms offer flood experience tours

Travel firms in the Mekong province of An Giang are offering tours for visitors to experience the flood season between late July and mid-October.

“Though An Giang has entered its major flooding season, we go ahead with our tours,” said Nguyen Phu Phuc, deputy director of An Giang Tourimex’s tourism centre.

“Vinh Te Canal, Tra Su cajeput forest, and Chau Doc town are safe places for tourists.”

At Vinh Te and Tra Su, visitors can catch fish and experience the lifestyle of locals during the annual floods.

In An Giang, the flood season is expected to last until November 20 this year.

Nha Trang to welcome charter flights

Chartered flights will bring large numbers of Russian and Malaysian tourists visiting Nha Trang to nearby Cam Ranh Airport in the upcoming months.

According to the Khanh Hoa Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, monthly chartered flights will bring Russian tourists between November and March next year. Also in November, chartered flights will bring tourists from Malaysia’s Malacca State.

Under a contract signed by local travel agency Anh Duong Co and the Moscow-based Turkish Pegas Touristik Co, there will be a daily flight carrying some 180 Russian visitors to Cam Ranh.

Farmers turn to music by night

Visitors to Then, a small village in the northern province of Bac Giang, some 90km from Ha Noi, can see its residents working very hard in the fields in the morning before turning into high-calibre musicians and artists after sunset.

The village has just 200 families but more than 100 violins. An orchestra plays during Tet (Lunar New Year) and all other festivals the villagers celebrate.

Nguyen Huu Dua, a 76-year-old farmer who has spent nearly 50 years playing the violin, says a group of 10 trail-blazing violinists founded the village orchestra in 1955.

Many Then villagers went to the American War to entertain Vietnamese soldiers with their musical skills during fierce battles in the central region. After the war, they returned to the village and caused a violin craze.

Nguyen Quang Khoa, head of the orchestra, says the violinists not only play foreign classical music but also traditional Vietnamese music like cheo (traditional operetta) and quan ho (love duets), and even foreign pop. The group gathers twice a week to practice.

Malaysia ship to make regular visits

Chan May Port in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue will welcome 30,000 cruise tourists who will come aboard the Malaysia-flagged Star Cruises on its 25 weekly visits from next month through March 2012.

The five-star vessel will mostly bring passengers from China coming with laissez-passer.

During the period Da Nang and Quang Ninh will also be on Star Cruises’ itinerary as it arrives from Hainan Island in China.

Chan May is expected to welcome another 10 to 15 international cruise vessels with 350-400 visitors each under an arrangement with Tan Hong Tourism Co.

SMS campaign promotes Ha Long

The Ministry of Information and Communications has launched a campaign to vote for Ha Long Bay in the New7Wonders of Nature contest by text messaging.

To vote for it, one has to type Halong and send to 147. It costs VND630.

New7Wonders of Nature is an initiative started in 2007 to create a list of seven natural wonders chosen by people through a global poll.

More than 440 “wonders” in over 220 countries and territories have been whittled down to 28 finalists. Voting will continue until next month, with the seven new wonders of nature being announced on November 11.

Source: Vietnam net

The cadle of Vietnamese Buddhism

hoannguyen — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:27:56 +0000

On the way to Bac Ninh Province in northern Vietnam, we were told that Phat Tich is an ancient pagoda at the foot of Phat Tich Mountain. But upon arrival, we were surprised at what was seen there. Almost everything, especially wooden structures, is new.

Nearly US$9 million has been spent over the past four years on a project to restore the pagoda. Why so? For celebration of Thang Long-Hanoi millennium in 2010. Phat Tich is the cradle of Vietnamese Buddhism. It was the first place where Indian Buddhism was introduced.

Also known as Van Phuc, the pagoda in Tien Du District was built between the 7th and 10th centuries and renovated throughout the years before its destruction in 1947 during the war against the French. Since it was important to Buddhist life, it was roughly rebuilt in 1958.

Along the moss-covered path to the main hall are two lines of stone horses, buffaloes, rhinos, elephants and lions on their knees, which are among a few vestiges of the ancient pagoda.

During the Ly Dynasty in 1057, a tower was built at the pagoda but it later collapsed, thus exposing what was described as the country’s largest Buddha statue, which is 1.85m high. It is a real treasure. There are also a dozen of lower towers said to hold the remains of senior monks.

Visitors can also see a giant stone statue of Buddha on the peak of Phat Tich Mountain, which took three years to build. The statue is 27m tall and weighs 3,000 tons, making it one of the largest stone statues in Southeast Asia.

Actually, the architecture of the pagoda is quite similar to that of others in northern Vietnam but it is worth dropping by it to get a glimpse of the birthplace of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Source: Vietnamnet

Poor infrastructure impedes Vietnam’s tourism

Hanoi, Hoi An among best Asian destinations

hoannguyen — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:24:59 +0000

Hanoi and Hoi An ancient quarter in the central province of Quang Nam have been named among the top ten destinations in Asia for 2011, in an online poll conducted by Hong Kong-based travel and trade journal, Smart Travel Asia.

Hanoi is ranked equal sixth with Shanghai, China while Hoi An was jointly rated seventh with Rajastan, India and Seoul, Republic of Korea, according to the poll organized by the magazine which is regarded as a leading authority on the regional travel industry.

The Metro-pole Hanoi and The Nam Hai shared the first position in the travel magazine’s list of Top 25 Leisure Hotels and Resorts.

Last year, the Nam Hai ranked second while the Metropole was third.

Coming second this year is the Peninsula in Hong Kong. The Amandari Hotel and the Bulgari Resort, both on Indonesia ’s island of Bali, shared third.

In addition, the Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City claimed 23rd on the list of top business hotels in Asia.

Aside from being named Asia’s Top Leisure Hotel and Resort, the Metropole was also ranked 18th on the list of Asia’s Top 25 Business Hotels and 8th among Asia’s Top 25 Conference Hotels. The Nam Hai collected an additional award as one of Asia’s three Top Spa Hotels and Resorts.

A total of six Vietnam properties made the poll lists, including the Park Hyatt Hotel Saigon, the Furama Resort Danang, and Princess d’Annam Resort and Spa in Ke Ga Bay of Binh Thuan province.

Blockhouse coffee shop in Hanoi

hoannguyen — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:41:29 +0000

At this coffee shop, you will sit down near a black loophole to sip a cup of black coffee and see the sunset on the West Lake.

At the crossroad between To Ngoc Van and the road around the West Lake, there is a special coffee shop inside a blockhouse.

This blockhouse is called “Mother blockhouse”, which is connected to the “child blockhouse” by a trench. The two blockhouses are in the dense system of blockhouses in the Red River delta, built by the French. Sitting in the blockhouse, one can observe a vast area.

The “Mother blockhouse” is over 100sq.m, built by white stone and concrete, with thickness of 60-80cm. The blockhouse has two doors, which are very small. One door is sufficient for one person, and the another door is very low, which requires guests to bend to get through.

There are narrow corridors inside the blockhouse, with loopholes. An iron staircase stands at the center of the blockhouse, leading to the cylinder-shaped tower on the second floor. There are also many loopholes on the tower.

Let’s visit the coffee shop :

Source: Vietnamnet

Ha Long Bay enters finale of new world natural wonder poll

hoannguyen — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:43:44 +0000

VietNamNet Bridge – Chairman of New7Wonders organization, Bernaro, presented a certificate to certify that Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay enters the final round of the poll on the seven new natural wonders of the world, to Quang Ninh province’s authorities on September 27.

Bernaro said that he was impressed by the bay’s beauty. He confirmed to vote for Ha Long Bay in the final round.

Pham Minh Chinh, Quang Ninh province’s Party Secretary, said that the province would organize many campaigns to call for people to vote for the bay.

The official promised that the local authorities would take many measures to protect the bay’s environment.

Chairman of NewopenWorld organization visited Ha Long Bay only 44 days before the poll closes (November 11). Ha Long Bay is now among the sites with the highest votes.

Source:

Vietnam net

Delta tourism to go through the roof

hoannguyen — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:41:22 +0000

A Saigontourist representative just unveiled the holding company would kick-off the construction of its four-star Saigon-Vinh Long hotel in Vinh Long city in the Mekong Delta at a cost of VND157 billion ($7.58 million) in the first quarter of 2012.

The prospective hotel, consisting of nine floors, 84 rooms covering 2,300 square metres, is slated to come online in the third quarter of 2013.

Later, the firm will inject $85.08 million into building five-star Saigon-Phu Quoc eco resort in Kien Giang province’s Phu Quoc island district. Construction of the 205.6 hectare resort with 900 hotel rooms and one 27-hold golf course will take place in the second quarter of 2012 and be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014.

“The Mekong Delta is a huge market with lucrative green tours and home-stay tours on offer. We will further pump capital into upgrading the region’s tourist residences to better serve visitors,” said the firm’s representative.

Saigontourist is set to put around VND1 trillion ($48.3 million) into inland tourism development annually from now up to 2015.

Vingroup recently pumped a great sum into launching Vinpearl Luxury and Vinpearl Resort high-class property lines in central Danang and coastal Nha Trang cities, according to the group’s deputy chairman Le Khac Hiep.

“In the coming period, we will scale up investment to expand our business in diverse locations in Hoi An, Phu Quoc and Da Lat,” said Hiep, adding that more investment would be poured into Vinpearland to diversify entertainment.

Reality shows that a big chunk of money channeled into tourism was mostly private equity capital.

Ministry of Planning and Investment figures show that private equity capital injected into Mekong Delta’s tourism mounted to VND2.197 trillion ($106 million) from 2006-2010, quadruple the state budget total investment into the region.

Lately, two travel firms inked agreements to promote the delta entertainment services. A recreational centre in Bac Lieu city’s Tran Huynh Park with VND90 billion ($4.3 million) in total investment will soon be developed by Trade and Service Global Company Limited and Cong Tu Bac Lieu resort project in Bac Lieu city’s ward 3 developed by Saigontourist in cooperation with Rong Viet Bac Lieu Ecological Joint Stock Company. Construction of the latter, worth an estimated VND250-300 billion ($12.1-$14.5 million), will also get off the ground within 2011.

According to industry experts, infrastructure, human resources, tour diversification and promotion bottlenecks must be addressed for delta tourism to take off.

Hue culture festival key National Tourism event

hoannguyen — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:15:54 +0000

Hue Festival 2012, titled Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development – A Rendezvous for Historical Cities will open on April 7 next year at the Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) Square in Hue City, organisers announced at a press briefing on Thursday.

The organising board said the festival would be a major cultural event of the National Tourism Year 2012, and a part of activities to commemorate the 325th anniversary of Phu Xuan (Hue) being chosen as capital of the southern region of Viet Nam by Nguyen Phuc Thai.

“It would also be a platform for the cultural exchange initiative of the Forum of East Asia and Latin America Co-operation,” said Nguyen Duy Hien, director of the Hue Festival Centre.

The festival would showcase distinctive art performances from all parts of the country, especially the royal art forms from the city of Hue, Hien said.

Twenty leading art troupes from many countries would also perform at the event.

Other key events that would take place during the nine-day festival include the Imperial Night, Oriental Night, Nam Giao Offering Ritual, Ao dai Grand Show, royal dances on the theme A Peaceful World, music combined with lantern installations, a dialogue of drums and other percussion instruments called The Resonance of Vietmanese Spirit and the screening of historical films.

Installation art displays, a Children’s Festival, the Hue Poetry Festival, and Gastronomy Days will also be held during the festival.

Meanwhile, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue will host events held under the auspices of the National Tourism Year 2012 for the north-central coastal area.

Called Heritage Tourism, the programme will take place in Thua Thien-Hue and cities and provinces of Ha Noi, HCM, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Thanh Hoa.

The event will feature activities during 2012, especially in January, February, April, June, July and last months of next year.

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 11 cultural, sport and tourism events will be held in the city during the festival, including Charming Viet Nam, Central Coastal Food Festival, the Southeast Asian chess contest, cross-country race, and the second International Choir Festival.

Phan Tien Dung, director of the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the province would also host a programme to discover its seas and lagoons; the Dien Hue Nam Festival; a programme to promote tourism products in the rainy season; a programme to develop spiritual, handicraft villages and sea tourism products.

The northern port city of Hai Phong will host National Tourism Year 2013.

Source: Vietnam net

Local tour operators shun travel insurance

hoannguyen — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:16:43 +0000

Many foreign insurers enter Vietnam, helping diversify the country’s insurance product range and improve the competitiveness between insurers, according to the market consultancy Research and Markets.

However, travel insurance remains underdeveloped, the firm says.

The Vietnam Tourism Law put an onus on travel agencies to buy insurance for local customers.

Yet, figures from the Association of Vietnamese Insurers show 95 percent of around 22.5 million foreign and local tourists were not offered travel insurance last year.

Vietnam has vowed to crack down on tour boat safety after foreign visitors had a lucky escape from their sinking vessel, in an eerie echo of a fatal accident earlier this year.

There were no injuries in the incident, which involved 28 French tourists in May at the popular attraction of Ha Long Bay.

Analysts say just a few tourism enterprises in HCMC notices the important role of travel insurance, while the rest offer the insurance to foreign customers only.

Thus, they struggle with a large amount of travelers, leaving their market share being captured by foreign-owned rivals.

Many foreign travelers say that they favor foreign-owned tour operators in Vietnam over local ones as the formers always offer travel insurance.

“The travel insurance is a passport, which can ensure travelers’ safety,” Sara Hub, a Netherlands businesswoman, told Dau Tu Tai Chinh Newspaper.

“Not all travel agencies in Vietnam can offer that, so I opt for foreign operators.”

Travel insurance cost of local tours is very low, amounting to only VND1,500 per day for locals and US$1.5 per day for foreigners.

Despite the low cost, most Vietnamese tour operators still try to shun it.

A director of a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City, who asks not to be named, says most customers opt for low-cost tours during the current difficult period.

Therefore, travel agencies try to reduce costs as much as possible.

There are four main kinds of travel insurance in Vietnam, including insurance for local tours, one for Vietnamese tourists traveling to foreign countries, one for foreigners visiting Vietnam and one for foreigners living in Vietnam, who want to travel to foreign countries.

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