Lao Airlines ventures to Danang

Lao Airlines ventures to Danang Lao Airlines last week launched a three weekly service to Danang in central Vietnam, the first link from the landlocked nation to the seaside resorts of Danang and Hoi An.
Unfortunately for passengers it is not a nonstop service. It touches down in two Lao tourist destinations on the way. The service operates from Vientiane with stops in Savannakhet and Pakse on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday using ATR72 aircraft.
The flight departs the Lao capital at 0700 and arrives in Danang at 1040. The return flight departs 1140 and lands in Vientiane at 1520.

The roundtrip fare is US$251 from Vientiane; US$221 from Savannakhet and US$191 from Pakse. Last November, the carrier kicked off a nonstop service to Guangzhou, China, with three flights a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The flight departs at 1310 and lands in Guangzhou at 1610. The eturn flight leaves at 1710 and lands at 1810. Lao Airlines operates 20 regional routes from Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Pakse to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Jing Hong, Kunming, Guangzhou and Singapore.
It achieves this remarkable growth over the last two years without any marketing or sales budget. The advertising budget is almost zero and very few financial incentives are offered to travel agencies.

With this investment, tourists from Laos can be more easy in transportation as well as time saving; and have a greater opportunity to visit the charming Danang – Hoi An to enjoy some of our exotic city tours Da nang - Hoi an. Please contact us for further information.

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Rustic homestay trend in Can Tho

Traveling experience in Can Tho is no longer merely sightseeing beautiful landscapes, but participating in the daily life of the locals with gardening, tree growing, fishing or producing cacao.

On the way to the homestay area of Muoi Cuong, tourists may have chances to enjoy the poetic stream of Can Tho River, over Cai Rang Floating Market and Ong De Cannal along the peaceful river with ever-green coconut rows and orchards.

The most distinctive feature of this new type of tourism is that tourists are wholeheartedly welcomed by attentive host families, who are carefully chosen. The room amenities are also of comfortable with air-conditioning and spacious rooms.

Many tourists attend this tour shares that they felt like being home since the host family treats them like members in their family. “They shares with us funny stories, gorgeously offer us delicious Vietnamese foods and guide us how to harvest cacao seeds without breaking the fruit, pick vegetables and cook on the firewood instead of electric stove”, said Jenna, a Canadian tourist.

Fresh and peaceful environment with alluring tropical fruits trees such as bananas, polemos, mangos, papayas and pineapples, in combination with unique cultures here promise an excellent choice of inner peace.

If you are interested in this home-stay trend, Threeland Team believes that you will enjoy our related Mekong Delta tours. Check out the detailed information on our website and contact us to receive instant advice from our professional tour consultants.

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Hanoi improves craft villages

Hanoi will develop six traditional craft villages to attract more domestic and international tourists and establish the city as a tourism gateway.

The six traditional craft villages are: Phu Vinh rattan and bamboo weaving in Chuong My district; Son Dong fine art sculptures in Hoai Duc district; Bat Trang-Kim Lan pottery in Gia Lam; Van Phuc silk in Ha Dong district; Ngo Ha mother-of-pearl inlay in Phu Xuyen district; and Du Du sculptures in Thanh Oai district.

Phu Vinh village has been chosen to pilot the scheme that will run until 2015.

According to the development plan, the city will focus on preserving old houses, restoring historical and cultural sites, building areas for product displays and upgrading transport, waste and water treatment facilities at the villages.

Also home-stay services will be offered to give visitors an opportunity to learn about local people’s daily life and the handicrafts they produce.

Based on the success of the six villages in phase one, the city says that by 2015, it can complete development of 14 village-cum-tourist destinations which in turn will encourage more visits to the capital.

It is forecasting visits to all 14 villages at 300,000 to 500,000 international visitors and 2 to 3 million domestic tourists a year once the project is up and running.

If you are interested in these craft villages, Threeland Team believes that you will enjoy our related Hanoi Tours. Check out the detailed information on our website and contact us to receive instant advice from our professional tour consultants.

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VFS adds visa centre in Vietnam

Embassies of Italy and Spain in Vietnam have partnered with London-based VFS Global, to launch a new Schengen visa application centre in Ho Chi Minh City, 2 January 2013.

The visa centre, at Resco Tower, 4th floor, 94-96 Nguyen Du, District 1, will start operations 3 January. The opening times will be 0830 to 1200 and 1300 to 1600, from Monday to Friday.

The move should encourage travel to Europe by making it easier to apply for the Schengen visa, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Lorenzo Angeloni told a press conference last week.

It is also part of cost cutting measures as both government’s face an unprecedented financial crisis. Out-sourcing visa processes allows embassies to cut staff costs substantially.

VFS Global, a worldwide outsourcing and technology services company for diplomatic missions and governments, will be responsible for processing applications for Schengen visas from applicants residing across Vietnam, if the first port of entry in Europe is either Italy or Spain.

Lorenzo Angeloni

 VFS collects a non-refundable fee for the service in addition to the visa fee itself. It is one of most lucrative enterprises related to travel with guaranteed income and very little risk for the company.

Head of the Commercial Office of Spain in Vietnam, Antonio Bretones, said: “We’d like to make the whole process of applying for a visa to Spain easier for the citizens in Ho Chi Minh City, in order to encourage the exchanges between the two countries.”
VFS Global’s South East Asia and Pacific head, Loren Dsouza, said: “We’ve been privileged to be associated with the government of Italy in 17 countries and serve the government of Spain across 35 countries.”

He added his company had 775 visa application centers around the world.
What he omitted to explain is how the company guarantees the security of data and information it collects on visa applicants, which includes in many instances personal bank details, financials, company records and other confidential information.
TTR Weekly has often posted questions to companies handling visa processes to explain the rules they apply to information storage and at what point do they destroy supporting financial documents presented by visa applicants.
So far the responses have been circuitous and less than reassuring for security conscious travelers.

This new visa center will support incoming tourists who are interested in Vietnam Travel. Check out many exotic Vietnam tours on our website and contact us to receive instant advice from our professional tour consultants.

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Vietnam wetlands recognized

This southernmost province’s Mui Ca Mau (Ca Mau Cape) National Park will be recognized as a new world Ramsar site and the fifth site in Vietnam.

Ca Mau Agriculture and Rural Development Department said the World Environment Organization will announce the official recognition of the park, 13 December.
The 41,862-hectare site, including 15,262 hectares of land and 26,600 hectares of coastal areas, are mainly saline wetlands.

The attraction is home to 93 species of birds, 26 species of animals, 43 species of reptiles, nine species of amphibians, 233 fish species, including many rare ones.
The national park is one of the three main parts of the Ca Mau Cape global biosphere reserve, which was recognized by UNESCO on 26 May 2009.

Currently, Vietnam has four Ramsar sites, including two in the north and two in the south.
The northern Ramsar sites are Xuan Thuy Natural Wetland Reserve in Nam Dinh province and the Ba Be Lake in the mountainous province of Bac Kan, recognized in 1988 and 2011, respectively.
The southern ones are Bau Sau in Cat Tien National Park in Dong Nai province and Tram Chim National Park in the southern province of Dong Thap, recognized in 2005 and 2012, respectively.

The Convention on Wetland, known as the Ramsar Convention is an inter-governmental treaty that encourages member countries to maintain the ecological character of their wetlands regions.
Vietnam first participated in the Ramsar Convention in 1989.
To explore those wetland sites thoroughly, tourists can refer to our exotic Mekong Delta tours. Check out the detailed information on our website and contact us to receive instant advice from our professional tour consultants.

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Hanoi Horison Hotel Rebrands as the Pullman Hanoi

Accor has expanded its portfolio of hotels in Vietnam with the opening of the 242-room Pullman Hanoi, the first Pullman brand hotel in Vietnam.

Previously known as the Hanoi Horison Hotel, Pullman Hanoi recently completed a comprehensive refurbishment that transformed it into one of the city’s most modern properties.
The hotel provides free Wi-Fi internet access in rooms and all public areas.

Mr. Patrick Basset, Senior Vice President of Accor Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines said, “We are very proud to introduce the Pullman brand to Vietnam with the opening of Pullman Hanoi, completing Accor’s brand portfolio in the country. With the opening of the hotel, we now offer a hotel brand for every market segment including luxury Sofitel, upscale Pullman and MGallery, midscale Novotel and Mercure, and economy ibis. This hotel will offer guests a unique, tailored hotel experience – catering to both business and leisure guests visiting this capital city.”

Hanoi Horison Hotel - Pullman Hanoi

Guests looking for a culinary experience will be able to enjoy the completely redesigned La Cheminée restaurant, offering the best international and local culinary selections in a contemporary ambience. For a wonderful wine-tasting experience, Vinoteca by Pullman offers a large selection of wines and grands crus from the world’s famous vineyards, served by the bottle or by the glass. The Mint Bar is situated in the heart of the lobby and provides drinks and snacks for a relaxing, convivial experience from early morning until midnight.

Guests looking to exercise or relax will be pleased when the hotel puts its final touches on its Pullman’s signature Fit Lounge and Spa Lounge. Once complete, these well-being facilities will provide guests with the top-of-the-line equipment and ensure guests full relaxation during their stay at the hotel.

Pullman Hanoi is located just ten minutes from Hanoi’s historic quarter and within close proximity to government, embassies, and business offices. The hotel is a 10-min walk to the Ho Chi Minh Museum and a 40-min drive to Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport.

Simon Jinks, General Manager of Pullman Hanoi said, “Pullman is Accor’s upscale international hotel brand, renowned for its vibrant and cosmopolitan touches while maintaining a reputation of innovation and comfort for all types of guests. Our hotel is ideal for travelers seeking an upscale hotel in Hanoi that provides services and facilities that satisfy today’s modern lifestyles.”

In addition to Pullman Hanoi, three other Pullman hotels are in Accor’s confirmed development pipeline in Vietnam.

There are currently many big deals in Pullman Hanoi. Visitors now can easily connect with our stunning Hanoi tours. For more information, please contact us at contact@graylinevietnam.com.

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Vietjet to fly to Bangkok

VietJet Air has announced it will launch a Ho Chi Minh City-Bangkok service, 10 February 2013, an auspicious day in a week of Chinese New Year celebrations. Tickets are on sale already.

Vietjet Air will be the second low-cost airline to operate between the two cities. The other is Thai AirAsia, while most of the capacity is offered by full-service airlines - Thai Airways International, Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa.

 The airline will initially operate a daily flight using an Airbus A320 aircraft departing Ho Chi Minh City at around 1120 and returning from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 1355.

The carrier recently launched its newest route from Ho Chi Minh City to the former imperial city of Hue in central Vietnam, 22 November and will add two more routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Phu Quoc and Hanoi with Dalat later this month.

The airline now has seven domestic routes on a network that also links Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang, Danang, Vinh and Hai Phong. More international routes linking Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to major destinations in Southeast Asia and North Asia are planned for 2013 and it hopes to increase its fleet from six aircraft at the end of 2012 to 15 aircraft by 2015.

VietJet Air

Last October, national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, increased frequency from two to three flights daily on the Bangkok route. THAI continues to offer two daily flights; QR and Turkish, one daily each, Lufthansa three weekly and FD, three daily.

Price-wise, Vietjet Air will pitch regular fares from around Bt4,000, while Thai AirAsia, sells at Bt5,300. There is also a limited promotional fare of Bt2,300 on FD.

Full-service airlines from Europe and the Middle East also serve the Ho Chi Minh City-Bangkok route, but with lower frequencies. The fares are competitive.

Lufthansa has the lowest frequency and the cheapest economy fare at Bt5,560 followed by Turkish at Bt5,990 and Qatar, Bt6,345. Vietnam Airlines sells from Bt6,935 and THAI, Bt12,960. Business class fares are quoted at Bt12,375 by TK; Bt14,015, LH; Bt15,570, QR; Bt16,035, VN and Bt19,885, TG.

This new air route will boost tourism in both countries, especially to Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok. To enjoy better, please check out our Ho Chi Minh City tours on our website and contact us to get instant advice. 

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An Giang province to promote handicrafts

Vietnam’s An Giang province says it has developed several traditional handcraft villages and linked them to tourism routes to help to attract more arrivals.

An Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism director, Nguyen Van Len, said the province is launching tours for Buddhist followers and other options focusing on ecology and agriculture.

“Authorities are hosting seminars and fairs to promote sustainable growth of arts and crafts production to help enterprises to penetrate markets locally and internationally.”

In addition, the province plans to develop traditional crafts villages, which will require financial support in the first phase of around US$2.9 million for 43 projects and US$221,000 for seven projects in the second phase.

Mat weaving traditional village in Tan Hao - An Giang

The province People’s Committee deputy chairman, Huynh The Nang, said: “An Giang will create jobs for around 33,000 residents with average salary of US$62 a month through these projects.”

Specialized tours will offer visitors a chance to see artists from traditional craft villages making textiles or finished clothing that tourists can buy on the spot. They will also demonstrate how to weave bamboo products.

An Giang has 34 traditional handicraft villages. Located on the western side of the Mekong Delta, the province attracts more than 5 million mostly domestic holidaymakers.

If you are interested in these special handicraft tours, Threeland Team believes that you will enjoy our related Mekong Delta tours. Check out the detailed information on our website and contactus to receive instant advice from our professional tour consultants.

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Vietnam Airlines to add new services

Vietnam Airlines plans to open two new services next month to Jakarta, in Indonesia, and to the domestic tourism destination Phu Quoc.
The airline will offer discounts on the two routes until the end of December.

The Vietnam national carrier will fly the Jakarta service from its base in HCMC four times a week and offer five weekly services from the capital Hanoi to Phu Quoc.

Vietnam airline

The first route is set to start on 2^nd December using an Airbus A321, flying Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Flights will take about three hours, departing HCMC at 1000 and arriving in Jakarta at 1315.

The Hanoi – Phu Quoc service will commence on 12^th December with five flights.

The airline offers a 22% discount on round-trip tickets for the HCMC-Jakarta service, while fares on the domestic Hanoi – Phu Quoc route have been reduced 11%.

Vietnam Airlines currently operates air services to 68 destinations – 20 domestic routes and 48 are international flights.

This new airline service will boost tourism in both Hanoi and Phu Quoc province. If you are currently in Phu Quoc, take this chance and head to Hanoi to enjoy our stunning Hanoi Tours with various special packages. Contactus for detailed information.

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Ha Long Week to be held for the first time in 2012

The People Committee of Quang Ninh Province has approved the proposal submitted by Quang Ninh's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Vietnam Airlines to organize the Ha Long Week for the first time. The event is expected to take place from November 27 to 30. This will be a significant event boosting the image of Quang Ninh tourism.

Accordingly, People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province has assigned this department to sign the cooperation agreement with Vietnam Airlines to draw organizing plan for this event. There will be a series of activities focusing on the European tourist market and a lot of performances related to the local culture, nature and gastronomy expressing different aspects of Ha Long tourism are expected. These activities are created based on surveys that the organizers are working on. The organizing board will survey on tourism products on Halong bay, tourism spots on the bay and a tourism workshop will be held with the participation of the representatives from travel agencies, tourism enterprises, as well as European reporters.

Ha Long is the most popular tourism destination of Vietnam with magnificent nature and diverse tourism products. It is recognized all over the world great awards and titles and has been attracting huge quantity of international tourists.
 
If you are interested in the event and Halong Bay, please check out our new Halong tours and contact us for instant advice from our professional tour consultants.

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Renovations begin in Hue

The province’s People Committee gave a green light on a three-year project to renovate Ngo Mon, an iconic gate of the former royal city of Hue.

According to the committee, the project aims to prevent water seepage through the foundations and to preserve the upper pavilion, known as Lau Ngu Phung (Pavilion of Five Phoenixes).

The first stage of the project, to begin in 2013, will cost US$2.1 million and is scheduled to be completed in three years. The second stage will be carried out after 2015. Total investment for the two stages will amount to nearly US$4.8 million.

As an important part of the Hue Imperial Citadel, which has been an UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993, Ngo Mon is a huge U-shaped edifice consisting of a brick and stone foundation and a wooden pavilion with terracotta tiles.

Built in 1837, under the reign of Emperor Minh Mang (1820 to 1840), of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 to 1945), the structure was seriously damaged during wars with the France and United States. It has undergone several restorations, the latest of which was carried out between 1991 and 1992 funded by the Japanese government. There are five entrances to the citadel, the main one being Ngo Mon. Located in front of the throne palace and facing the flag tower, Ngo Mon serves as the main entrance to the old Imperial City of Hue. Two side entrances, the left and right gates, were for civil and military mandarins. Inside the structure are two more gates used by soldiers, elephants and horses joining royal processions.

The renovation process in Hue will boost the tourism sector in this peaceful city. Check out some stunning Hue city tours to fully see the positive changes here, and contact us for further information.

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Two New Properties To Be Signed By Ascott in Ho Chi Minh

Ascott has been awarded a contract to manage a 100-unit serviced residence in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The new Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City is slated to open in December this year.

It is part of The Vista, a premier residential development by CapitaLand, Thien Duc Trading Construction Co., Ltd and Phu Gia Investment Joint Stock Company.

Ascott will also manage Vista Residences, a 168-unit property within The Vista that will be available for lease this November.

With the additions, Ascott further consolidates its position as one of the largest international serviced residence owner-operators in Vietnam with over 1,600 apartment units in 11 properties across four cities – Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Hai Phong and Danang.

Mr Alfred Ong, Ascott’s Managing Director for Southeast Asia and Australia, said, “Ascott established its presence in Ho Chi Minh City more than 15 years ago and we have always enjoyed strong occupancies for our two serviced residences in the city’s central urban district of District One. With the government’s plans to transform Ho Chi Minh City’s District Two into Vietnam’s new commercial and financial centre, we see strong growth potential to expand into the area. Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City and Vista Residences, with their strategic location in District Two, proximity to facilities such as international schools, elegant design and quality product finishes, will appeal to expatriates and families with children looking for quality accommodation.”

Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City: Facade

Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City and Vista Residences

Sited within the prime residential precinct of An Phu Ward, Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City and Vista Residences are close to the current central business district and conveniently accessible via the Hanoi Highway and the East-West Highway.

 The properties are near the Metro Hypermarket, An Phu Supermarket and prestigious educational establishments such as the British International School Ho Chi Minh City, Australian International Saigon School and International School of Ho Chi Minh City. In addition, they are connected to the medical clinic, retail outlets and office facilities within The Vista.

Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City and Vista Residences will both offer apartments ranging from two to four-bedroom units.

Each apartment at Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City will also come fully furnished with a well-equipped kitchen, separate work and living areas, home entertainment system as well as other modern amenities.

Residents of both properties can enjoy an extensive array of facilities such as a 50-metre lap pool that overlooks beautifully landscaped gardens, a children’s pool and playground, a gymnasium with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a clubhouse with steam and sauna, Jacuzzi, tennis court and golf putting green.

 “Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City and Vista Residences further affirm Ascott’s commitment to grow our business in Vietnam. We will be opening more properties in Vietnam in the next few years. These include our first property in Hai Phong – Somerset Central TD Hai Phong City which will open in 2013, and our first property in Danang – Somerset Danang Bay that will open in 2014. We will continue to look for opportunities to expand our presence in this key growth market and target to increase our Vietnam presence to 2,200 apartment units by 2015,” said Mr. Ong.

This new expansion in Ho Chi Minh City’s accommodation will create good condition for tourists visiting the dynamic metropolitan center and it will also be a good sign for many potential city tours, such as Saigon Full-day Tour. For more information, please contact us and we will return to you as soon as possible.

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Golf to boost Hanoi tourism

Hanoi has approved new golf projects as part of a master plan to develop the capital city into a tourism hub.

The projects are considered important to expand new markets and increase tourist arrivals. The new projects will bring the number of golf courses in and around the city to eight.

The province also plans to turn four downtown districts into cultural and shopping areas, while suburban areas will focus on ecotourism and sports activities.

The goal is to attract 4.5 million foreign arrivals and 26.8 million local visitors, with overall tourism revenue of US$8.8 billion. Vietnam in April ordered cities and provinces to tighten controls over golf course projects to make sure they comply with environmental regulations and are not built on valuable farmland. The government also bans golf course investors from combining real estate development in their projects. One of the ruses is to present the golf courses as green areas in a housing project for community recreation purposes to meet town and country planning regulations. There are 24 golf courses currently operating in Vietnam.

Golf courses should help Vietnam to compete with neighboring countries to attract Asian golfers. However, they have become a controversial topic in the country that critics say rob the country of valuable agricultural land and are created for a very small percentage of the population. They also require a substantial supply of water that should be used for irrigation purposes.

If you have any interest in Vietnam golf tours, please check out our Golf Courses In Vietnam with various package tours including stunning activities, and contact us for instant advice from our professional tour consultants.

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Halong Bay gains EU assistance

The European Union will provide assistance to Vietnam to achieve sustainable tourism development in Halong Bay.

Quang Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed an agreement, 18 October, with the Management Board of the environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme (ESRT).

The agreement is part of the ESRT activity 2011 to 2015, which is funded by the EU with a budget of 11 million euro. Under the agreement, the programme will assign domestic and international experts to help draft a master plan for tourism development in Quang Ninh province up until 2020.

In addition, the project will also help improve professional skills for tourism workers through training courses. The EU is one of the biggest donors of aid for Vietnam’s tourism sector. This was the second project funded by the union, following the recently completed “Tourism Human Resources Development” project in 2010.

Visit us at Grayline Vietnam to get further information about traveling around the world and exploring Vietnam; to have access to the best travel services and to meet our professional consultants who're always available for help. For any inquiry please contact us.

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