Nha Trang tour boat accused of violating fixed prices

A tour boat in Nha Trang City received complaints about overcharging customers.

The prices are set by the government, said Nguyen Ngoc Khoa, manager of Cang Da Harbor. If the defendant, Tran Nhu Thiet, is found guilty of overcharging, he will be suspended from operating the boat.

The accuser is Sy Vinh Sang from Ho Chi Minh City. He booked a tour with boat KH-0180 for a five-island tour in the bay with 14 family members. The owner returned the customers back to the city after stopping at only two islands.

Thiet did not answer the phone after harbor management board contacted him about the complaint.

Although the prices of these tours are fixed, many tourists reserve private boats with owners which harbor managers are unable to regulate, said Khoa.

The case is under further investigation, said chief inspector of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Le Quang Lich.

Helicopter tours to En Cave launched

Oxalis, an adventure-tour operator, and Northern Helicopter Company launched helicopter tours to En Cave in Phong Nha—Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province.

Each tour has a capacity of 20 customers costing VND 3-6 million per person.

En Cave is the world’s third largest cave. The largest cave found in the world is Son Doong in Quang Binh Province and the second largest is Deer Cave in Malaysia.

Visiting the Buddha on Cam Mountain

Cam Mountain, also known Thien Cam Son, is located in An Hao Commune, Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province.

The 710m-high mountain is the highest in That Son (seven mountains) Range which also consists of Tra Su, Ket, Ba Doi Om, Co To, Dai and Tuong mountains.

Tourists can climb Cam Mountain either by bus or on foot. It is recommended they walk to experience sceneries along the way and show sincerity to the Buddha.

After a three-hour journey tourists will arrive at Bo Hong peak where Van Linh Pagoda is located. The seven-storey pagoda is next to a lake and surrounded by immense grassland and plants. Tourists can admire a statue of the Happy Buddha with his big and merciful smile on an adjacent hill. The 33.6m-high statue has been recognized as the highest Happy Buddha in Asia.

Vietnam Airlines offers special promotions for domestic routes

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is offering a promotion on some domestic routes from April 15-29.

One-way tickets for routes between HCMC and Buon Ma Thuot will be VND 499,000, HCMC to Da Lat will cost VND599,000, HCMC to Vinh and Hanoi to Da Lat will be VND999,000. Tax not included in the prices.

The special rates will be applicable for flights departing from April 15 to May 19.

Vietnam Airlines also announced that the company will add 342 additional flights and 16 domestic routes to meet increasing demand during the Reunification and May Day holidays from April 29 to May 4.

Avani adds second property in Vietnam

AVANI Hotels & Resorts, the vibrant upscale brand launched by Thailand-based Minor Hotel Group in 2011, has added a second property to its portfolio in Vietnam, AVANI Haiphong Harbour View.

Located close to the port in the centre of the country’s third largest city, the 122-room property was previously operated as Harbour View Hotel and offers colonial charm and traditional Vietnamese hospitality.

Accommodation options include 21 executive rooms, 45 deluxe pooms and 49 superior rooms. In addition there are six apartments complete with kitchenette, along with one royal suite with a living room, office, bedroom and two bathrooms. All offer international satellite TV, wi-fi, in-room safe, air conditioning and other amenities.

Restaurant and bar options include Nam Phuong which offers traditional Vietnamese and Asian dining, Harbour Café serving a selection of international cuisine and La Terrasse, a verandah where guests can watch the world go by as they enjoy a drink or snack. In addition Cheers Pub is themed around the famous sit-com and guests can enjoy complimentary wi-fi internet access as they enjoy a pint or a bite to eat.

For business guests, the hotel has five meeting rooms and can accommodate intimate meetings in the boardroom or larger conferences and events for up to 180 people. The central courtyard area offers an alternative dining area and the flexible space can also be used for events or barbeques. Additional facilities include a business centre, a fitness centre, a swimming pool and a spa.

Christian Bernkopf, general manager, AVANI Haiphong Harbour View, commented, “We are very excited to have recently joined the AVANI portfolio and now be part of a fast-growing international brand. As the second AVANI here in Vietnam, the brand is already recognised and the launch of a new internet booking engine and being able to benefit from other brand marketing initiatives is helping to spread the word about the hotel. We are enjoying welcoming our regular guests and new guests to the newly rebranded AVANI Hai Phong Harbour View.”

As part of Minor Hotel Group’s global expansion of diverse quality brands, AVANI Hotels & Resorts was launched in late 2011 in Sri Lanka as a refreshing upscale hotel concept, to consolidate the group’s presence in city and resort locations across Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East and Africa. ‘AVANI’ stems from the Sanskrit word for ‘earth’ - a meaning which is expressed through a grounded personality and simple sense of style. AVANI properties offer relaxed comfort and contemporary style to guests who value the details that matter.

In September 2013, AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa became the first AVANI in Vietnam. The resort was rebranded from Life Wellness Resort Quy Nhon, following MHG’s acquisition of the Life Resorts brand at the beginning of last year. An fifth property joined the portfolio last month – AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort & Spa in Malaysia – and 2014 will also see properties added in Bangkok and the Seychelles. Additional new-build properties are also under development in Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.