Delegates focused on better cooperation in the areas of information sharing, advertising, as well as infrastructure investment and new tourism products.

In particular, participants committed to improving State management policy, [...]]]> A seminar on linking tourism initiatives across the provinces of Lao Cai, Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh and Hanoi city was held in Hanoi on October 27.

Delegates focused on better cooperation in the areas of information sharing, advertising, as well as infrastructure investment and new tourism products.

In particular, participants committed to improving State management policy, encouraging closer cooperation, and looking at ways to make tourist destinations more attractive to local and overseas markets

(Source: VOV)

Truong Hai Company, which is based in Ha Long Town, will be suspended until related agencies reach conclusions about the cause of the accident, said Dang Huy [...]]]> Authorities in the northern province of Quang Ninh Friday suspended a company whose boat sank in an accident that killed 12 tourists in Ha Long Bay the day before.

Truong Hai Company, which is based in Ha Long Town, will be suspended until related agencies reach conclusions about the cause of the accident, said Dang Huy Hau, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.

“The provincial authorities’ viewpoint is to strictly and objectively punish people who let the accident happen without exception,” Hau said.

It is said that the accident, which killed ten foreigners and two Vietnamese, happened just before dawn due to some problems with the boat’s building materials. All six crew members and nine tourists survived.

Also Friday, local authorities set up a team to inspect all boats operating in Ha Long Bay, especially more than 100 that provide overnight accommodations which were suspended after the accident.

A decision on which of these will be allowed to resume services will be taken after the inspections are carried out.

Amendments are being made to tighten provincial regulations regarding the operation of boats in the bay, authorities said.

In the meantime, accident survivors were sent to concerned foreign embassies in Hanoi Friday morning.

Six bodies of the tourists who died were also handed over to the concerned embassies.

The remaining bodies are being kept at the morgue of a provincial hospital to be handed over directly to their families.

Quang Ninh authorities also said they have made ex-gratia payments of VND10 million (US$478.92) each to the survivors, and allocated VND20 million ($957.85) each for relatives of the dead.

Source: Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre

It will officially open in Bai Chay area on May 1 with its full pomp.

The main highlights will include art performance and Carnival 2011 themed “Ha Long wonder sparkling in colour” to mark its 5th annual celebration.

Mong Cai, Dong Trieu, Uong [...]]]> Ha Long Tourism Festival Week 2011 will be held from April 28 to May 2.

It will officially open in Bai Chay area on May 1 with its full pomp.

The main highlights will include art performance and Carnival 2011 themed “Ha Long wonder sparkling in colour” to mark its 5th annual celebration.

Mong Cai, Dong Trieu, Uong Bi, Van Don and other localities are busy preparing to introduce their special products and cultural values at the festival.

2011 is a decisive year of the voting campaign for Ha Long Bay to become one of the world’s natural wonders, launched by New Open World (NOW) through the internet (www.natural7wonders.com).

Over the past month, Quang Ninh has welcomed 270,000 tourists, including 167,000 foreigners and earned VND260 billion in revenue, an increase of 20 percent from a year earlier./.

Source: VOV News

Viet Nam At A Glance, located off Bo Cap (Scorpion) pier in An Phu Commune, resembles a giant garden with traditional varieties of flowers, bonsai, and fruit [...]]]> Halong Bay Cruises – A tourism park with a strong cultural theme is being built in time for Tet (lunar New Year) in HCM City’s suburban Cu Chi District.

Viet Nam At A Glance, located off Bo Cap (Scorpion) pier in An Phu Commune, resembles a giant garden with traditional varieties of flowers, bonsai, and fruit and bamboo trees of various kinds and sizes.

But designers and carpenters worked hard to create a 22.5-ha village that depicts the cultural and daily aspects of the life of people in various regions of the country.

It has hundreds of model houses, rickshaws, and everyday objects made of bamboo, wood, and clumps of rice straw and grass.

Artisans from as far-flung areas as Cao Bang make traditional dishes, cakes, liquor, and handicrafts, which are both displayed and sold.

There is a playground for traditional games that takes older people back to their childhood when they themselves played those games.

Music and dance and food related to ethnic groups can be seen at several spots around the park.

“We have worked hard with our suppliers, including farms, agricultural companies, and tourist agencies, to make our park one of the city’s biggest and best cultural and entertainment centres,” Tran Thi Tuyet Nga, a member of the park’s managing board, said.

“Through its unique products, we hope visitors will discover and enjoy slices of Viet Nam’s history, culture, and lifestyle in different regions.

“I’m sure both local and foreign photographers and artists will find inspiration here.”

She and her 200-strong staff hope to welcome 40,000-50,000 visitors during the Tet holidays in the first week of February.

Henry Nguyen Lam, a Vietnamese-American businessman who is visiting the country for Tet, says: “My family and I will tour Cu Chi and visit Viet Nam At A Glance.”

Entry tickets cost VND50,000 to 95,000 and are available at the venue. They can also be booked at 08 2218 1465.

The park’s website at http://www.motthoangvietnam.vn offers more information.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

The conference attracted the attendance of Thua Thien Hue province’s Vice Chairman of People’s Committee Ngo Hoa, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s General Director Nguyen Van Tuan, Thua Thien Hue Department of [...]]]> Halong Bay Cruises – On Jan 10th, a conference on Thua Thien Hue tourism promotion in 2011 was held at Hoa Binh hotel, Hanoi.

The conference attracted the attendance of Thua Thien Hue province’s Vice Chairman of People’s Committee Ngo Hoa, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s General Director Nguyen Van Tuan, Thua Thien Hue Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Director Phan Tien Dung, Director of Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Pham Quang Long and delegates of the VNAT, Departments, tourism associates and companies and press agencies…

The conference aims to promote the Hue’s people and image, tourist products as well as develop its service quality.

In 2010, the number of tourists visiting Thua Thien Hue increased strongly with more than 1,000,000 int’l arrivals and 700,000 domestic tourists. It indicated that Thua Thien Hue is always among the most attractive destinations to tourists.

In 2011, Thua Thien Hue will hold culture, sports and tourism events including Vietnam-Japan cuisine festival, “Lang Co-marine legend” festival… to promote national tourism year in Hue in 2012. From April 30 to May 3rd 2011, Hue will hold the 4th traditional craft festival focusing on cuisine and bonsai.

In addition, Thua Thien Hue and Hanoi’s Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism also signed agreements on cooperation in tourism development such as joining hands to develop and promote local heritages which were recognized by UNESCO.

Translated by Thanh Pham (TITC)

The event is scheduled to take place on April 29-May 2 in Bai Chay, Tuan Chau resorts and the center of [...]]]> Halong Bay Cruises – Ha Long Tourism Week 2011 is designed to lure more people to vote for Ha Long Bay, as 2011 is the deadline for voting the New Seven Wonders of the World.

The event is scheduled to take place on April 29-May 2 in Bai Chay, Tuan Chau resorts and the center of Ha Long city under the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Ha Long Bay was recognized by UNESCO as the world natural heritage in 1994 and 2000.

Currently, the New Open World Foundation has nominated the Bay as one of the world’s new seven natural wonders, bringing about a unique chance for Vietnam to gain the title and advertise the country’s tourism potentials .

Besides, a series of cultural, sports and tourism activities will be organized in the local key tourist destinations like Mong Cai, Uong Bi, Đong Trieu, and Van Đon during the Tourism Week.

Source: VGP

The fireworks will be set off on Hoan Kiem Lake in Hoan Kiem District, Ho Van Quan Street in Ha Dong District, Dong Da Lake and near [...]]]> Halong bay cruises – Hanoi plans spectacular firework displays in 29 locations on lunar New Year’s Eve on February 3 according to the People’s Committee of the capital.

The fireworks will be set off on Hoan Kiem Lake in Hoan Kiem District, Ho Van Quan Street in Ha Dong District, Dong Da Lake and near Thang Loi Hotel in Tay Ho District, and others.
Ho Chi Minh City too will have firework displays at seven locations around the City. The area around CARIC Company, a French Shipyard & Ship repairing Company in District 2, the construction area of the political and administrative center of District 7, Go Vap District’s Cultural Park, Nga Ba Giong Memorial area of Heroic Martyrs in Hoc Mon District, Ben Duoc Temple of Heroic Martyrs in Cu Chi District, Ethnic Culture historical park in District 9, Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11 and Can Gio District have been marked as locations for spectacular firework shows.

The central coastal city of Khanh Hoa will also organize firework displays in 7 places including two in Nha Trang City, Cam Ranh, Ninh Hoa, Dien Khanh, Cam Lam and Van Ninh districts.

Da Nang City will also have four firework shows along the Han River.
Source: SGGP

The book wrote “Ha Long Bay, or the Bay of the Descending Dragon, in northeastern Vietnam, is scattered [...]]]> Halong Bay Cruises – Vietnam’s world heritage Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh ranks sixth among the world’s top ten destinations for sailing cruises by the US’s National Geographic book Journeys of a Lifetime.

The book wrote “Ha Long Bay, or the Bay of the Descending Dragon, in northeastern Vietnam, is scattered with some 3,000 precipitous, strangely sculpted limestone islands and outcrops, and dotted with small floating villages and deserted sandy beaches.

“In spring and early summer the water is particularly calm and clear. This UNESCO World Heritage site is best explored by a cruise on a junk.”

The other nine destinations are Nova Scotia and Labrador Tall Ships of Canada; San Juan Islands, Washington; Pirate Cruise, Grand Cayman Island of the UK; Star Clipper to French Polynesia of France; Junk Cruise, Andaman Sea of Thailand; Seychelles Islands of Seychelles; Dhow Cruise, Straits of Hormuz of Oman; Lamu Island of Kenya; and Evia Island Cruise of Greece.

Earlier, Ha Long Bay was also listed among the world’s top ten best and romantic destinations for 2011 by the UK ’s Lonely Planet magazine.

Ha Long Bay, in the northern province of Quang Ninh, has made it onto the list of the 10 most outstanding coastal destinations.

About [...]]]> Halong Bay Cruises – Two of Vietnam’s coastal destinations have been listed among the world’s ten most outstanding tourist destinations by Lonely Planet Magazine, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

Ha Long Bay, in the northern province of Quang Ninh, has made it onto the list of the 10 most outstanding coastal destinations.

About 500 ships ply the waters of Ha Long Bay, designated as the World Heritage site in 1994, carrying millions of tourists every year, according to the VNAT.

Quang Ninh has attracted 5.3 million visitors so far this year, 2.5 million of whom visited Ha Long Bay.

The other nine locations were the Norwegian Fjords, the Amazon River, the Franklin River in Australia, the Quetico

Provincial Park in Canada, the Kerala backwaters in India, New Zealand’s Milford Sound Bay, the Greek islands, Disco Bay in Greenland, and the Galapagos Archipelago off the coast of Ecuador.

Con Dao Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, was listed in the top 10 most mysterious and outstanding islands in the world for an ideal holiday.

The island was featured for its unspoiled beaches and dark history as a site for inhumane prisons – often known as the Alcatraz of Southeast Asia.

The list includes Socotra off the coast of Yemen, Australia’s Torres, Yaeyama from Japan, Iles du Salut of Guyana, Ulleungdo from Korea, San Blas Islands from Panama, Taiwan’s Penghu; Bay and Hog Islands of Honduras and Uganda’s Ssese.
Source: Agencies

The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Department [...]]]> Halong Bay Cruises – The hub of Vietnam’s tourism, HCMC, will launch a month-long promotion for visitors to the city with attractive discounts from December 15 to January 15. It will promote the city as a tourist destination during the high season, the tourism department said.

The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Department of Trade and Industry has organized the month of discounts in cooperation with entertainment parks, shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, travel agents, transport providers and many other trade and tourism services.

The capital city of Hanoi and the central city of Danang have organized similar programs for tourists.

A ceremony on December 21 as part of the program will welcome the 3-millionth foreign visitor to HCMC.

The department estimated that HCMC would welcome 3.1 million international visitors this year, up 20% year-on-year. Tourism revenue will reach VND41 trillion, up 17% year-on-year.

The tourism department expects to welcome 3.5 million foreign visitors next year, and hopes to earn VND49 trillion. SGT

(Source: SGT)