Tour operators set for busiest time of year
Ho Chi Minh City tour operators will be busy as usual during the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays since bookings for domestic and outbound travel have remained strong despite the global economic woes.
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, head of Fiditourist’s public relations and communications department, said her company’s business has been great this year. She added that there have been many bookings from local travellers. Fiditourist aims to serve some 12,000 travellers over 13 days during Vietnam Tet.
Vo Anh Tai, director of Saigontourist Travel Service Co, said tour prices have changed significantly when compared to other times during the year. He said some tours are being offered at lower prices in order to attract customers.
Culture festival to open in Ba Ria-Vung Tau
The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau will organise a cultural and tourism festival themed “Resounding Seaside Town” to attract more visitors on the first days of the Lunar New Year. The one-month festival, which will kick off on January 26, will be the biggest event ever to display the distinctive cultural and tourism features of the province.
The festival will include cannon shooting, performances imitating legendary ships of the anti-American war of resistance, spring flowers, wine, food, photo exhibitions, folk games, lion dance performances and canoe dances.
Nha Trang may host Miss Universe VietNam
The provincial authorities of Khanh Hoa have been given permission for the joint stock Hoan Cau (Universe) to host Miss Universe Viet Nam 2009 in Nha Trang City. The pageant will take place from April 21 to 30 at Diamond Bay, site of the 57th Miss Universe, held last July. The contest will find a beauty queen to represent Viet Nam in the Miss Universe 2009 competition.
Khanh Hoa People’s Committee also asked Hoan Cau to report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and to request a license for the event.
Australian speaker votes for Halong Bay
During his visit to the northern province of Quang Ninh last Saturday, Harry Jenkins, the Speaker of Australia’s House of Representatives, voted for Halong Bay as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
At the meeting with the provincial authority, Jenkins said he was happy about the province’s development but expressed his concern about the preservation and promotion of the World Cultural Heritage site of Halong Bay Vietnam.
Saigontourist greets 450 New Year tourists
Saigontourist Travel Service Company welcomed 450 foreign tourists on board the five-star cruise ship Columbus.
The tourists, most of which are German, visited Ho Chi Minh City on Monday.
This is the second cruise liner received by Saigontourist during the first half of this month. The cruise tourists went on a city tour of Ho Chi Minh City and a tour of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta on Monday and Tuesday.
After Ho Chi Minh City, the Columbus weighed anchor at Nha Trang port in Khanh Hoa province on Wednesday and Tien Sa port in Da Nang yesterday.
Tour company launches new scenic tour
The Ho Chi Minh City-based Ben Thanh Tourist has launched a four-day tour which takes tourists to the most beautiful beaches in Binh Thuan and the great mountains of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.
Atrractions in Binh Thuan include a stop by Ta Cu Resort to enjoy the mountainous scenery. One can also take a cable car to visit Linh Son-Truong Tho Pagoda. In Phan Thiet tourists can enjoy such splended scenes such as Fairy Tale Spring and Posanu Cham Tower in addition to sand dunes and beaches.
In Lam Dong, tourists can tour Damb’ri Waterfalls in Bao Loc District. Emperor Bao Dai Palace, Truc Lam Monastery, Tuyen Lam Lake, Love Valley and the Great Wall replica in Da Lat City.
Five-star, luxury Hoi An resort cuts rates
The five-star luxury resort The Nam Hai in the ancient town of Hoi An is inviting local residents on a luxurious getaway at a special rate. On weekdays (Sunday through Thursday) guests will pay US$260 for their first night at a one-bedroom villa and $160 for the second night. For a weekend stay from Friday to Saturday, the rate is $330 for the first night and $190 for the second night.
The promotion, which is valid for those with Vietnamese identification, Vietnamese local residence card, or six-month Vietnamese visa holders, is valid through March 31.
A special package is also offered for the Lunar New Year: the $270 package includes a two-night stay for one guest, breakfast, one two-course lunch, one three-course set dinner, early check-in, late check out and other amenities. The Tet package is valid from January 23-31.
