“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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)