Chủ Nhật, 17 tháng 3, 2013

Hue Tourism Golden Week 2013, Hue Tourism Golden Week 2013, Hue Tourism Golden Week 2013

Hue Tourism Golden Week 2013

Aiming to attract tourists, the central coastal city of Hue will organize the “Tourism Golden Week” 2013, announced the city People’s Committee.

This is part of practical activities to stimulate tourism demand in the imperial city through three periods.

The first and second period will be from April 21 to 27 and from September 2 to 8, 2013. During these periods, tourists visiting relic sites will be offered free tram car service from Hue Royal Palace to museums, and 50 percent discount on tickets to watch Nha Nhac (Royal Music) of Hue in Duyet Thi Duong Royal Theatre.

In addition, when tourists buy tickets to visit the three destinations of Hue Royal Palace – Royal Antiquities Museum, Khai Dinh Tomb and Minh Mang Tomb, there will be no further charge for visiting Tu Duc Tomb, Thieu Tri Tomb and Hon Chen Palace. For groups of more than 15 visitors, voice-over will be offered free in Hue Royal Palace.

The third period will be from December 24 to 30. Beyond the same promotion policies and programmes as during the first and the second periods, Thua Thien - Hue Province will present a gift to the two millionth tourist to visit the imperial city. In addition, the three travel agencies bringing the most tourists to Hue in 2013 will be honoured.

Royal Palace Night, one of Hue’s special tourism products, will be organised only one night in the last day of the tourism golden week. Ticket prices will be discounted 20 percent for tourists joining the Royal Palace Night party.

(Source: CPV)

Vietnam Airlines runs Ho Chi Minh City-Thanh Hoa route

Vietnam Airlines runs Ho Chi Minh City-Thanh Hoa route

The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, officially launched the Ho Chi Minh City-central Thanh Hoa province air route, with the first flight landing Tho Xuan Airport, Thanh Hoa on February 5.

With five flights using Airbus A321 per week, the air route, Vietnam Airlines’ 39 th domestic one, is expected to meet increasing local travel demand, especially during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

The route is hoped to help promote investment and socio-economic development in Thanh Hoa and the Northern Central region thanks to its link with Ho Chi Minh City , the country’s largest economic hub.

On the occasion, Vietnam Airlines also launched a promotional ticket programme for the route users.

Before the debut of the new air route, the number of passengers travelling between Thanh Hoa and Ho Chi Minh City via Vinh Airport in Thanh Hoa’s neighbouring Nghe An province varied from 60,000 to 70,000 per year.

(Source: VNA)

Festival to waken aroma and flavour of Buon Ma Thuat coffee

Festival to waken aroma and flavour of Buon Ma Thuat coffee

The fourth Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival will take place in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on March 9-12 with the participation of over 200 coffee businesses nationwide.

The biennial festival has been held since 2005 to promote trade, tourism and investment in the province and the Central Highlands region while advertising Buon Ma Thuot’s coffee to domestic and foreign customers.



Under the theme ‘Beauty and Aroma of the Highlands’, this year’s event will feature various activities including a street carnival, a coffee making contest, a singing competition, tours to coffee farms, a fair, a seminar and an exhibition on coffee.



A competition to seek an ambassador for the coffee industry is being held in Ho Chi Minh City, Buon Ma Thuot, Da Nang and Hanoi as part of the festival. Twenty-five finalists will have a chance to join coffee farmers to explore the process of growing and processing coffee as well as learn the art of making the perfect cup of coffee.



The winner will be honoured as ‘Queen of Coffee’, and be presented with a VND50 million crown along with a cash prize of VND 100 million (USS4,700) at an awards ceremony on March 10.



(Source: Nhandan)

Vung Tau to host first int’l seaports festival, Vung Tau to host first int’l seaports festival

Vung Tau to host first int’l seaports festival

The first International Seaports Festival, themed “Vietnam – Trading Port of Peace and Development”, will be held in Vung Tau city, southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province from May 17-19.

According to the organiser, the Long Mai Global Trading Corporation (LOMA), diverse activities will be organised during the event, including a carnival, an exhibition on domestic and foreign seaports, shipping companies and logistics companies.


There will be also international seminars and forums as well as a light show and music performances and a friendly golf tournament to raise funds for Truong Sa archipelago.


The festival aims to further popularise Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty as well as introduce the country’s seaports and maritime tourism potential.


It will also provide a good chance for participants to exchange experience in managing trading ports, fostering shipping company-logistics system partnerships and developing strategies for seaports development in Vietnam.



(Source: VNA)

Viet Nam to organize four international travel marts in 2013

Viet Nam to organize four international travel marts in 2013

(TITC) - On March 5th 2013, in Ha Noi, Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh – Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) chaired a working session on preparation for organizing international travel marts in 2013.

Attending the working session were representatives of the departments of MOCST and the National Administration of Tourism; delegates from Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Khanh Hoa.



This is the first time four international travel marts will be organized in a year in Viet Nam: Viet Nam International Travel Mart in Ha Noi – VITM (from 18th to 21st April); International Sea Travel Mart in Nha Trang – ISTM (from 6th to 8th June); International Travel Exhibition in HCM City – ITE (from 12th to 14th September); Red River Delta Tourism Fair in Hai Phong (scheduled in October or November 2013).



Nowadays, Southeast Asia is emerging as an attractive tourist destination, and Viet Nam is also a bright spot to attract tourists and investors. However, the tourism industry still faces some challenges due to consequences of global economic recession, limited tourism expenditure, increasing competition between destinations. The organization of international travel marts 2013 in Viet Nam is expected to create a breakthrough to promote the image of Viet Nam to the world.



In the working session, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh asked the provinces and cities to study the success and experience of ITE HCM City. The Minister directed that cuisine must be a highlight in all marts, in order to build brand of Vietnamese cuisine. The provinces and the cities should co-operate and help each other, co-ordinate with Vietnam Airlines and mass media to promote the marts, invite businesses to attend, as well as ensure the quality of the marts.



Minister Hoang Tuan Anh also pointed out that the organization of international travel marts aims at introducing the tourism potentials and products of the provinces, cities, and famous destinations of the country, attracting international visitors to Viet Nam. The marts thus should be considered products and brand of Viet Nam Tourism. The sucessful organization of the marts would contribute to confirming the position and capacity of Viet Nam tourism in organizing big international events.



The representatives of the provinces and cities showed determination to organize successfully the marts in the year 2013 and prepare for annual organization to become a national tourism brand and promote the image of Viet Nam to the world.



Thu Thuy

Coffee festival wrapped up in Dak Lak

Coffee festival wrapped up in Dak Lak

The 4th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak closed on March 12, successfully popularising the brand of Buon Ma Thuot coffee in particular and that of Viet Nam to the outside world.

At the closing ceremony, themed “Highlands’s aroma”, there were performances of 12 artistic troupes in the province and other localities, highlighting coffee production and popularising the brand of Buon Ma Thuot coffee to the world.



The People’s Committee of Dak Lak province honoured 20 coffee products for their quality and 20 farmers and scientists.



The four-day festival, under the theme “Buon Ma Thuot coffee, integration and development”, went through various activities including exhibitions and fairs, street festivals, and seminars.



The Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival sticks to the goal of promoting the Vietnamese coffee industry and its products, especially It also contributes to drawing in investment and promoting tourism in Dak Lak province and the Central Highlands generally.


Viet Nam exports more than 1 million tonnes of coffee beans each year to nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide, ranking second among the world’s coffee exporters.


Last year, the country outstripped Brazil to become the world’s largest coffee exporter after earning a value of US$3.4 billion, a year on year increase of 36%.



Dak Lak province alone produces 400,000 tonnes of coffee beans and makes an export turnover of about US$700 million per year.



The country’s coffee growing area has increased to over 614,500 ha from 21,200 ha in 1961.



(Source: VGP)

Sakura Festival to be opened in April in Ha Long City

Sakura Festival to be opened in April in Ha Long City

On March 12, Vice-Chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee Dang Huy Hau chaired a meeting regarding the opening of the Sakura Festival 2013 in Ha Long.

The festival is planned to open in the early April 2013 at Clock Post Lan Be Central Park. During the festival, there will be a wide range of activities namely Sakura Exhibition, stores presenting handicraft products, foods; information booths introducing tourism products of Japan and Quang Ninh; art exchange between Quang Ninh and Japan; and exhibition on Quang Ninh’s  art works...



After listening to the festival plan and opinions raised at the meeting, Vice-Chairman Hau indicated that the Ha Long Sakura Festival will be an annual activity enhancing cultural exchange between Quang ninh provinve in paricular and Vietnam in general with Japan.



He stressed that this is a provincial-scaled festival but QNPPC authorized Ha Long City People’s Committee to collaborate with relevant provincial departments ensuring good preparation and organization.



(Source: Quang Ninh Newspaper)
http://vietnamtourism.com/

Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival to be held in early April

Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival to be held in early April

Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2013 will be held from April 4 to 7 in September 23 Park, District 1, according the City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The festival, themed “Ho Chi Minh City Tourism: Trademark – Integration – Development”, will include a festival to honour the leading trademarks of the city, an exhibition of beautiful photographs on Vietnam tourism, the first HCMC young tourism ambassadors competition, and other sporting activities to attract more tourists.


During the festival, tourists will have chances to access promotions on tour prices and preferential services from travel businesses, hotels, restaurants, visiting places and recreation areas.


The festival is a traditional event of the city’s tourism sector to honour prestigious tourist trademarks domestically, and offer opportunities for tourism businesses to introduce and sell new tourism products and services.


Last year, the city organised the 8th tourism festival, attracting about 200,000 visitors.


(Source: CPV)http://vietnamtourism.com/

Vietnam to host 4th ASEAN Traditional Textile Symposium

Vietnam to host 4th ASEAN Traditional Textile Symposium

Vietnam will host the 4th ASEAN Traditional Textile Symposium, which is expected to see the participation of more than 200 international and domestic guests and 100 traditional weavers from 10 ASEAN nations, Canada, Japan, India and the US from March 15-18.

The event, themed ‘Traditions, Innovations and Interactions: Paving a Creative Path for Traditional Textiles of Southeast Asia’, will be held in the northern province of Thai Nguyen.


Vietnam will be represented by members of the Vietnam Textiles Association, craftsmen from traditional weaving villages of 11 ethnic groups, designers, manufacturers and researchers.


Speaking at a press conference, Nguyen Van Tinh, Director of the International Co-operation Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that this is the first time Vietnam has hosted such a large event on ASEAN traditional textiles.


It will create an opportunity for Vietnam and other nations to co-operate in traditional textiles, and help the country introduce the quintessence of ethnic groups’ textiles, he added.


Within the framework of the symposium, a number of cultural activities will take place, such as workshops, exhibitions and demonstrations of the trade villages and their culture, fashion shows and fairs.


Two scientific workshops, which will explore the topics ‘From traditional textile villages to light industry trade’ and ‘Conservation and promotion of traditional textiles in museums’, will see the participation of various researchers and manufacturers.


A three-day trade fair with 15 international stalls and 60 Vietnamese stalls will introduce traditional and contemporary weaving and embroidery to audiences.


The event’s fashion show will take place over three nights with different themes, including the traditional costumes of Vietnam’s ethnic groups, and ethnic groups in ASEAN countries.


Vietnamese artisans will demonstrate how to make the linen cloth of the Mong ethnic group; the brocades of the Pa Then, Tay, Thai, Nung, Muong, Ede, M’nong, and Cham ethnic groups, and the silk of the Kinh and Khmer people.


Other cultural activities such as folk games, water puppet shows and the performance of traditional instruments will also be held to introduce Vietnamese culture to international friends.


(Source: VNA)http://vietnamtourism.com/

My Son Community Tourism Village opens, My Son Community Tourism Village opens

My Son Community Tourism Village opens

My Son Community-based Tourism Village in Duy Phu commune, central Quang Nam province, was opened on March 14 by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The village, funded by the Luxembourg Government, is located close to the World Cultural Heritage Site of My Son.

Forty households took part in the project, 30 of them from My Son hamlet.

To ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of community tourism, five households built service facilities with a total sum of 15,000 USD mobilised by ILO.

ILO’s representative Charles Bodwell said that the village helps improve local residents’ well-being and popularises My Son Heritage Site to domestic and foreign visitors. Its aims are both economic development and environmental protection.

(Source: VNA)http://vietnamtourism.com/

Hue arrives on tourist map, When eager travellers arrive in Vietnam, they usually have a familiar list of places that they are determined to visit - Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa and maybe Ninh Binh

Hue arrives on tourist map

When eager travellers arrive in Vietnam, they usually have a familiar list of places that they are determined to visit - Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa and maybe Ninh Binh.

One name that usually doesn't crop up immediately is Hue, the former imperial capital, which despite its rich tradition and heritage has mostly been used by tourists as a mere stopping point midway through their journey.

Recently, however, things have started to change and Hue is making a name for itself as a tourist destination in its own right.

In Hue, coffee shops and restaurants are surrounded by crumbling citadel walls that have stood firm through many conflicts – a visual reminder of the city's inimitable history and culture.

Long-term residents value Hue for its peaceful and quiet way of life, which can be quite hard to come by in a country as fast moving and often chaotic as Vietnam.

Often it is the little things that are savoured the most. There is nothing quite comparable to the simple pleasures of drinking a cold Huda (Vietnam's finest beer) on the banks of the Perfume River, drinking ca phe sua (Vietnam's finest milk-coffee) on a floating bamboo platform surrounded by lotus flowers, or drinking a supremely refreshing nuoc mia (sugarcane juice – Vietnam's finest refreshment) in the shadow of the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral. Indeed, almost all free time in Hue is spent drinking something.

The Hue people are well adapted to this inevitable state of affairs by now and continue with their daily lives with good humour. Expats in Hue seldom feel the same way. Those who brave the rainy season are rewarded when April arrives along with the sunshine, and the city transforms from beautiful, misty, rain soaked Hue to beautiful, resplendent, colourful Hue.

The city has a justifiably excellent reputation for food, a legacy of the Nguyen kings who were famously fussy eaters. The Vietnamese dishes here are mouth-wateringly good and beautifully presented, but be warned – the Hue people have a preference for spicy meals so tourists should be prepared!

For travellers who would prefer some home comforts, there is something for almost everybody (Hue boasts good Indian, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian and Mexican restaurants among others) with good quality food and reasonable prices.

Sample the real Hue by singing with friends at one of the numerous karaoke places, haggling at Dong Ba Market, or sailing down the river on a swan boat and watching the sun set. Experiences here can often range from the sublime to the ridiculous, but they all linger long in the memory.

Hue might not be as vibrant or fast paced as Hanoi or HCM City, but the people who return here again and again for just one more ca phe sua on a lazy afternoon wouldn't want it any other way.

(Source: VNA)
 http://vietnamtourism.com/

Sleeping bus Hanoi to Lao cai,overnight bus hanoi to sapa, Sleeper bus to Sapa, Buses from Hanoi to Sapa, Schedule & Fares Of Sleeper Bus Hanoi To Lao Cai

Sleeping bus Hanoi to Lao cai,overnight bus hanoi to sapa, Sleeper bus to Sapa, Buses from Hanoi to Sapa, Schedule & Fares Of Sleeper Bus Hanoi To Lao Cai

There are some kinds of transportation that you can take to travel from Hanoi to Sapa and returns. Besides the most popular transportation is going by train, traveling by bus is an option for those who have difficulty to book the train tickets or saving travel budget. These buses depart at different time in the morning and evening. It takes shorter time than going by train with reasonable price. With the advent of good technology, there are now special passenger buses that offer a very comfortable and safe journey. These buses are specially designed for travelers and hence, are very comfortable to travel in and generally equipped with all the latest amenities such as music players and LCD screens for the fun and entertainment of the travelers. Traveling from Hanoi to Sapa and reversal is a fun filled experience via bus. As it is a cheap, highly accessible and a comfortable mode of transportation. Also travelling via buses gives one the advantage of enjoying the beautiful scenic beauty on the way.

AC buses: Provide a comfortable journey allowing you to enjoy a pleasant bus ride to your preferred destination, unaffected by weather conditions outside the AC bus. For a comfortable travel experience, the buses are fitted with upholstered seats that can be reclined. Windows have curtains to block out the sun while some AC buses also play music or movies for entertainment of passengers.

Night Sleeper Buses: An innovative concept introduced a year ago, this type of sleeper buses are today the most preferred bus type for those who want to save time and quite convenient to take the other buses for next other destinations. Sleeper buses are specially designed for a comfortable bus travel experience and like trains have berths instead of seats. Each passenger is assigned a berth to sleep on during the journey. Most sleeper buses feature bunk beds with two berths each and feature window curtains as well.

Night Seater cum Sleeper Buses: The latest combination has resulted in the introduction of seater cum sleeper buses that offer you the choice of seats and berths within the same bus. A typical seater cum sleeper bus has two rows of seats that regular buses feature and in addition it also features a row of berths above the seats on each side of the aisle. Since the fare for a seat is less than that of a berth in a seater cum sleeper bus, depending on your budget and duration of travel, you can now opt for either a seat or a sleeper berth on seater cum sleeper buses.