VietNamNet Bridge – HCMC will be a new destination for Russian tourists traveling on chartered planes, following Khanh Hoa Province and Kien Giang’s Phu Quoc District.

A Russian travel agent (R) works with a representative of a local enterprise over how to bring more Russian tourists to Vietnam.

Hoang Thi Phong Thu, chairwoman of Anh Duong Tourism Company, said her company and its partner, Pegas Touristik, have surveyed many hotels and resorts in HCMC, Long Hai, Vung Tau, and Binh Thuan for serving Russians who will arrive here on chartered flights from December.

Russian tourists traveling to Vietnam normally stay in HCMC for a short while before leaving for beaches in coastal provinces for prolonged convalescences. However, tourists on chartered flights will likely stay in the city for at least three days, said Thu, whose company is the key partner in organizing chartered flights transporting Russians to Vietnam.

Anh Duong Company has organized numerous chartered flights to transport customers from Russia to Vietnam. Now is the low season, and there are two chartered flights each day on average.

HCMC’s Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism in cooperation with travel agents in provinces that have tourism potential, such as Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan, will participate in a travel fair in Russia to promote Vietnam’s tourism in September 2014.

According to Thu, the representatives of Airports Corporation of Vietnam, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and her company have worked with Norwind Airlines and Ikar Airlines to introduce 22 airports in Vietnam for Russia’s flights.

Statistics from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism show the number of Russian tourists to Vietnam reached nearly 194,000 in this year’s first half, up 26% compared to the same period of last year.

SGT/VNN