More new flight to Can Tho City in Mekong delta

The Southwestern Steering Committee, the Ministry of Transport, and Can Tho City People’s Committee said in a meeting on Match 17 that they would like more air routes in the region in order to aid in economic development.

The Can Tho International Airport was constructed in 2010 with the capacity of 3-5 million passengers per year. The international recession has led to a drastic decrease in commerce to the region and the airport was never used to its fullest capacity.

The airport serves routes including two flights a day on the Can Tho - Ha Noi route and one flight per day on the Can Tho – Phu Quoc route.

The airport needs to have more new local air routes including Can Tho and Da Nang, Can Tho and Khanh Hoa, Can Tho and Lam Dong,  and international routes such as Can Tho and Bangkok, Can Tho and Siem Riep, Can Tho and Phnom Penh, Can Tho and Taiwan (China), Can Tho and South Korea, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

Hanoi welcomed 4.87 million domestic tourists and 705,000 foreign arrivals in the first quarter of 2014, up 8 percent and 15 percent respectively from the same period last year.

In addition to upgrading facilities, the city is also developing new tourism products to attract visitors, such as marionette shows and cheo singing (Vietnamese opera) performances.

Hanoi has invested in improving the quality of infrastructure and services at its cultural heritage sites, including Ngoc Son Temple, Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) and Hoa Lo prison.

The city plans to develop the Ba Vi – Suoi Hai complex in its outskirts district of Ba Vi into a national-level tourism site and promote community-based tourism in the district’s mountainous communes.

It is also working on the building of a centre to introduce visitors to Vietnam’s traditional trade villages.

Attention has also been paid to strengthening cooperation with other localities nationwide and participating in international tourism fairs to promote the city’s image.

This year, the capital city strives to attract 2.8 million foreigners and 16 million tourists from other localities nationwide, and earn 45 trillion VND (2.1 billion USD).-

InterContinental opens first hotel in Nha Trang

The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has just opened the doors of its brand new InterContinental NhaTrang in the coastal city of Nha Trang, Vietnam.

The 279-room hotel overlooks the pristine coastline and waters of Nha Trang Bay and includes 56 luxuriously furnished suites.

Colin McCandless, general manager, InterContinental NhaTrang said; “InterContinental NhaTrang is the epitome of a luxurious beachfront retreat and it is situated along one of the most stunning coastlines in Vietnam. From its fantastic location, InterContinental NhaTrang has been designed to provide contemporary luxury experiences for both leisure and business travellers when they stay, dine or hold an event with us.”

Clarence Tan, chief operating officer, South East Asia and Resorts, IHG, said "InterContinental NhaTrang is our first hotel in Nha Trang and joins a stellar repertoire of three other award-winning InterContinental properties in Vietnam. We have high expectations for this new property and are confident that all our guests will enjoy an authentic local experience at the hotel."

Just a 40-minute drive from Cam Ranh International Airport, the hotel is surrounded by a host of shopping and entertainment options.

It also offers guests the opportunity to go island-hopping or visit attractions such as the Thap Ba Hot Spring, Nha Phu Lagoon or some of Nha Trang’s famous scuba diving spots in the Hon Mun Marine Protected Area.

InterContinental NhaTrang feature three outdoor swimming pools and a fully equipped Fitness Centre, while Spa InterContinental offers guests the latest holistic modern and traditional treatments, equipped with a luxurious couple suite, sauna and jacuzzi, among others.

The hotel also caters specifically to the youngest members of the family with its own Kid's Club which has a range of child friendly activities, games and supervised events that allow parents to get some much deserved time off on their own.

In addition, InterContinental NhaTrang boasts the largest pillar-less grand ballroom in the city, with extensive meeting facilities and the latest technology to deliver seamless corporate or social events such as conferences, business meetings, parties and weddings.

IHG currently has six hotels open in Vietnam under the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Crowne Plaza brands, with another seven in the development pipeline.

InterContinental Nha Trang joins the family of 12 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in South East Asia, with another seven due to open in the next three to five years in the region.

To celebrate the opening, InterContinental NhaTrang is offering an Opening Special Promotion for bookings made between April 1 and June 30, from VND2,500,000++ per night. The rate includes complimentary daily buffet breakfast and wireless internet access.

Vietnam’s first tour operator nominated for the “Oscars” of the travel industry

Luxury Travel Ltd has been nominated in ‘Vietnam’s Leading Tour Operator’ category at the 2014 World Travel Awards.

The World Travel Awards serve to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

Hailed as the “Oscars” of the travel industry, the awards seek to raise the standards of customer service and overall business performance throughout the international industry.

Now in their 21st year of operation, the World Travel Awards have evolved to represent a global search for the very best travel and tourism brands.

After a rigorous selection procedure, Luxury Travel emerged with a nomination for ‘Vietnam’s Leading Tour Operator’ for the first time, confirming its position as a leader within the Vietnam tourism industry.

As a company, Luxury Travel has contributed significantly to the benchmarking of ‘experiential travel’ within Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia.

In receiving a nomination, Luxury Travel Ltd. has effectively been issued with a global endorsement from thousands of travel professionals who believe that their distinct blend of niche and experiential travel is worth sharing with the rest of the world.

Celebrating 10 years at the forefront of the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian travel industry, Luxury Travel promotes a style of travel that goes beyond the idea of the conventional sightseeing packages, paying particular focus on immersing clients in the local culture and venturing out to lesser-known destinations.

Pham Ha, founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd said “we are honoured to be nominated as the leading tour operator in Vietnam which coincides with our celebration of our 10th anniversary. We are a luxury travel trendsetter, a leader in the market. We share our unique travel experiences and intriguing perspective with clients who wish to see Vietnam and beyond. To be nominated by such a prestigious committee is testament to the innovative product we create and the dedicated team who drive it.”

Having recently extended their portfolio to encompass Cambodia, Luxury Travel’s innovative and varied product continues to go from strength to strength.

The company’s first venture outside Vietnam marks its continued expansion and move towards offering an even more comprehensive service throughout Southeast Asia.

Touring Thailand with Vietravel

Vietravel in cooperation with Tourism Authority of Thailand and Vietnam Airlines is introducing a five-day tour promotion to Thailand costing VND 6,990,000 per person.

The company will give away 500 Thai sim-cards to tourists who book starting in March, said Deputy Director of Vietravel Tran Doan The Duy. The tour includes Baan Sukhawadee’s house, a foot massage, market experiences, and Wat Arun in Bangkok.

Tours depart everyday. Inquiring customers may book tours at Vietravel Office, 190 Pasteur St., District 3, HCMC or at any branches of Vietravel.

Although the antigovernment demonstrations in Thailand are currently suppressed in Lumpini Park due to the Songkran Festival, it has become a center of interests for tourists, said Duy.

Tourism is recovering from the protest. Shopping malls such as MBK, Tokyu, and Siam are crowded with various promotions.

Pattaya, Bar and Tiffany, Alcazar still attract large amounts of tourists, said Jamnong Junnapiya, executive director of Tourism Authority of Thailand. Tourism in Thailand used to be based on natural sites and famous cuisines. The company will now develop Thai massage and sex-change operations to further develop the industry. This promotion will advertise to women from France, Belgium, and India.

Thailand continues to issue free visas for 53 countries.