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)

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)

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)

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