Halong Tours

Elderly bicyclists support Vote for Ha Long Bay Campaign

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:13:16 +0000

Nearly 100 bicyclists from the UNESCO Cultural and Sports Exchange Club for Elderly People in Hanoi started a bicycle tour from Hanoi to Ha Long on November 6 to support the Vote for Ha Long Bay Campaign.

During their tour through Hai Duong and Hai Phong provinces, they will visit historical sites and encourage local people to vote for the Bay as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

They are scheduled to reach their finish line when the New7wonders organisation announces the final voting results on November 11.

Over the past 15 years, the UNESCO Exchange Club has conducted 447 bicycle trips to all the regions in the country.

Source: VOV

Long Bien Bridge may become living museum

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 09:12:33 +0000

Architects have said that Long Bien Bridge deserves to recognised as a living museum and a symbol of the country’s wartime heroism.
The Overseas Vietnamese Association held a meeting in Hanoi on Sept 20 to discuss ideas to preserve and upgrade Long Bien Bridge and the surrounding areas.
At the gathering, Nguyen Nga, an architect and urban planner from Paris, proposed that the bridge could become a contemporary museum.
According to Nga, the original bridge could be reinvented as the world’s longest contemporary art museum as there are already plans for a new Long Bien bridge to be built in the future to serve national railway links.
In order to realise the idea, the bridge must be raised two metres to permit the navigation of large vessels and be enlarged to permit long term development.
At the other end of Long Bien Bridge, there are ambitious proposals to construct a Museum of Contemporary Art, which would rise out of a lotus. The museum will present works of contemporary art, design, and technology, and feature a library, auditorium, restaurant and cafe.
Long Bien bridge’s 131 arches could be renovated with hanging gardens in the manner of the Coulee Verte Arts Viaduct in Paris or the High Line in New York City.
The reopening of the 131 arches, currently walled in and condemned, could provide a whole city-worth of galleries for artisans and artists, helping boost accessibility and interest. The arches could house galleries, studios and workshops, where artists could explore painting, printing, sculpture, mosaic, photography, design, and video art, along with performing arts, theatre, music and dance. Twenty arches would also be reserved for cafes, tea houses, and restaurants.
Prof Hoang Chuong, General Director of Director of the Research Centre for Preservation and Development of National Culture, said, “Long Bien Bridge is not only a piece of transport infrastructure, but also carries special political significance. Therefore, the bridge should be developed into a cultural destination for tourism.”
Long Bien Bridge was built by the French between 1898 and 1903. It included a railway and two road lanes. Some parts of the bridge are severely downgraded.
The Ministry of Transport and Vietnam Railway Corp are responsible for studying plans to upgrade the bridge.

Source: Dtinews

More foreign travel offices shut down in HCMC

admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 01:58:03 +0000

Vietnam tours halong – The number of representative offices of foreign travel firms in HCMC has fallen to seven from 11 last year as restrictions imposed on representative offices have discouraged them to maintain operations.

An official of the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism told the Daily that the city had nine such offices in 2009 and then 11 in 2010 but some have been closed lately.

“Some representatives told us that the business was not as good as expected, which forced them to close their offices,” he said. He also added that some companies had complained about the complicated procedures in obtaining licenses for representative offices.

The first licenses for foreign travel companies’ representative offices were issued in 2009 after a long time of disruption due to the absence of a circular providing guidance for implementing the Tourism Law.

Under prevalent rules, representative offices of foreign travel firms are not allowed to engage directly in revenue-generating business. These offices can carry out marketing activities to promote their companies’ image in Vietnam.

The official said the department had warned some offices for breaching the law by arranging tours for foreign travelers in the country.

“Some companies have opened offices for arranging tours in Vietnam. We are tightening checks on the activities that also make some stop their operation,” he said.

However, a businessman told the Daily his company still does not want to open an office in HCMC because the market size was still small.

“We are looking at the market and will take new moves when the market is bigger,” he said.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, international arrivals in HCMC in the first half of this year would reach 1.65 million, up 10% year-on-year.

Around 60% of the visitors, or 990,000, came to the city for travel purposes, while 300,000 arrived here for business and 360,000 came to see their relatives or for medical treatment.

Source: SGT

Measures to preserve Nha Trang Bay discussed

admin — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 01:26:20 +0000

Halong Tours – Participants at a seminar on Nha Trang Bay have agreed that one of the measures to preserve the bay is to increase the community’s role in management and exploration of coral resources.

They also proposed that educational activities should be organised to raise people’s awareness, in order to protect the environment and preserve biodiversity in Nha Trang Bay, which is the site of a Marine Protected Area.

At the seminar, held on June 8 in Nha Trang city, in the central coastal Khanh Hoa province, scientists discussed changes in biodiversity and threats to Nha Trang Bay ecosystems, such as the loss of coral area due to land reclamation, the reduction of marine resources, and fishing with explosives.

According to Khanh Hoa provincial Natural Resources and Environment department, the bay’s marine environment was facing uncontrolled impacts, including those caused by humans. As a result, people should join efforts to protect Nha Trang bay’s environment and resources.

The seminar was held on the occasion of the 10 th anniversary of Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA).

Nha Trang Bay was home to 350 species of coral, 120 species of molluscs and 248 species of seaweed.

Over the past decade, Nha Trang Bay MPA has implemented a project that combines the protection and development of biodiversity and improvement of local people livelihood and their environmental awareness.

The same day, the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute launched a showroom of Hoang Sa-Truong Sa islands’ marine resources, including hundreds of samples of typical living creatures from the sea area of the two archipelagos.

(Source: VNA)

Jetstar Pacific now thirsty for capital: General Director

admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 05:02:05 +0000

In order to keep periodic engine maintenance and implement the plan to charter and purchase more aircraft, Jetstar Pacific (JPA) needs some 55-60 million dollars. JPA commits to pay all the debts to Vinapco prior to July 31, said Le Song Lai, General Director of JPA, who is also the Deputy General Director of the powerful State Investment Capital Corporation (SCIC) which specializes in making investment in enterprises with state’s capital.

The budget airline Jetstar Pacific has been reportedly meeting big financial difficulties, unable to pay for fuel and cover other expenses, VietNamNet’s Vietnam Economic Forum talked with Le Song Lai to clarify the issue.

Could you please tell us about the business performance of JPA in 2010, and in the first months of the year? How have the happenings in Vietnam and in the world affected the airline’s operation?

In the whole year of 2010 and the first five months of 2011, domestic airlines, including JPA, have been facing a lot of serious difficulties and challenges.

As you may know, fuel always accounts for a big proportion, up to 50 percent, in the total expenses of JPA. Therefore, any fuel price fluctuations would influence the air carrier’s business. In 2010, JPA’s fuel expenses increased by 8.6 million dollars, or 21.5 percent, since the world’s oil price increased by 30 percent on average.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam dong has been depreciating against the dollar. In 2010, the dollar value increased by 14 percent over 2009, bringing the loss of 8 million dollars to the airline. Besides, the two-digit inflation and the sharp increases of charges and fees have also badly affected JPA’s business.

While the input costs increased significantly, airlines cannot raise the airfares. Though the airfare ceiling has been raised since April 2010, the current airfares are still much lower than the actual expenses. I know that all domestic airlines incurred losses on domestic air routes in 2010.

The situation has not been improved in the last five months, but it has even become worse, since the oil price stays firmly at high level of over 100 dollars per barrel due to the political uncertainties in the Gulf and North Africa.

As far as I know, JPA plans to purchase new engines and restructure business, which is believed to lead to financial problems. Could you please collaborate on this?

JPA plans to have five engines periodically maintained in 2011, which will cost over 10 million dollars. Besides, it will have to pay deposit to charter 10 A320s with the initial sum of 20 million dollars.

The air carrier is well preparing for the expansion of some international and domestic air routes which will be carried out right after it receives new aircrafts, slated for December 2011.

As such, the total sum of money JPA will have to pay in 2011 alone would reach 45 million dollars.

As I can see, JPA now needs capital very much to maintain business. How has the company’s board of management persuaded its shareholders to arrange such a huge sum of capital in the current difficulties?

Shareholders have reaffirmed their determination to build up JPA into a leading budget airline in Vietnam.

It is expected that by 2015, JPA will have a fleet of 15 new A320s, and JPA will receive four new aircraft each year in the period from 2012 to 2014. This will allows JPA to implement the plan to expand the air route network with 12 domestic routes and four international routes to regional countries.

Shareholders have approved the plan to issue new shares to existing shareholders and outside shareholders to raise the chartered capital.

The financial difficulties have led to Jetstar Pacific owing nearly 200 billion dong worth of fuel to Vinapco, which has threatened to collect air petrol money from JPA prior every flight (3.6 billion dong a day), if JPA cannot get the guarantee from SCIC or a credit institution prior to June 4? What will JPA do to settle the current problem?

As I said above, JPA is facing temporary difficulties due to many objective problems which are also the problems of many other companies. The JPA’s principle is that JPA must respect the provisions stipulated in the fuel supply contract it signed with Vinapco. As for the sums of money JPA pays late, JPA will pay interests in accordance with the laws.

JPA has sent a document to Vinapco, informing the debt payment process which has got the agreement from Vinapco. JPA commits to settle debts prior to July 31, and the normal payment will be resumed from August 1.

In the immediate time, JPA has accepted the request by Vinapco to make payment one day in advance for the flights of the next days.

Ha Yen

Sea and Island Festival 2011 opens in Quang Ngai

admin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:01:32 +0000

Vietnam Tours Halong – The 2011 Sea and Island Festival opened in Quang Ngai on May 5, as part of the National Tourism Year for the southcentral coastal region.
The highlight of the event was the arts festival taking place on May 5-6 with the participation of artists from coastal districts such as Binh Son, Son Tinh, Ly Son, Tu Nghia, Mo Duc and Duc Pho.
Later in the second half of June, an exhibition on the sea and island culture heritage of Quang Ngai province and the southcentral region will be held at the local museum to introduce ancient relics and documents relating to Quang Ngai’s sea and islands.
Children will have chance to take part in drawing competitions and arts performances in praise of Vietnam’s sea and islands.
Other activities will include the publication of a collection of books on Quang Ngai’s sea and islands, a traditional boat race and a beauty contest for local tour guides.

Source: VOV

Hidden attractions and a way of life

admin — Sat, 28 May 2011 01:50:25 +0000

Halong Tours – Hidden attractions and a way of life

Vietnam tours halong – Pristine streets and houses built centuries ago by the Japanese, special lanterns and tailors offering to make silk suits overnight – Hoi An’s attractions are well known.

As visitors to this quaint town explore its surroundings further, they are likely to discover the secrets of this historic spot. One of them is a coconut forest.

Just three kilometers away from the town, the Bay Mau Coconut-Palm Village in Cam Thanh Commune is a lesser-known tourist destination that is becoming increasingly popular among visitors to Hoi An, especially among those who like first-hand experiences of life in the Vietnamese countryside.

The green palms, growing along the banks of Thu Bon and Truong Giang River, form a “forest” in the marshland, serving the village with refreshing breeze and cooling cover.

The dừa nước (roughly translated as “water coconut palm”) grow in soft mud and slow moving tidal and river waters.

Visitors can row a basket boat by themselves or leave the oars in the hands of skilful locals, enjoying the fresh air and picking up water coconuts along the way. Those inclined to do so can bring fishing rods, pick a spot and park themselves there until the sun gradually sets, bringing the day to a glorious end.

After a rowing trip through the palm groves, a sumptuous dinner of fish or shrimp awaits. The forest now covers an area of 58 hectares, protecting a diverse seaweed ecosystem where various crustacean species thrive, supplying locals and visitors with fresh shrimp, crab and other seafood.

The next stop after the forest exploration is a craft village where most houses are built with palm leaves.

Villagers say their traditional craft of making palm-thatched houses was all but extinct a few years ago, with most of the inhabitants quitting their jobs because there was no demand for their product.

Over the last two years, however, it has revived thanks to rising demand from newly-built beach hotels and resorts in the country. One feature of modern life is that it turns aspects of a previous life into cultural and aesthetic attractions that people are willing to pay extra to access.

The craft has since improved the livelihoods of villagers, many of whom are now well-off.

Once a place where Vietnamese militia and guerillas took shelter during the resistance war against the French, the Bay Mau palm forest is considered a national historical heritage.

In 2009, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) granted world biosphere reserve status to Cham Islands-Hoi An, including the Bay Mau palm forest.

In Cam Thanh Commune, tourists can try their hand at local farmer activities like plowing rice fields, rice harvesting and fishing.

Tran Van Khoa, director of the Hoi An Eco-Tour Company in Cua Dai Commune, said he has been offering “one day as a farmer” tours since 2005. Last year, his company organized such tours for more than 4,000 foreign tourists.

After enjoying one such tour, Fenny Seto of Hong Kong said: “We caught a lot of fish and enjoyed the delicious dishes made with them. It was fun to explore the riverside palm forest and hear stories about wartime exploits of the local people.”

Heidiband from New Zealand put it very simply. “I was very happy to be a farmer in such a beautiful country like Vietnam.”
Reported by Huu Tra

Travel industry leaders and buyers to meet at China summit

admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:54:25 +0000

Vietnam tours halong – The 2011 China Business Travel Summit will bring together some of the world’s and China’s most influential travel industry leaders and Chinese corporate travel buyers to discuss core issues affecting business travel.

TravelDaily ( www.traveldaily.cn ), China’s leading online publisher and event organizer with emphasis on distribution, marketing, and technology in the travel and tourism industries, announced today the 2011 China Business Travel Summit is now open for registration.

“Participants in our summit seek solutions that can help transform, drive efficiency, and improve their business travel practice,” said TravelDaily’s He, “With the support from China’s leading corporations, such as Haier Group, ZTE, Lenovo Group, and Smartcom, we are confident we can create a truly interactive and inspiring event for travel decision-makers and travel buyers.”

In one day of keynote speeches and panel discussions, industry leaders will explore how travel suppliers and travel management companies can utilize innovative technology to improve the business travel experience and help corporate travel buyers to manage their travel spending.

The 2011 China Business Travel Summit will be held at the Beijing GeHua New Century Hotel, July 14, 2011. The conference is now open for registration and the super early bird rate will be valid through June 15. For more information, please visit the event website:

http://www.traveldaily.cn/go/231.html .

ABOUT TRAVELDAILY

TravelDaily ( www.traveldaily.cn ) is China’s leading online publisher and event organizer focusing on distribution, marketing, and technology developments in the travel and tourism industries. The China focus, up-to-the-minute news and feature stories, and in-depth analysis by leading industry experts, will keep you up-to-date on the latest industry trends.

ABOUT CHINA AIR SERVICE

China Air Service Co. Ltd. ( cas.china.com ) is the top ticketing agent in China, as well as one of China’s leading travel management companies.

Source: eTurbonews/traveldaily.cn

Vietnam hosts international photo contest

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 01:46:25 +0000

Vietnam Tours Halong – The Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) launched the sixth International Art Photography contest and exhibition in Hanoi on May 23, with the support of the International Federation of Photographic Art.
Chairman of the VAPA Vu Quoc Khanh said the event aims to help Vietnamese photographers improve their skills, especially in taking professional art photos, as well as expand exchanges with international counterparts.
The organising board will receive entries, including coloured or black and white photos, from June 15 to August 31 on the website www.contestvn2011.com or through the email contestvn2011@gmail.com .
Foreigners who are working and living in Vietnam also can send their entries with the theme “ Vietnam ’s images through international friends’ lens” to the contest.
The award ceremony will be held by the end of November this year in Hanoi.

Source: Dtinews

Lotus adds to Bau Trang Lake beauty

admin — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:27:40 +0000

Vietnam tours halong – Bau Trang Lake is a spectacular sight nestled in the middle of baking hot sand dunes in early summer.

With blue clouds all around, glistening sunlight on the smooth golden sand dunes and colorful lotus flowers, it is a beautiful spot.

From small clusters, the lotus starts to blossom around the lake when the season changes from spring to summer.

Bau Trang Lake is a famous landmark in Hong Lam Hamlet, Hoa Thang Village, Bac Binh District, about 65km north-east of Phan Thiet City.

It is a fresh-water lake from long ago and is located amid the endless hills of sand. Bau Trang, covering about three hectares, has a depth of 19m at its deepest point and is blessed with lotus growing all around.

The appearance of lotus with its green leaves and pink flowers brings cool and peaceful surroundings to tourists, who can blank out the scorching heat of the south central region, especially in the red-hot sand dunes.

But there is also some fun to be had in the sun. There are off-road vehicles for hire at VND450,000 per hour to give the adventurous visitors a chance to conquer the sand dunes. There is also the opportunity to take an ostrich trip around the dunes for just VND30,000, a must to complete an amazing experience in the coastal area.
(Source: SGT)