Tam Dao to provide free wireless internet service

The Department of Information and Communications of Vinh Phuc province has announced a 15 billion VND (708,000 USD) project to provide free wireless internet services (wi-fi) in Tam Dao town.

According to Nhan dan Online, Tam Dao ( Three Islands ) describes the natural beauty of the area’s three mountains that resemble a trio of islands in a sea of clouds. The region is famous for its impressive natural scenery, mild climate, diverse flora and fauna, and a number of cultural and historical sites.

Sixty wi-fi “hotspots”, each covering a circular area of 300 metres in diameter, will ensure simultaneous internet access for 10,000 users and will begin operating by the end of this year in the central area of Tam Dao town, which includes many hotels and office buildings.

The service aims to promote the town’s image and attract more tourists by offering them easy, free and convenient access to information.

Other well-known tourism towns in Vietnam , including Hoi An in Quang Nam province, Ha Long in Quang Ninh province, and Hue in Thua Thien – Hue province, have already established free wi-fi internet systems for both local people and tourists.-

Vietnam Airlines launches Incheon-Da Nang route

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines launched a direct air route between the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Incheon and central Da Nang city on July 1.

An Airbus A321 will fly both legs of the route every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

The first flight departed from Incheon International Airport with 180 passengers, which included 153 Koreans, on the morning of July 1.

The direct route is an effort to create the best service for passengers from both countries, and expresses Vietnam Airlines’ reputation as an international airline.

Vietnam Airlines launched two other international routes departing from Da Nang on the same day, a thrice-weekly flight to Seoul in the RoK and a daily flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Swiss-Belhotel opens four-star hotel in Lao Cai

Swiss-Belhotel International will open the four-star Swiss-Belhotel Lao Cai in Lao Cai Province this month, which is the second hotel of the group in Vietnam after Swiss-Belhotel Golden Sand Resort & Spa in Hoi An City.

The hotel features 186 rooms, convention facilities, fitness center, bar and restaurant.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai, the northern border province currently is home to 450 accommodation facilities with over 5,000 rooms in total, most of which are of under four-star standards.

Some high-end hotel projects are being constructed in Lao Cai such as the five-star hotel project kicked off by Vietnam Investment Construction and Trading Joint Stock Co. (CTX Holdings) in late May.

Lao Cai Province welcomed over 940,000 tourists and earned nearly VND1.85 trillion in tourism revenues last year.

Ho Tram Strip uses helicopter to pick up customers

In addition to bus as a popular means of transport, The Grand-Ho Tram Strip in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province which will open to public on July 26 will transport customers by helicopter.

The Grand-Ho Tram Strip has piloted the helicopter service to pick up customers from HCMC. However, the service is being piloted, and thus its specific fee has not been revealed.

The first part of this tourism complex’s first phase comprises of around 500 hotel rooms meeting five-star standards, gaming facilities, convention space, restaurants, bars, swimming pools and areas for children.

“Over 90% of services of the first part have been completed. The golf course and other services will be put into operation early next year,” said John Webb, vice president for hospitality and integrated resort.

The Grand-Ho Tram Strip is running two promotion programs on the occasion of its opening, which are a promotional room rate of VND1,888,000 plus per night (50% reduction compared to normal rate) applicable from July 27 to August 29, and a normal rate of VND3,666,000 plus per night inclusive of VND600,000 for food and a third night free.

Located in an area of over 164 hectares with a beach stretching over two kilometers in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, The Grand-Ho Tram Strip worth up to US$4.2 billion is invested by Ho Tram Project Company under Asian Coast Development Ltd.

The complex’s first phase will include 541five-star rooms, international restaurants, convention space, golf course as well as other beach recreation activities. Late last year, the investor started work on the second phase consisting of the second hotel with 559 rooms and other components.

Over 3.5 million foreigners visit Vietnam in six months

In the past six months, more than 3.54 million foreigners came to Vietnam up 4.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the General Statistics Office.

The numbers of visitors to Vietnam (over 35,000), Russia took the lead with a sharp increase of 57.8 percent in the reviewed period.

The number of foreigners arriving in Vietnam by air accounted for 80.7 percent, (up 0.8 percent), while those coming by road and sea were just 15.9 percent (up 12.5 percent) and 3.4 percent (up 2.7 percent), respectively.

However, the growth rate was still 16.9 percent lower than last year’s level.

Vietnam tourism and culture festival in RoK

The fourth Vietnam tourism and culture festival opened at Arko Art Theatre in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (RoK) on July 2.

The event, co-organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Embassy of Vietnam in Seoul, aims to introduce Vietnamese culture to the Korean people and international friends.

Among those present at the opening ceremony were Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh and Ambassador to the RoK Tran Trong Toan.

They said the festival provides a good opportunity for both sides to strengthen mutual understanding and widen cooperation for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Le Anh Thu-a Vietnamese resident in the RoK said she greatly enjoyed traditional songs and dances performed by Vietnamese and Korean artists after the opening ceremony.

From July 2-6, there will be art performances, a tourism workshop, a photographic exhibition on Vietnam’s land and people, an exhibition of Vietnamese art and handicrafts and a Vietnamese food festival in Seoul and the central city of Daegu.