Da Nang taxis to install GPS systems

Six taxi firms in the central city of Da Nang have agreed at a meeting with local authorities to install Global Positioning System (GPS) car tracking in all cabs from September to next June.

More than 1,000 taxis will try out the devices hoping that they will make finding locations easier and help reduce accidents.

This follows a report from the city's transport department that there were 37 accidents in the first six months of the year, injuring 13 people with a loss of VND90 million (US$4,300).

According to the Department of Transport, 1,300 buses and 879 trucks have already installed GPS tracking equipment.

Last month, 200 cars in the city were reported to be using GPS devices, but all of them were substandard.

More train services to serve holiday demand

According to Ha Noi Railway Station, the railway sector will add more train services to cater for the increasing travel demands of passengers on September 2, National Day.

The additional services include the SP9 (to Lao Cai) departing from Ha Noi on August 30 – 31 and the TH5 (to Thanh Hoa) leaving on August 31.

After the holiday, the station will run the Vinh – Thanh Hoa – Ha Noi route with NA4 and TH6 on September 2, the Lao Cai – Ha Noi route with SP6 (September 1-2) and SP10 on September 2.

Hue plans to launch tourism promotion month at heritage complex

Visitors both at home and abroad will have a chance to enjoy a special tourism promotion month at the complex of royal relics in Hue from September 2-30.

According to Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC), Phan Thanh Hai, the promotion month is organised to mark the 20th anniversary of recognition of the complex as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During the month, the HMCC is offering free presentations for groups of over 30 tourists. Visitors will also enjoy a 50% discount on tickets for Nha Nhac (royal court music) performances as well as 10% discount on other services at different sites in the complex.

Exhibitions on official documents of the Nguyen dynasty, pottery collections and photographs on world heritage sites in Vietnam are also set to be held in addition to other cultural and sporting events at public sites in Hue city.

Seminar discusses Vietnamese tourism trademarks

An August 22 seminar in Hanoi has discussed developing a national tourism trademark with the aim of agreeing upon a 2020 industry-wide tourism strategy including vision towards 2030.

Nearly 200 Vietnamese and international representatives involved in tourism management and development contributed ideas to the event.

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Head Nguyen Van Tuan told the seminar a respected national tourism trademark is key factor to improving its regional competitiveness.

Participants canvassed how best to bolster Vietnamese tourism’s trademark over the 2013–2020 period and highlighted the lessons to be drawn from previous domestic and international experiences in promoting the industry’s attractions, destinations, businesses, and services.

The tourism industry’s 2020 strategy focuses on intensifying advertising campaigns of an appropriately professional standards and encouraging businesses to proactively manage their tourism brands’ reputations.

Source: SGT/SGGP/VNA/VNS/VOV/ND