Vietnam’s tourism grows 19%

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism estimates the country welcomed 558,751 international travellers in May representing an increase of 19.7% over the same month last year.

Thailand’s outbound trips to Vietnam ranked 10th with 21,281 trips down 2.5% from 21,828 trips last year.

China led the field as the top source during May with 148,606 trips improving 65.0% from 90,064 followed by South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States.

 Neigbouring Cambodia was in seventh place supplying 25,829 trips, up 16.4% from 22,184 trips during the same month last year.

All of the country’s top markets are in the Asia/Pacific region with the exception of  the US and Russia (eighth).

The bulk of arrivals in May (424,602) passed through the two main aviation gateways Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

For January to May, international tourist arrivals reached 2,973,712 visits, a slight decrease of 1.4% over the same period last year.

VNAT updated its data on its website, Monday, sourced from the government’s statistics office.

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New Hanoi – Bangkok route by VietJetAir

Low-cost VietJetAir has high hopes that its latest service linking Hanoi and Bangkok will boost business and leisure travel between the two cities during the tourist low-season.

The airline’s business development manager, Desmond Lin, said the daily connection between the two capital cities should increase two-way traffic with a profitable mix of business and leisure traffic.

“This new route will help build demand and encourage growth … it will promote Hanoi, as a city of cultural heritage and cuisine. The connection will also help business travellers.”

In the near future, VietJetAir will launch more domestic and international routes, he added.

VietJetAir says it has inked a deal with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to launch a series of promotional programmes and incentives with the airlines.

Other airlines serving the route include THAI and Thai AirAsia, but they are not currently engaged in joint promotions with TAT.

Launched 1 June, the new Vietjet flight departs Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport daily at 1050 and arrives in Bangkok at 1240. The return flight departs from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 1325 and arrives in Hanoi at 1525.

The airline launched its first international route linking Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, 10 February. It currently operates 300 flights weekly using a fleet of new Airbus A320 aircraft.

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Vietnam Airlines expands Gatwick offering

Vietnam Airlines has announced it will be extending its services from Gatwick Airport.

During the summer season, Vietnam’s flagship carrier will add a fifth weekly service from Gatwick, increasing its Ho Chi Minh City route from two to three flights a week.

The airline will also continue to serve Hanoi twice a week.

The announcement comes as the UK and Vietnam celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Throughout 2013, a programme of cultural, educational and innovation exchanges and events will mark the milestone year.

Relations have grown rapidly between the UK and Vietnam, with the two countries signing a Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2010 to help boost bilateral trade, economic ties and investment.

The following year, Vietnam Airlines announced it had chosen Gatwick as its exclusive partner in the UK, launching the country’s first non-stop flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in winter 2011.

Vietnam is one of the most popular destinations in the Asia-Pacific region with around 100,000 UK holidaymakers travelling to the country each year.

Vietnam is also a key emerging market for business. Designated one of the UK Trade and Investment’s ‘High Growth Markets’, bilateral trade increased by over 26 per cent in 2011, with UK exports of goods and services to Vietnam reaching £520 million.

Matt Wood, head of airline relations, Gatwick Airport said: “We are delighted that Vietnam Airlines has decided to expand its services from London Gatwick during the summer months, ensuring that both business and leisure passengers now have even more choice of when to fly to this fantastic destination.

“Air links to high-growth markets such as Vietnam are essential in ensuring that the UK can compete and make the most of the significant trade opportunities available with key emerging markets.

“Gatwick continues to demonstrate that it can open up these links but also, by working closely with our airlines, make them a success.”

This will also be a good sign for many potential city tours, such as Hanoi Tours or Saigon Full-day Tour. For more information, please visit Grayline Vietnam to contact us and we will return to you as soon as possible.

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Hanoi To Be In Top Of Visitor Confidence

A Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism survey shows most visitors want to return to the Vietnamese capital, but there are still some problems with its taxi drivers or the city’s hotel and travel prices.

According to the department survey released last week, 81% of 1,420 of interviewed tourists, who were staying in Hanoi, want to return to Vietnam’s capital in the future.

The survey also showed 93% of respondents thought Hanoi was worth visiting and gave the city positive reviews for its cultural values, historic sites and safety.

However, those interviewed said the city should develop a clean environment and hygiene, reduce traffic congestion and re-educate taxi drivers and shopkeepers to be more courteous.

“Educational programs and stronger controls over taxi drivers and street vendors are needed,” the department reported.

There are also moves to tighten controls over local travel companies and hotels in response to tourists’ complaints about the quality of services and high prices. The department indicated more entertainment and night life options were needed to help increase length of stay.

This year, Hanoi targets 2.25 million foreign tourists up from 2.1 million in 2012. Come to visit this beautiful city and enjoy our stunning Hanoi Tours with various special packages. Contact us for detailed information.

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Hanoi to host new travel mart

The first ever Vietnam International Travel Mart will be hosted in the capital’s International Exhibition Centre, 18 to 21 April.

Themed ‘Exploring the Red River Delta – the source of Vietnamese culture’, the mart is part of activities in the National Tourism Year 2013 agenda and the 2013 Tourism Promotion Programme.

VITM Hanoi 2013 should attract participation from both domestic and foreign tourism enterprises keen to network to build their business. The mart will cover both inbound and outbound tourism and should have 400 booths.

• 250 booths have been allocated for domestic tourism enterprises including airlines, hotels, travel companies and media;
• 150 booths will be sold in the international travel zone that will focus on outbound travel to Australia, the United States, France, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Russia and some other new markets such as Eastern Europe, India, Philippines, Indonesia. They will be mainly allocated to national tourist offices representing the overseas destinations.

Tourism companies and hotels will be encouraged to offer discounts of at least 20%.
The mart includes:
18 to 21 April the fair will focus on B2B and switch to a consumer role 20 to 21 April.
Foreign journalists will be invited to cover the show on free junkets but on the condition that they write favorable reports on the show and host destination.
Some of the booths will also sell equipment related to soft adventure tourism such as tents, sleeping bags, backpacks; hotel equipment. There will be zones to sell cars, yachts, cycles and other transport services.

On the sidelines of the fair there will be five seminars: “Vietnam tourism’s brand” (by VNAT); “Promoting the values of the capital’s cultural heritage to develop tourism” (Hanoi City); “Red River Delta Tourism – potential and development” (Hai Phong City); “Strategy to raise awareness about responsible tourism in Vietnam” (ESRT project); “Green Tourism Label and the solutions to save energy and water at tourism accommodations” (VHA and MeetBis project. Seminars will be conducted in Vietnamese.

The event is organized by the Vietnam International Administration of Tourism; the Hanoi People’s Committee and the Vietnam Tourism Association and aims to support efforts to improve Hanoi’s status as a tourism gateway.

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Hanoi tops dining options

Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism says the latest survey shows food  is the most favorable factor attracting international travelers Vietnam’s capital city.

Hoan Kiem Lake

Released last week, the department survey showed food was ahead of all other attractions including cultural and historical attractions. The survey findings were based on interviews with 1,400 foreign tourists during their stay in the city. The actual dates when the survey was conducted were not disclosed.

More than 93% of respondents said they believed Hanoi was best known for its gastronomy followed by landscape, service and its people. Around 25% of the interviewees believed cultural heritage attractions were top, while 17% preferred the city’s landscapes. The survey also indicated that 90.1% of those interviewed travelled to Hanoi by air. Of that total, 67.2% visited the city for tourism and recreational purposes followed by business (14.9%) and visiting relatives (3.7%). Over 45% said they consulted guide books for travel information, followed by online sources (25.6%), travel agencies (16.9%), and word-of- mouth recommendations (12.3%).

Last year, Hanoi welcomed more than 2 million foreign tourists, accounting for one third of the total foreign tourists to Vietnam. The city was also listed as the cheapest global tourist destinations for the summer of 2012 by TripAdvisor. The US141,12 index cost was based on two people staying one night in a four-star hotel (twin-share rate), a cocktail drink per person, a two-course dinner for two with a bottle of wine, and round-trip taxi transfer (distance each way 2 miles).

Beijing in China was second with an index cost of US$159.05, followed by Bangkok in Thailand US$161.90, Budapest in Hungary USS$193.78 and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia US$194.43.

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Hanoi to welcome first flight from Finland

In an attempt to strengthen the connections between European and Asian airline, the Finnair –Finland’s national carrier is launching a direct air route between Helsinki and Hanoi from July 14, 2013.

This would make Finnair the second European airline besides Russian Aeroflot to operate direct flights to the capital city of Vietnam. The route is planned to have up to three flights per week, available from July 14 to October 27 when winter starts to serve demand on leisure.

With this new air route, the CEO Mika Vehviläinen said he aimed at long-term success during the World Aviation Summit in Hong Kong on November 28, cited by world aviation news website CAPA. The cite continued by indicating that Hanoi is a strategic destination in the international air network of the airline to connect Europe with Asia and the country is also forecasted to be the second largest growing aviation market in the next few years by the International Air Transport Association.

According to the representative of the airline, Finnair fist consider International Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City – the largest and most modern international airport of Vietnam to be its business partner as other European airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa and Turkish Airline have achieved great successes there. However, Finnair eventually select Noi Bai International Airport to launch its direct air route thanks to more suitable operational conditions of the airport and the city.

The approximate distance from Helsinki to Hanoi is 7,478 km, while that of Helsiki-Ho Chi Minh City is 8,510 km.

This new route will be an easier access to both countries. European tourists, especially Finnish tourists, now can enjoy time and expense saving from the new connection and have better chance to explore the beauty of Hanoi, the heart of Vietnam. Be with us and opt for our exotic Hanoi tours to fully enjoy your holidays. Visit Grayline Vietnam and contact us for further details.

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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.

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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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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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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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