New KL-HCM City flight added

Malaysian Airlines will add one more flight to its Kuala Lumpur-HCM City route on its summer schedule, bring the number of its flights between the two cities to 21 from June. The airlines, which operates three daily flights from Monday to Saturday and two on Sunday, will now have three flights on Sunday as well.

Last week, the Malaysian carrier launched its Global Deals, Dream Getaway promotion campaign for passengers to book discounted air tickets until May 24 for travel to various destinations within its network, including Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Cruise ship to visit Viet Nam

Bremen a cruise ship that belongs to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, will arrive in Viet Nam on May 17, beginning a seven day tour that includes HCM City, Da Nang, Hai Phong and Ha Long. In its maiden voyage to Viet Nam, Bremen will bring 750 passengers and crew members to the country. She will make a return tour later this year, according to the Saigontourist Travel Services Co.

Three-day Cambodia tour on offer

HCM City-based tour operator Vietravel has reached a deal with Cambodia Angkor Air to offer three-day tours of Cambodia for around VND7.2 million ($340) per person.

The tour, which will depart on Fridays, will includes visits to Angkor Thom, Ta Prolm, Bayon, Baplmon and Phimean Akas temples, as well as other places of interest such as the Royal Place, Independence Monument, Wat Phnom Pagoda and Tonle Sap River.

Vietravel also offers four-day tours of Cambodia by bus at VND4.5 million per person. The company took some 10,000 Vietnamese visitors to Cambodia last year.

Solo helicopter tours for Da Nang

Da Nang-based Vitours, the only travel agency in central city offering helicopter tours, has launched a promotion to attract individual travellers instead of giving priority to groups. The promotion, launched to mark the International Fireworks Competition 2011 in Da Nang on April 29 and 30, offers a 10 per cent discount to individual tourists. The tours, which will take off from Da Nang Airport, will provide tourists with a bird's eye view of the city's attractions, including its coastline.

The first tour, which costs VND4.99 million (US$240) per person, will land on Son Tra Mountain for tourist to explore attractions in the area by car. The second tour, which costs VND5.99 million ($285) per person will take tourists to Cham Island off Hoi An City in Quang Nam Province. It offers tourists the opportunity to go diving among coral reefs in Quang Nam waters.

Further information is available at 0511 3822 142.

Festival hails Truong Sa islands

The Nha Trang Sea Festival 2011 that will be held on June 11-15 will include a one-day event for the Truong Sa (Spratlys) Archipelago. Organisers said the event will offer mainland citizens the opportunity to show their love, respect and admiration for those living and working on Truong Sa islands. A workshop on several issues related to the islands, film screenings, photo and painting exhibitions as well as art performances will mark the day, they added.

The Truong Sa Day is one of the most important parts of the festival, which also includes activities to support the International Environmental Day (June 5) and the International Ocean Day. The sea festival will have a total of around 50 events, organisers said.

Cham festival draws thousands

The four-day Ponagar Cham festival that opened last Saturday in the central province of Khanh Hoa attracted some 70,000 people. This is the biggest festival of the Cham ethnic people to worship Thien Y Ana who taught people farm work, knitting and weaving. Legends say she also protected people in the province and neighbouring areas from natural disasters, organisers of the event said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News