VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in the province of Thua Thien-Hue have begun dredging a canal that would allow tourist boats to go to the inner royal citadel from the Huong (Perfume) River.

The dredging, done at a cost of VND26.3 billion (US$1.2 million), will remove about 200,000cu.m of silt from the bed of the 3.5km long canal.

The canal was built for irrigation and waterway traffic by the Nguyen dynasty's kings Gia Long and Minh Mang between 1805 and 1825. Its historical significance in the Hue Monuments Complex is reflected in its name, Ngu Ha, meaning the King's River.

* Firms to get guide awards for tourism services
The Guide Awards given away annually by the Viet Nam Economic Times magazine to the year's best tourism products and services will be presented to 134 winners in Mui Ne on Friday.

The awards recognise excellent performances by hotels, resorts, restaurants, transporters, and other tourism services who make contributions to tourism by protecting the environment, supplying sustainable travel services, promoting national identity, and being responsible towards local communities.

This year's recipients include 76 hotels and resorts, 38 restaurants, seven travel firms, five healthcare and beauty-care services, 15 transport services, and several entertainment services.

One of them, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Ha Noi hotel will receive the award for the 12th consecutive year, while it will be the 11th for the Melia Ha Noi Hotel and Buffalo Tours.

The awards ceremony will also feature a dinner, a jazz music show by saxophonist Quyen Van Minh, singer Tung Duong and the band Bigband, and the Guide Golf Tournament for the Environment.

Anyone scoring a hole-in-one will win a Mercedes automobile.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News