Nov 11, 2011

VISIT VIETNAM, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

About Vietnam:
The only world where the life is in a fast lane, bordered landscape, colours being more vivid, more compelling history , divine tastes etc is Vietnam which is said to be the fashionable Asian dragon.
Nature has blessed Vietnam with a vainglorious harvest of seafaring mountains, a grampus coastline and the wonderful beaming rice fields. Vietnam is still a snapper. Rustic women with tapered hats still tend to their fields, children over there ride buffalos along the country paths and disable people used to scratch out a living from cureless gradients.
Vietnam is a nation with actuated dreamers who have battered war after war, survived doctrine and communism, and are now achieving good grips with the world of capitalism (wheeler-dealer). Brutally protective, the Vietnamese gracefully welcomes the foreigners who visit Vietnam.
Don’t believe the apprise or even the activistic party billboards that are as similar as the position of ‘Uncle Ho’. Believe only your senses, as Vietnam is the exotic country.
To feel the bookish, advancing, holy and divine heartbeat of Vietnam, take a stop in the old imperial capital, Hue. Home to palaces and memorials, tombs and cathedrals, and entertain the festival of HUE called as biennial arts festival .It’s the place to go for ancient, adorning and culinary stimulation.
Time to visit Vietnam:
There are two main zones in Vietnam city, north and south, where we can find the climate completely different from one place to other. So there is no particular season or even a month where we can visit both north and south regions. But comparatively Nov-Dec may be the best time where the climate will be springy.
The best destinations in Vietnam:
1. Saigon and the Environs
2. Central Highlands
3. Central Coastal Region
4. Hanoi and the North

Some of the best places to be visited:
• Tay Ninh:
The great cathedral Cao Dai is of the main attraction in Tay Ninh.
Cao Dai Great Temple is the cathedral of the Cao Dai religion and is the main attraction in Tay Ninh. The temple is built in 1955 and is detected more concretely in Long Hoa, 5-km southeast of Tay Ninh.

• Mekong River Delta:
It is said to be the rice bowl of southern Vietnam and it is an abundant area fully covered with rice fields and wandering tributaries of the Mekong River. With its vegetation the delta had become a brightful and colorful display of rural life.

• Dalat:
It was the title of the former French hill station. Just because of the cooler breeze and fresh air the people over there call it as Eternal Spring. It is popular for its beauty and the beautiful pine forests, lakes and the rolling hills.

• Hue:
Hue is the historical capital of Nguyen Dynasty. The main attractions over here are the arresting tombs. Hue has many cultural and ancient cities (places) that can be observed mostly in the villages nearby.

• Nha Trang:
It offers the advanced selection of boarding at the seaside areas in Vietnam. There are many famous beaches in this place with very lively atmosphere, seafoods, hotels, restaurents etc.
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Oct 29, 2011

Beautiful new cave discovered in Bac Kan

A new cave described as very beautiful and mysterious with a complex series of grottos has been discovered in the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan.

The first cave was found when laborers were building the National Highway 3B near Ang Toong Pass.

The newly-discovered cave is 20 meters deep inside the first cave. All stalactites are still untouched and kept shimmering and shining like stars in the sky.

The first cave is 120 metres long, very spacious and is formed by three caves. The newly-explored one is 350 meters long and formed by five caves. All the walls are blue stone and in some places are mixed with soil and white stone.

The deeper the cave, the more stalactites it has. Illusionary stalactites and stalagmites in diverse size and colors make people believe they are in a lost world. As the wonderful stalactites are like long strips of curtains, patterns on the walls like bas-reliefs and stone pillars like lighting candles. Some strings are 1-2 meters long and look like lianas leaning over someone’s roof.

In some sections there are stalactites overlapping and if you knock on them it sounds like a musical instrument.

Somewhere amongst the rocks are small fresh streams which make the cave look like a water-color painting. The bottom of the cave has no mud and is very clear with stalactite layers like old coins arranged together under the pristine water surface.

The local authorities have alerted related agencies to protect and develop the caves into a tourist destination for Bac Kan Province. They have to make sure locals don’t steal the precious stalactites as they try to keep the caves in their original condition.

Bac Kan is a mountainous province famous for its beautiful landscapes, rich forest and mineral resources.

It also has Ba Be Lake which was recognized as a national historic cultural heritage in 1996 - but it is best known for its miraculous underground caves such as Poung, Tien, Na Phoong, Ba Cua, Son Duong, Nang Tien and Tham Long.

(source: VOV/SGT)

Sep 24, 2011

Vietnam joins Top Resa tourism fair in France

Vietnamese tourism companies - including, Vietnamtourism, Luxury Travel, Au Co Gulf of Tonkin and HG Travel - are attending the 33rd Top Resa Tourism Fair in Paris, France from September 20 23.

Top Resa tourism fair, which is one of the world’s biggest annual tourism fairs, is being attended by top travel agencies and tourism service providers from 160 countries and territories around the world.

During event, participants will display products and services and introduce traditional culture and tourism attractions in their countries.

Pham Ha, a representative from Luxury Travel, said that Top Resa Tourism Fair offers a good opportunity for Vietnam to develop its tourism trademark and to introduce the country to international visitors.

(Source: VOV)

Sep 5, 2011

Thua Thien-Hue urged to promote tourism

Thua Thien-Hue province should promote its advantages in tourism, high-tech industry and bio-tech for sustainable development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement at a working session on Sept. 2 with key officials in the central province on socio-economic development and a Politburo decision on turning Thua Thien-Hue into a centrally-run city.

He instructed the province to build mechanisms to mobilize resources for urban infrastructure development, especially the transport system, as well as pay attention to developing a new style of rural area, culture, education and training and health services.

The PM also asked provincial officials to focus on easing difficulties in agricultural production, business and production promotion, while maintaining market price stability.

PM Dung hailed efforts of the Party organization, authorities and people of Thua Thien Hue with encouraging achievements in many areas, including high per capita income and poverty reduction.

The province needed to review its plan to effectively implement the Politburo’s decision on construction and development of Thua Thien-Hue province and Hue urban city by 2020, he said.
Thua Thien-Hue would become one of the country’s hubs of culture, tourism, science and technology, health and education and training.

In the first eight months of this year, the province continued to register economic growth, keeping the economic restructuring programme on track. Its total retail sale and service turnover rose 22.2 percent over the same period last year; exports were up 53.8 percent and industrial production was up 12.45 percent. The number of foreign tourists to the imperial city of Hue increased 6.2 percent in the reviewed period.

This year, the province was expected to register an average per capita income of 1,300 USD, reduce the poor household rate to 9.16 percent and generate jobs for 16,500 local people, with a trained worker proportion of 44 percent.

Also the same day, Prime Minister Dung offered incense to commemorate martyrs at the Chin Ham historic relic site in Hue city.

Later that day, he inspected the Bach Ho bridge project, spanning the Huong river in the city.

(Source: VN+)

Jun 15, 2011

Airlines resume services to Phu Bai airport in Hue

Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific has resumed their flights to Phu Bai Airport on June 14, a month after they had to suspend services to the destination in central Vietnam’s Hue City as the airport was closed to have its only runway upgraded.

Dinh Viet Thang, deputy director general of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, confirmed about the re-opening of the international airport in Thua Thien-Hue Province.

Vietnam Airlines said that it would provide four daily flights to Hue from Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC and three from Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi. Vietnam’s low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacific flies two times a day between HCMC and the former imperial capital city.

Jetstar Pacific said that it had to call off services to Hue during the closure of Phu Bai but still sold tickets for its flights from June 14.

The shutdown of Phu Bai Airport from May 13 to June 13 has prompted an outcry from both airlines and tour operators because they said they had not been given enough time to adjust their business plans and cope with the closure of the 2,700-meter-long runway at the airport.

A number of travel agents had stopped receiving bookings for the flights more than a week ahead of the closure day since Middle Airports Corporation previously had announced a plan to upgrade the airport’s runway from May 5 to June 5. But this intention did not happen until May 13.

The temporary closure of Phu Bai forced Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific to operate more flights to Danang Airport to meet rising demand for air travel to the central region. During the upgrade period, Vietnam Airlines had 11 daily flights to Danang from HCMC and nine daily flights from Hanoi while Jetstar Pacific performed four daily flights from HCMC to Danang and two from Hanoi.

Thua Thien-Hue province’s authorities, airlines, travel companies and hotels in central Vietnam arranged buses to transport passengers some 100 kilometers between Hue and Danang when the runway of Phu Bai Airport was upgraded.

Middle Airports Corporation completed the runway upgrade last week at a cost of some VND15 billion (around US$730,000). The upgrade now allows Phu Bai International Airport to handle Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft during the daytime and at night.
(source: VNA)

May 13, 2011

Exhibition on late President Ho opens

An exhibition themed, “President Ho Chi Minh on a national liberation path” was opened at Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi on May 11.
Mr. Truong Tan Sang cut Exhibition Opening Ribbon
The event, jointly held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Party Central Committee Office and the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, aims to celebrate the 121st birthday of late President Ho Chi Minh and 100th anniversary of the day President Ho left the country to seek a way for national liberation.
 
The exhibition is showcasing nearly 200 documents and items, which provide an introduction to the process of seeking a pathway for national liberation by the late President Ho and marks his affirmation that only proletarian revolution could save the country and liberate the nation.
 
The exhibition also highlights the late President Ho’s role in the national construction cause as well as his contributions to the common struggle for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress.
 
Also on show at the event are major achievements in all fields recorded by the country’s Party and people during the renewal process.

(Source: VNA)

May 5, 2011

Vietnam in Thai media spotlight

Vietnam’s land, people and famous tourism sites have been given wide coverage in the Nation, Puchatkarn and other major Thai newspapers.
 
In a recent issue Pisanu Chanvitan wrote about the Vietnamese people’s daily life and Hanoi’s old quarter and cuisine.

 He said Vietnam has a long history of struggle against foreign aggressors and praised its tradition of patriotism and heroism.

 Know as a former ambassador to Vietnam, Pisanu is now holding the post of vice secretary at the Thai Foreign Ministry. All his writings will be published in a book to mark the 35th anniversary of Vietnam-Thailand diplomatic ties. He hoped his book would help Thai people gain a better understanding of Vietnam in the past, at present and in future.

 On the occasion, the Thai Foreign Ministry will oragnise a wide range of activities, including a seminar on investment and business opportunities in Vietnam, and photograph and painting exhibitions on Vietnam.

 The Puchatkarn newspaper on May 2 ran an article introducing Hanoi 36 old streets and guilds and tourism sites, like the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, Uncle Ho’s house on stilts, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and the Temple of Literature.

(Source: VOV)

May 2, 2011

Many activities for sea festival in Nha Trang

Khanh Hoa Province authorities have approved a program for the Sea Festival scheduled for June 11 to 15 in the tourism city of Nha Trang, including cultural activities, art performances, sports, and tourism promotion.
On June 2, or a fortnight before the official festival, several activities will be held to welcome the main event, including a fishing tour at night, a sea tour at night, a martial art performance on the seaside, an art picture market, and calligraphy exhibition. There will also be a display of Champa culture, a photo exhibition, a fair for high-quality Vietnamese goods, and music concert and comedy shows.

The main festival will feature a film week, Lu Cam porcelain exhibition, Champa pottery and brocade display, a street photo exhibition, fireworks displays, water-motorbike performance, a food court and a fashion show among others. According to the organizer, the topic on Truong Sa Archipelago will be highlighted during the festival.

France will participate in the festival with music performances, photography talks, and French language discussions.

On this occasion, the diving center Vinadive under Vietravel Nha Trang branch will organize underwater weddings for ten couples on June 15 at Nha Trang Beach to promote sea tourism in Nha Trang to domestic and foreign tourists.

(Source: SGT)

Apr 27, 2011

BBC chosen for Vietnam tourism commercial

Vietnam will put a television commercial on BBC in a tourism promotion campaign this year though it has cut down on the budget for tourism commercials on international TV channels.

BBC has almost completed a 30-second commercial featuring the country’s famous attractions, said Nguyen Van Tinh, Director of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Tinh said that the three-month campaign could start in the next one month and that the commercial would be aired three times a day. The country’s beautiful beaches and sea tourism services are given a strong focus in this commercial, he said.

“It will be broadcast on BBC in Asia Pacific and Australia, which are among the key markets of the country’s tourism industry,” he said.

The campaign costs around VND3 billion, he said, adding the tourism sector this year would spend less on commercials on international TV channels because its entire marketing and advertising budget for all of this year is a mere VND35 billion, down by VND5 billion compared to last year.

In addition to international media as a tourism marketing channel, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is preparing to join the Fair Tour 2011 from May 6 to 15 and the Vietnam month next month, with both events to take place in France. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has planned to organize more trips for media and travel agencies from France, Thailand, China, South Korea, the U.S., Western Europe, and Japan to explore places of interest and tourism services in the country.

VNAT reported the country received more than 1.51 million foreign visitors in the first quarter, up 11.9% year-on-year, and the total number of local tourists reached 11 million. The nation’s total tourism revenue was VND55.2 trillion in the period.

The agency expects 5.3-5.5 million foreign visitors will visit the country this year, compared to 5.05 million last year.

(Source: SGT)

Apr 17, 2011

Photo exhibition on Ha Long Bay opens in France


A photo exhibition entitled “Ha Long Bay - the world’s natural wonders” is taking place in Paris, France.

The event offers an opportunity for Vietnam to promote the image of Ha Long Bay to international friends and overseas Vietnamese in France with the message “Vote for Ha Long Bay as the world’s natural wonders”.

 On display at the event are 50 art photos which have been selected from thousands of high quality masterpieces on Ha Long Bay.

 The event was co-organized by the Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition Department, and the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in France.

The exhibition will last through to May 10.
Halong Tours
(Source: VOV)

Apr 13, 2011

Party Chief pays tribute to Hung Kings


 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered incense to the Hung Kings, the nation’s legendary founders, at the Kinh Thien Palace in the Hung Kings Temple relic complex in the northern province of Phu Tho on Apr. 12.

The incense offering ceremony, the major activity of the Hung Kings Temple festival, was aimed at expressing gratitude to the predecessors and praying for peace for the people and prosperity for the country.
 
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Phu Tho People’s Committee affirmed that young generations would give themselves to the way the Party and Uncle Ho had chosen to build a strong country and contribute to peace and friendship in the world.
 
After the ceremony, Party leader Trong laid a floral tribute at the relief wall of President Ho Chi Minh and soldiers of the Tien Phong (Vanguard) Brigade in the relic complex.
 
Vietnam has submitted documents on the worship rituals dedicated to Hung Kings to the UNESCO to seek recognition of their status as Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity.
 
The annual festival to commemorate the Hung Kings, which falls on the 10th day of the third lunar month, was first recognised as a national event in 2007.
 
There are over 1,400 places of worship dedicated to the Hung Kings across the country and numerous festivals are held every year to commemorate the nation’s founders. The festival at the Hung Kings’ Temple in Phu Tho province is the major official event dedicated to the Kings.
 
This year’s festival was held from April 7-12, with a wide range of cultural activities taking place in Viet Tri city, at the Hung Kings’ Temple and surrounding areas.

 The Hung Kings Temple is located on Nghia Linh Mountain , Phong Chau district, in Phu Tho province, about 100km northwest of Hanoi . It is a complex of ancient tombs, monuments and temples.

(Source: VNA)

Apr 10, 2011

Hung Kings’ death anniversary commemorated

Phu Tho province has made preparations for this year’s festival to commemorate the death anniversary of the Hung Kings, as well as preserving the local areas tangible and intangible heritage.Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan offering incense to the Hung Kings at their temple

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan made this statement during her working visit to Phu Tho province on April 6.
She also offered incense in commemoration of the nation’s ancestors at their temple.
Nguyen Doan Khanh, a member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Phu Tho provincial Party Committee, briefed the vice president about the province’s socio-economic situation and informed her about the process of compiling information on ‘Hat Xoan Phu Tho’ , the traditional folk singing of the province, and the worship rituals dedicated to the Hung Kings which have been prepared to seek UNESCO’s recognition of them as aspects of intangible cultural heritage.

On the same day, over 300 enterprises from across the country took part in a gathering to show their gratitude to the ancestral lands and their ‘back to roots’ spirit.

Speaking at the event, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan said that Vietnamese enterprises have made significant contributions to socio-economic development, the elimination of hunger, poverty reduction and social security in the country. She hoped that they would continue their investment and co-operation in the province to further the development of the local area.

Earlier in the day, a display entitled ‘Sentiments of the Whole People and International Friends towards the Hung Kings’ was held at the Hung Kings museum. Works on display included 40 historical objects, 37 paintings and 17 bronze drums, presented by collectives and individuals at home and abroad to celebrate the death anniversary of the Hung Kings and the Hung Kings Temple Festival.

A huge ceramic painting was unveiled at the Hung Kings Temple National Historical Site. Themed ‘Festivals in the Ancestral Lands’, the scene comprises 1,400 ceramic pieces produced in Bat Trang pottery village in Gia Lam district, Hanoi. The painting is 72 metres long and 9.9 metres high and cost VND 24 billion.

(Source: Nhan Dan)

Apr 5, 2011

Hung Kings’ worship seeks UNESCO title

Vietnam has submitted documents on the worship rituals dedicated to Hung Kings in the midland province of Phu Tho to the UNESCO to seek its Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity recognition.

The worship rituals dedicated to Hung Kings, the nation’s legendary founders, have existed through thousands of years, deeply taking root in the Vietnamese people’s mind and the annual festival to commemorate the Hung Kings, which falls on the 10th day of the third lunar month, was recognised as a national event in 2007.
 
Nguyen Tien Khoi, Director of the Hung Kings’ Temple Relic Complex said that “Hung Kings worship rituals” is part of the Vietnamese people’s culture of worshiping ancestors. Throughout history, Hung Kings’ worship rituals have always been the source of the national culture’s internal power, contributing to fostering national pride, solidarity and patriotism of the Vietnamese people.


The Hung Kings worship rituals represent not only the belief in the protecting saints in the spiritual cultural life of the Vietnamese people but also the nation’s ethic of gratitude to the predecessors, Khoi said.


He noted that there are over 1,400 places of worship dedicated to the Hung Kings across the country and numerous festivals are held every year, every where to commemorate the nation’s founders. The festival at the Hung Kings’ Temple in Phu Tho province is the main and official event dedicated to the Kings.
 
This year’s festival will be held from April 7-12 with a wide range of cultural activities, taking place in Viet Tri city to the Hung Kings’ Temple and surrounding areas.
The festival will draw participation of several provinces nationwide, including Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh, Nam Dinh, Quang Ngai and Dong Thap province, which represent the three regions of the country.

Some 5-6 million visitors will make the pilgrimage to Phu Tho to offer their respect.

(Source: VietnamPlus)

Apr 3, 2011

HCMC Tourism Day 2011 to be held in April

The Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Day 2011 will be organised from April 7 to 10, said the organizing board of the annual event. The event is co-organised by the HCMC Tourism Association and the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

So far, 80 tourism units in HCMC and from 24 provinces and cities nationwide have agreed to showcase their products, with more than 150 booths to be displayed at the event.

On this occasion, the organizing board will honour the high-quality Vietnamese tourism trademark voted by consumers. Moreover, there will be art and cultural activities, such as “The best singing voice of the tourism sector” and the “Saigon Market – Dalat Flower – Mui Ne Beach – Phu Quoc Tourism Heaven – Haiphong Red Flamboyance of Poinciana Flowers” photographic exhibition.

At the event, travel agencies will supply new products as well as special preferential policies to attract tourists, especially focusing on tourism products for summer 2011.

Total costs for the organisation of the event are nearly VND3 billion, of which VND1 billion will be spent on tourism promotion.

(Source: CPV)

Apr 1, 2011

Vietnam welcomes 1.15 million foreign visitors in the first three months


Vietnam received more than 1.15 million foreign visitors in the first quarter of the year, representing a year-on-year increase of 12%, reported the General Statistic Office (GSO).
 In March only, as many as 475,000 holidaymakers came to Vietnam, up 5% over the same period last year.

China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the US, Taiwan (China), Australia, Cambodia, France, Malaysia and the UK remained Vietnam’s biggest tourism markets.

In particular, the number of Japanese visitors travelling to Vietnam in March reduced slightly, despite the adverse impacts of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in the country.

Around 43,500 Japanese tourists arrived in Vietnam, down just 8% from the previous month, but up 10% over the same period last year.

In the January-March period, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed approximately 900,000 foreign visitors, up 6% over the same period of 2010.


Source VNA

Mar 29, 2011

International kite festival draws dozens of nations

Some 120 enthusiasts from 25 nations and territories have registered to participate in an international kite festival in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province from April 8-10.
The enthusiasts will bring over 300 kites in different sizes, shapes and materials, featuring designs from many traditional cultures.

Organisers from Intourco and Paradise Beach Resorts said that many colourful international figures will also participate, showcasing their special products in the shape of birds and very small butterflies, which, with skilful handling, can fly as in real life.

Audiences will also be entertained with huge kites in different shapes, including toads, as long as 25m.

The event will culminate in a professional kite flying programme themed “Sharing a sky” for 120 minutes, following an amateur programme for visitors.

(Source: VNA)

Mar 24, 2011

Visiting Southeast Asia with one visa

Tourists will soon be able surf in Bali, shop in Singapore and eat spicy street food in Thailand before crossing into Cambodia and cruising the Mekong in Vietnam with a single tourist visa.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is working on a plan that would open the region to foreign tourists in the same way Europe's unified visa system has streamlined travel.

Eddy Krisneidi, an official of the ASEAN Secretariat, said in its Tourism Strategic Plan for the next five years, foreign tourists who just have to apply for one visa to one ASEAN member country can visit all other countries, ranging from Angkor Wat in Cambodia to five-star beach resorts in Bali.

ASEAN countries recorded more than 65 million foreign visitor arrivals in 2009. Malaysia led the field, followed by Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Brunei.

Analysts said that one visa for all ASEAN member countries will help attract more tourists to the region.

(Source: VOV)

Mar 20, 2011

Enterprises donate VND20 billion for fireworks festival

Thirty four enterprises nationwide have registered to sponsor about VND20 billion for the Danang International Fireworks Competition 2011 to be held April 29-30 on the central coast.
Five teams will compete at the annual competition. They are Jubilee Fireworks of England, Hanwha of South Korea, Parente Fireworks A&C SNC of Italy, Panda Fireworks of China and a team from Danang City. Tickets are available for an outdoor stadium with over 25,000 seats, and seats on tourist boats on Han River.

The city will hold promotions such as an online fireworks competition, art performances, flower boat parade, flower lanterns on Han River, food festival and light decorations at My Khe beach.

Tickets cost VND200,000 and are available in HCMC, Hanoi and Danang cities. The organizing committee expects to sell over 16,000 seats.

Last year’s competitors were Pyrotecnico - New Castle from Pennsylvania (USA), Luso Pirotecnia Group (Portugal), Jacques Couturier Organisation (France), Tamaya Kitahara (Japan) and Danang (Vietnam). It attracted around 100,000 spectators.

(Source: VNS)

Mar 18, 2011

First international choir festival opens in Quang Nam

Vietnam’s first ever International Choir Festival and Competition (VICC 1) opened in Hoi An City in the central province of Quang Nam on March 16.
The four-day event is drawing the participation of 30 choirs with nearly 1,000 artists from 11 countries and territories, including Germany, Hong Kong (China), Estonia, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Spain, Singapore, Sri Lanka and host Vietnam.The imposing opening performance, featuring specific characteristics of the cultural life of the Vietnamese people, with diversified forms of the singing and dancing art, such as songs in chorus and folk songs, took place on a floating stage at the Hoai River Square.

The festival continued with performances presented by choirs from Malaysia, Estonia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

A magnificent chorus performance from 1,000 singers from all the choirs closed the opening night of VICC 1.

Jointly organised by the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Quang Nam Province and the Germany-based Interkultur organisation, VICC 1 is a meeting of chorus lovers who can exchange through music, thus strengthening understanding about nations’ cultures as well as improving international friendship, solidarity and cooperation.

It also offers an opportunity to introduce international friends to the beauty of an ancient town, the hospitality of the Quang Nam people and the unique tourism products of Quang Nam in particular and central Vietnam in general.

(Source: VNA)

Mar 15, 2011

Exhibition highlights Vietnam-Laos traditional relations

A photographic exhibition praising the time-honoured relations between Vietnam and Laos was held recently in Vientiane by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in Laos.

The event praised the success of Vietnam’s 11th National Party Congress and welcomed Laos’ 9th Revolutionary People’s Party.

On the occasion, the relevant agencies presented one first prize, two second prizes, two third prizes and five consolation prizes to outstanding works.

Two months after launching the exhibition, it attracted 170 entries from 170 students of the Vietnam Art Teacher Training College and 70 entries from 50 Lao students.

All works of art highlighted the humanity and the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

The exhibition was of great political significance, showing young people’s confidence in the revolutionary cause of the two Parties, State and its peoples.

(Source: VOV)


   

Mar 13, 2011

National Tourism Year 2011 launched in central coastal province

A ceremony was held in Phu Yen Province on March 10 to launch the National Tourism Year 2011 programme in south-central eight cities and provinces, starting from Danang City to Binh Thuan Province. The event was part of activities marking the 400th founding anniversary of Phu Yen Province.

Various cultural, sporting and tourism events including an Asian music festival, an international choir festival, a film festival and a yacht race will be held within the framework of the programme themed “Beach and Island”.

This is a good opportunity for south-central coastal cities and provinces to introduce their tourism potential and promote maritime-based economy.

Vietnam aims to welcome 5.3 million foreign tourists in 2011 and earn a total revenue of VND110 trillion.

(Source: VOV)

Mar 6, 2011

Various events to celebrate Hung Kings’ death anniversary

A wide range of activities will take place as from April 7 (the 5th day of the 3rd lunar month) in the northern province of Phu Tho to commemorate the death anniversary of Hung Kings and celebrate the Hung Temple Festival in 2011.
The activities will be jointly held by Phu Tho and five other provinces, namely Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh, Nam Dinh, Quang Ngai and Dong Thap.

Incense offering ceremonies to the first rulers of Vietnam – the Hung Kings and the legendary ancestors of the nation will be held on April 7, 8 and 12 with the main ceremony to be hosted by Phu Tho on April 12 (the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month).

The festival that will last from April 8-12 will include a lion dance, a Xoan singing (ancestor worship singing) festival, an exhibition of offerings to the Hung Kings and a contest on making the traditional “banh chung” (square glutinous rice cake) and “banh day” (rice cake).

Phu Tho Province will also host an international seminar on “The worship of Hung Kings” as part of efforts to bid for UNESCO’s recognition of as an intangible cultural heritage.

Legend has it that Lac Long Quan, who was a dragon, met and married fairy Au Co, who later gave birth to 100 eggs from which 100 children sprang forth. The couple then parted due to their different origins. The man went seawards with 50 of their children, while his wife went to the mountains with the other half of the clan. The eldest son, who followed his father, later installed himself as Vietnam's first Hung King and today's Vietnamese people are said to be descendants of those children.

(Source: VNA)

Mar 2, 2011

Dak Lak ready for coffee festival


The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak is ready for the third coffee festival scheduled for March 10-15, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Hieu affirmed.

“All preparations for the third Buon Ma Thuot coffee festival have completed,” he said at a press briefing on March 1.

An opening ceremony will take place at Buon Ma Thuot City’s square. It will be followed by street festivals, including lion dance, elephant march and gong performance.

During the festival, an exhibition with 600 booths will be held to introduce Vietnam’s coffee products.

An international workshop on sustainable development for Buon Ma Thuot coffee will also be held with the participation of representatives from coffee exporting and importing countries like Brazil, Columbia, Indonesia and Ethiopia.

Futures transaction is expected to be launched for the first time in the province’s coffee trading floor.

Besides, the festival includes a series of cultural and art activities, making it an unique attraction.

The festival has freshly been bolstered to the national level under a decision by the Prime Minister in an attempt to turn Buon Ma Thuot City into a global hub of coffee.

(Source: VNA)

Feb 28, 2011

“Return to the Roots” tourism programme kicks off

A ceremony to launch the “Return to the Roots” tourism programme 2011 was held in Nghia Lo, Yen Bai Province on February 26. This is a tourism cooperative programme between the northern provinces of Yen Bai, Phu Tho and Lao Cai.

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan praised the three provinces’ efforts in promoting tourism and said their cooperation provides a good example for others to follow. He said he hopes the programme will create more tourism products and give all three provinces a facelift for developing tourism.

Over the six years of the programme, Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai provinces have invested thousands of billions of VND in tourism infrastructure. With nearly 1,000 accommodation facilities, including at least one four – star hotels, more than 500 hotels and 260 restaurants, the three provinces have met the increasing demands of both domestic and foreign tourists, even in the high season.

Since the programme’s implementation, the three provinces have received more than 25 million tourists, including 2 million in 2010, and earned more than VND1,000 billion. They aim to receive more than 5.5 million visitors in 2011, including about 400,000 foreigners and earn more than VND1,200 billion. The programme attracted over 60 travel agents to conduct tours.

Now that the 2011 programme has been officially launched, the provinces will host a wide range of activities, such as the Hung Temple Festival in Phu Tho, a cultural week to promote Thac Ba Lake in Yen Bai, the Thuong Temple Festival, on the cloud festival in Sapa, and a horse race in Bac Ha, Lao Cai Province.

(Source: VOV)
Vietnam aims to receive 5.3 million international visitors in 2011

Vietnam’s tourism industry has set a target to welcome 5.3 million international visitors, serve 30 million domestic tourists and earn VND110,000 billion by the end of 2011.

The culture, sports and tourism industry focused on these goals at a conference on deploying work this year that was held in Hanoi on February 25-26.

The industry will concentrate on developing human resources in the sector and gradually make tourism into a key industry. It also presented the tourism development project for 2011-2020 to the Prime Minister for approval.

The tourism sector will increase domestic and foreign cultural exchanges, introduce Vietnamese culture to the world, strengthen advertising of the national image and promote voting for Halong Bay to become one of the new natural wonders of the world.

(Source: VOV)

Feb 27, 2011

Halong Bay seeks New 7 Wonders of World status



The campaign to collect votes for Halong Bay to be recognised as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in November this year is entering the final stages, said an official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST).

At a meeting to discuss the country’s efforts to reach this goal held on February 23, Director of International Cooperation Department under the MCST Nguyen Van Tinh said that Halong Bay is among the 28 finalists. The official declaration of the New 7 Wonders of the World will be made on November 11, 2011, he added.

The Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Nguyen Van Tuan, emphasized the need to mobilize people to vote for Halong Bay and win the support of international friends.

The VNAT will also launch its own campaign to vote for the bay, he revealed.

Meanwhile, the department has come up with a plan to promote the image of Halong Bay to international tourists and friends. The plan includes a photographic contest and a painting competition on Halong Bay for children as well as an art performance.

The department will also organise activities to collect votes at major schools, tourist sites and through the Internet.

To vote for Halong Bay, twice recognised by the UNESCO for its landscape and geological values, in northern Quang Ninh Province, please visit the website

http://www.new7wonders.com/community/en/new7wonders/new7wonders_of_nature/voting

(Source: VNA)

Feb 26, 2011

Vietnam tourism promoted in Dubai

A conference to promote Vietnamese tourism was jointly held by the Vietnamese Embassy in UAE, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Vietnam Airlines and the Sharaf Travel in Dubai on February 23.

Speaking at the conference, the Vietnamese Ambassador, Nguyen Quang Khai, reviewed the industry’s achievements over the past years.

Despite the global financial crisis, the number of tourists coming to Vietnam reached 5.1 million in 2010, an increase of 20% over 2009, bringing US$ 4.5 billion of revenue to the country.

The ambassador encouraged UAE travel agencies to operate tours in Vietnam and pledged that the embassy will cooperate with Vietnamese travel companies to offer preferential conditions for UAE tourists.

Participants at the conference praised the country’s fast development in the industry and expressed their wishes to strengthen their cooperation with Vietnam.

(Source: VOV)

Feb 23, 2011

Vietnam joins in world’s largest travel trade show in Germany



International Tourism Bourse (ITB), one of the world’s largest travel trade shows, will be held in Berlin, Germany from March 9-13. During the event, there will be a seminar on protecting tourists, consumers and travel agencies, which will be organised for the first time by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The seminar will focus on the rapid growth rate of international tourism, the rights and responsibilities of tourists and travel agencies. Also, other issues such as package tours, contracts in hotels, transportation and information provided to consumers and the management of contracts.

Participants will emphasise discussions for legal documents in the future to protect both tourists and travel agencies during the financial crisis and Vietnam’s representatives will take part in this discussion.

(Source: VOV)

Feb 22, 2011

Vietnam tourism sector targets 4.5 pct GDP contribution

Vietnam has for the first time designated tourism as an economic spearhead, targeting a GDP contribution of 4.5 percent from the sector, says a senior official.

Once it has been identified as a key sector, tourism will receive more attention from policy makers and have more growth opportunities, said Nguyen Van Tuan, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

In an interview on the government website Saturday, Tuan said that his administration will this year launch more campaigns to promote Vietnamese tourism with a focus on sea tourism and ecotourism products.

Vietnam targets 5.3 million international arrivals and 30-31 million domestic tourists this year, generating revenues of VND100 trillion (US$5.65 billion), Tuan said.

Vietnam received a record five million foreign arrivals in 2010, an increase of 34.8 percent over 2009.
(source: Thanh Nien)

Feb 15, 2011

Poetry Day in Ha Noi, Nghe An and HCMC



The annual Poetry Day will take place on February 17 in Ha Noi, Nghe An and HCMC. Huu Thinh, chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association, said the occasion would also be used to mark the 100th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh who left the country in 1911 to seek ways for national salvation from the French colonists.
"There will be a soil and water procession at Hanoi's Temple of Literature," Thinh said. "A delegation of writers from the central region will bring some soil from President Ho's home in Sen Village to the temple." They will also bring some water from the source of the historical Pac Bo Cave's Lenin Stream, where the president lived and worked in the 1940s, in the northern province of Cao Bang to the temple. The soil and water will be housed at the association's museum in Hanoi.

Poetry readings will take place in President Ho's homeland, Nghe An province, and at Nha Rong Wharf in HCMC.

At Hanoi's Temple of Literature the busts of 30 famed writers will be displayed. Lanterns bearing 100 verses will also adorn the temple.

The first Poetry Day was held in 2003 at the Temple of Literature.

(Source: VNA)

Feb 13, 2011

More foreigners visit HCMC



Since the beginning of this year, HCMC has welcomed 320,000 foreign visitors, up 15% compared to the same period last year.

Besides, about 4,000 Vietnamese people have travelled to other countries through HCMC during the Lunar New Year Festival (Tet), an increase of 10% over last year. The city’s tourism destinations have also attracted more than 75,000 domestic visitors.

In 2011, HCMC aims to receive 3.5 million travellers and earn VND49,000 billion. To reach the target, the city will continue to improve the quality of tourism products also through promotion and international cooperation.

La Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director of HCM Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the sector would focus on four main areas, including diversifying and developing products; promoting the quality of cultural events; controlling the illegal activities; and training staff.

(Source: VOV)

Feb 9, 2011

Visitors to Vietnam during Tet increase



The number of both domestic and foreign holidaymakers during the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival this year increased sharply.

Vietravel said visitors booking domestic and outbound tours during Tet increased 40% over last year. Notably, its office on 190 Pasteur, in HCMC welcomed a record 2,300 people on the second day of Tet.

The nation’s leading Saigontourist offered 130 tours for 10,000 visitors, including overseas Vietnamese returning home to enjoy the Tet holiday. It also received over 9,000 foreigners on cruises. The number of Saigontourist visitors increased nearly 20% over last year’s period.

Meanwhile, the number of tourists to Hue over the holiday increased sharply, reaching about 50,000, some 20,000 more than last year.

From the first to third day of Tet, Hanoi welcomed over 1,000 visitors through its Noi Bai International Airport, most of them from European countries and overseas Vietnamese.

Other well-known cites such as Danang, Nha Trang, Binh Thuan, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Quang Ninh are expected to attract a large number of domestic tourists for the many traditional festivals held in the spring.

(Source: VOV)

Feb 7, 2011

The island of god

The rivers and channels of the amazing Mekong Delta contain many islands that are interesting to visit. The richly fertile island of Cu Lao May, or May Islet in Vinh Long Province is also known as the land of God.
To get there, take a ferry from Tra On Market for VND1,000. Xe om (motorbike taxi) are also available for VND2,000. The islet, which was formerly named Luc Si Thanh Island, located in Tra On District, covers about 4,000 hectares.

Once on the island explore the orchards of oranges, pomelo, rambutan and star apples by hired bicycle or motorbike.

Tourists can also visit the rice paper making village and see how the paper that is wrapped around so many delicious Vietnamese rolls is made.

Hau Thanh Temple on the island is where King Tu Duc conferred the title of Hoang Thanh Bon Canh (The land of god) in 1852. The quiet temple is surrounded by trees. In the lunar fourth month every year, there is a traditional festival at the temple which attracts many pilgrims and visitors.

(source: Vietnamnet.vn)

Jan 29, 2011

Phan Thiet fun for Tet



Phan Thiet has announced the cultural and sports events for Lunar New Year 2011. From January 30 until February 8 (the 27th of the 12th lunar month until the 6th of the 1st lunar month), there are numerous music performances, sports activities, folk games and lion dances at most of the province’s 18 wards.

Bien Xanh theater group will hold special music galas in the communes of Tien Thanh, Phong Nam and Thien Nghiep. Tien Loi – Tien Thanh Tourist Area will have a fireworks display on Lunar New Year’s Eve. After the 15-minute fireworks, a music performance named “Chao Xuan” (Welcoming the Spring) will be held at Nga Bay Stage and a music gala at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square.

The traditional boat race on Ca Ty River will be on the second of the first lunar month and the Mui Ne sand hill run will be on the 4th of the 1st lunar month. At resorts and hotels in Phan Thiet, there’re banquets to welcome Lunar New Year, folk music performances, lion dances, Cham dances and traditional martial arts.

(Source: SGT)

Jan 25, 2011

Three provinces plan joint tourism representative office in Japan



Three central provinces are planning to set up a joint representative office in Japan as part of a program to attract tourists from there.

Nguyen Quoc Thanh, Deputy Director of the Thua Thien Hue Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that his province together with neighboring Quang Nam and Danang was preparing to open the office some time this year.

The three have got support from an organization in Japan, investors, travel firms and Vietnam Airlines for the representative office scheme as it is believed to help to promote the entire central region as a destination for tourists.

“Without this support we have not been able to proceed with the plan. We want to open the office soon since Japan is among the important markets for us,” Thanh said.

With two World Heritage sites, the ancient city of Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary, Quang Nam normally attracts more local and international visitors than the other two provinces.

Quang Nam put visitor arrivals at 2.4 million last year and the number was 1.77 million in Danang, and 1.5 million in Thua Thien-Hue.

Thanh said Thua Thien-Hue’s tourism sector expected newly opened and forthcoming air services between Danang and Japan to contribute more to bringing Japanese visitors to Danang and neighboring provinces.

“Hundreds of thousands of Japanese visit Danang and Quang Nam a year but our province gets a lower number,” he said. “Good transportation infrastructure and strong promotions that will be carried out through the representative office will help to bring more Japanese to the region and our province.”

If the plan materializes, this will be the first representative office of the local tourism sector in Japan. The Vietnamese tourism sector has no overseas office at the moment.

(Source: SGT)

Jan 22, 2011

EU provides EUR11 billion for Vietnam’s tourism



European Union (EU) will provide Vietnam with EUR11 billion to promote environmental and social responsibility in the development of tourism in 2011-2015.

The information was released at a ceremony announcing the financial agreement on the largest ever technical assistance given to Vietnam’s tourism held on January 14 in Hanoi.

Vietnam will contribute about EUR1 million to the programme. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has been assigned its implementation.

The project aims to promote environmental and social responsibility in tourism services on part of Vietnam’s tourism development strategy.

It will focus on three components, including policy of assistance and regulation increasing competitiveness; and promoting education and vocational training.

Staff from the VNAT and executives from tourism sector at all levels will be the targets of the programme.

The programme was made possible due to the project on developing the success of human resources for tourist sector which was financed by the EU in 2004 - 2010.


Source VOV

Jan 18, 2011

Dak Lak to host Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival



The Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee announced about the upcoming 3rd Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival 2011 on January 17.

Present at the event were Luong Van Tu, Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (Vicofa), Trinh Ngoc Tu, Deputy Director of Vietnam Coffee Company, Y DHam ENuoi, Vice Chairman of Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee and Tran Viet Hung, Deputy Head of the Central Highlands Steering Committee.

Mr. Y DHam ENuoi said coffee was the main product of the province, coffee plantation covers an area of more than 180,000ha in the province, and annual output reaches over 400,000 tonnes, annual export turnover of more than US$600 million, occupying 60% of the province’s budget and creating jobs for 400,000 labourers.

Under the approval of the Prime Minister, the Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee will hold Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival every two years. The festival will be a good opportunity for trade promotion, advertising trade names to push Vietnam’s coffee exports, raise Vietnam’s coffee among famous trade names in the world, and create favourable conditions for sustainable development of the coffee industry in Vietnam in general and the Central Highlands in particular.

The Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee will also coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Vicofa to organise a seminar on developing Buon Ma Thuot’s coffee industry firmly and operate the model of fixed time-limit coffee transaction in trading, following the Prime Minister’s guidelines.

Many sports activities and arts performances will also take place at the festival.

The 3rd Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival will be held on Square 10/3 in Buon Ma Thuot City in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak on March 10-13.

(Source: VOV)

Jan 16, 2011

Get festive for Tet at Cham cultural center


The Cham Cultural Exhibition Center in Binh Thuan Province will host a week of cultural events for Tet (Lunar New Year) from January 30 to February 8. The highlight of the program is the exhibition of royal costumes of the Cham imperial family.


See what the Cham kings, queen, princes and princess were wearing – including crowns, seals and swords and betel nut making sets.

Also see costumes, musical instruments, objects and products that Cham people used in festivals.

Apart from exhibits of traditional craft villages like brocade weaving and ceramics, the center will also display farming tools such as buffalo carts, fish traps and stone jewelries plus a collection of stone statues of Aspara dancers, Genesa, Avalo Kitecvara Gods, a lion, Linga-Yoni and many documents written in Cham language.

Brocade weavers and pottery makers will demonstrate for visitors, so guests can join contests. Learn how to cook at Cham cake making displays or just enjoy a free cake.

Rija Nugar ( New Year Festival) and folk artistic performances will be on every night during the festival week.

The Cham artist troupe from Bac Binh District will perform Saranai pan-pipe, Yin-Yang couple dance, Po Jija dance, Vai Chai singing and many kinds of ethnic Cham dance and singing.

The center is in Phan Hiep Commune, Bac Binh District, Phan Thiet City
Source: Vietnamtourism.com

Jan 13, 2011

Vietnam to promote World Heritage sites at ATF



The tourism authority has chosen the World Heritage sites, the 1,000-year-old capital of Hanoi and the unique central coast as Vietnam’s highlights at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2011.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, deputy head of the marketing department of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), told the Daily on January 10 VNAT, the tourism authorities of HCMC, Danang, Phu Yen and Nghe An, and around 40 travel firms and hotels would join the event in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh from January 15 to January 21.

The Vietnamese delegation will showcase Vietnamese tourism products and services, and work with foreign buyers at the ATF Travex, a three-day travel trade mart set for January 19.

ASEAN member countries are among the main source markets of the domestic tourism sector along with China, Europe, and Northeast Asia. Tourist arrivals from ASEAN, mostly Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia, have also been on the rise in the past two years.

Cambodia is a case in point, with around 254,600 Cambodians visiting Vietnam in 2010, up 87% year-on-year.

The yearly forum will be attended by the 10 ASEAN countries to seek to promote ASEAN as a tourist destination. This year it goes with the theme “A World of Wonders and Diversity” and features other activities such as conference and travel exhibitions.

The ASEAN Tourism Conference will look into topics such as ecotourism and sustainable tourism in the region and management of tourism services in heritage sites.

According to a statement of the organizing committee, over 500 exhibition booths are occupied and around 1,000 buyers have put their names down to join the event.

(Source: SGT)

Jan 10, 2011

Main road to be decorated with 120,000 flowerpots for Tet



The organizer of the annual Nguyen Hue Flower Street program has entered the final phase with Nguyen Hue Boulevard closed on January 21 to begin installing 120,000 flowerpots.
The flower street will be opened to visitors on January 31, or the 28th day of the final lunar month, and closed on February 6, or the fourth day of the new lunar year.

Chiem Thanh Long, deputy head of the organizing committee of the Nguyen Hue Flower Street, told the Daily last weekend that the organizer had placed orders for flowers with farmers in HCMC, the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands city of Dalat.

Visitors will have the opportunity to see around 90 species of flowers along the main street in the city’s commercial district as they ring in the Lunar New Year.

Also shown along the street will be models of traditional items for the country’s largest festive event, such as Banh Tet (sticky rice cake) and watermelons.The organizer will turn Le Loi Boulevard into a pedestrian-only street, near Nguyen Hue, and make it a venue for music performances, folk dances and games at night on February 6.

As part of the Tet Festival 2011, the city will again organize a contest to make Banh Tet, decorate the main streets with color lighting systems, display fireworks, and stage music and light shows.

The street lighting decoration program will kick off first, with main streets Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi, Le Loi and Le Duan to be brightly lit from January 26 to February 13. Such lighting was done during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

In the Banh Tet cooking contest, set for January 26 to 31, the best cake will be used as a token offering to the Hung Kings and 10,000 smaller Banh Tet cakes for poor people to enjoy Tet.

Organizer Saigontourist has taken contributions from many other companies to hold the Tet festival.

While Nguyen Hue Flower Street is on, some vehicles will be banned from this road from late this month to early February. Cars are not allowed on Nguyen Hue from Le Loi to Ton Duc Thang streets from January 21 to February 7. All vehicles are disallowed from January 31 to February 6 on Nguyen Hue Street and at night on February 6 on Le Loi Street, from Quach Thi Trang roundabout to the HCMC Opera House.
(Source: SGT)

Jan 8, 2011

Deputy Prime Minister hails Thang Long-Hanoi millennium celebration

The successful organisation of activities to mark Thang Long-Hanoi’s 1,000th birthday in 2010 helped improve the position and prestige of the capital city and the country as well, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung has said.

At a review meeting held by the National Steering Committee for the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi in Hanoi on January 5, the Deputy Prime Minister said that celebrations matched the significance of the anniversary and were able to highlight country’s heroic spirit and the city’s thousand-year-old culture.

He also spoke highly of the involvement of relevant ministries and branches, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its chapters, all 63 provinces and cities nationwide, Vietnamese embassies overseas and embassies of foreign countries in Vietnam, which contributed to the success of the celebration.

The consensus of the nation as a whole and their love to Hanoi were major factors leading to the success of the celebration, Hung stressed.

On the occasion, he also asked the Party Central Committee’s Information and Education Commission, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Hanoi authorities to collect intangible cultural heritages on Hanoi.

(Source: VNA)

Jan 6, 2011

Deputy Prime Minister hails Thang Long-Hanoi millennium celebration



The successful organisation of activities to mark Thang Long-Hanoi’s 1,000th birthday in 2010 helped improve the position and prestige of the capital city and the country as well, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung has said.

At a review meeting held by the National Steering Committee for the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi in Hanoi on January 5, the Deputy Prime Minister said that celebrations matched the significance of the anniversary and were able to highlight country’s heroic spirit and the city’s thousand-year-old culture.

He also spoke highly of the involvement of relevant ministries and branches, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its chapters, all 63 provinces and cities nationwide, Vietnamese embassies overseas and embassies of foreign countries in Vietnam, which contributed to the success of the celebration.

The consensus of the nation as a whole and their love to Hanoi were major factors leading to the success of the celebration, Hung stressed.

On the occasion, he also asked the Party Central Committee’s Information and Education Commission, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Hanoi authorities to collect intangible cultural heritages on Hanoi.

(Source: VNA)

Jan 4, 2011

Hanoi and HCMC welcome first international visitors in 2011



A ceremony was held at international airport Tan Son Nhat on January 1, 2011 to welcome the first international visitors to HCMC of the year. The event was co-organised by the HCMC’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the city’s Tourism Association.

Vietnam Airlines’ first flight VN927 from Kaohsiung to HCMC landed at 9h30am, carrying 160 passengers from Taiwan while the Cathay Pacific Airlines’ second flight CX769 from Hong Kong to HCMC landed at 10h25 am with 300 passengers from the US, Hong Kong, the UK, France, the Netherlands and Northern Europe.

This is part of a series of events in 2011 to promote Vietnam’s image, the country and its people and HCMC as an attractive, safe and friendly destination to international visitors and overseas Vietnamese.

La Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director of the HCMC’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that in 2011, the city’s tourism sector will focus on diversifying its products, improving the quality of cultural events in the city, and training human resources.

On the same day, Vietnam Airlines’ Boeing 777, carrying 285 passengers from Frankfurt, Germany landed at Noi Bai International Airport.

Australian tourist Hans Peter Ebuer, who is one of the first visitors to Hanoi in 2011, said that he had learnt a lot about Vietnam’s history and people. He found Hanoi different from his imagination with its friendly people and modern terminals.

(Source: VOV)

Jan 2, 2011

Photo exhibition on VN – Cuba ties opens in Hanoi

A photo exhibition themed “Vietnam – Cuba, 50 years of solidarity, cooperation and development” opened in Hanoi on December 30 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Cuba (December 2, 1960 - December 2, 2010).
Attending the opening ceremony were Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Tien Tho, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Fredesman Turroz Gonzalez and representatives of the Embassies of Cuba, Thailand, France, the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and news agencies.

On display are almost 100 photos depicting the friendly cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba and as well as the Cuban people, land and culture.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister Tho described the exhibition as a chance to review the traditional friendship and bilateral cooperation between the two nations in the fields of politics, economy, culture and education since the two countries established their diplomatic ties in 1960.

He said he believed that the exhibition would contribute to strengthening the bilateral friendship and boosting the comprehensive partnership between the two nations.

For his part, Cuban ambassador Fredesman Turroz Gonzalez expressed his thanks for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s participants in the event and affirmed that this year was important in exchanging bilateral culture between Vietnam and Cuba, especially the exchange visits by the two nations’ culture ministers and the signing of cultural exchange programme in the 2011-2013 period.

The exhibition, which is co-organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Cuban Embassy to Vietnam, will last until January 3, 2011./.

(Source: VNA)

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