STB announces new director for Vietnam

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has appointed Glenn Koh as the new area director for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos for a period of three years. Koh replaced his predecessor Fiona Loi, who has returned to the STB headquarters in Singapore.

The STB said in its statement obtained by the Daily that “Koh will be responsible for managing the Board’s operations, marketing and promotional activities across Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.”

Koh, based in STB’s office in HCMC, said that Indochina was an important and key tourism market for Singapore, with arrivals from this region growing at healthy rates in recent years.

STB said Vietnam was among Singapore’s top key markets in tourism as 2012 saw the number of Vietnamese visitors to Singapore grow by 26.4% year-on-year to more than 366,000 visitors, making Vietnam one of the fastest growing markets of visitors to the island state.

The number of Vietnamese travelers to Singapore from January to September last year exceeded 294,700, up 2.6% compared to the same period of 2012, according to updated statistics from the STB office in HCMC.

“In my tenure here, I look forward to opportunities to share more stories about Singapore, and to introduce the different experiences and facets of Singapore to Vietnamese travelers and our key travel partners and stakeholders,” Koh said.

In his role, Koh will also focus on enhancing Singapore as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). He will also facilitate and enhance bilateral relations and cooperation between the governments of Vietnam and Singapore in the area of tourism, enrichment and healthcare.

Vietjet Tours Offers promotions in March, April

Vietjet Tours announced discounted programs for March during the high season for tourism.

It is a new travel company founded in 2013, said Director of Vietjet Tours Cao Pham Hang.  She previously worked at Saigon Tourism Petroleum Services Company for 20 years.

The company, located on 104 Nguyen Phi Khanh Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City will be offering the following promotions:

1. Srilanka: 7 days

Tourists will discover ancient relics, caves, 2,000-meter long painted walls, 150 Buddha statues, and relax on a beach known as India Pearl. Tours depart March 16 and March 30.  Price is VND 30,990,000 per person.

2. India –Nepal: 10 days

Tours depart on March 27 and April 20. Price is VND 36,990,000 per person.

3. Thailand: 5 days

Tourists will visit nine famous pagodas such as Lying Buddha, Golden Buddha, four face Buddha, Wat Arun, Yannawa Boat Pagoda, Yannawa Museum pagoda, Khao Pra Yai, Billionaire House and Khao Chee Can. Tour departs ever Friday and costs VND 7,990,000 per person.

4. France-Luxembourg –Brussels –Holland’s: 9 days

Tourists will experience the Floriade Flower Festival. Tour costs VND 59,990,000 per person.

5. Holland –Brussels –France: 7 days

Price is VND 54,990,000 per person.

6. United States: 12 days

Tourists will travel throughout the country from East to West. Price is VND 87,990,000 per person.

7. South Korea:

Tourists will experience blossom festival.  Departs every Tuesday. Price is VND 22,500,000 per person.

8.Singapore: 4 days. Tour departs each Thursday, costing VND 10,990,000 per person.  This is a relaxation and shopping tour.

9.Singapore-Malaysia: 7 days. Price is VND 12,990,000 per person departing every Sunday. Female tourists will receive gifts on International Woman Day March 8. This is a relaxation and shopping tour.

Hilton Danang project resurrects after foreign capital injection

The Hilton Danang hotel complex project in Danang City invested by Bach Dang Hotel Complex Trading Service Company has come back to life after a foreign partner has injected new capital into the stalled project.

According to Hoa Binh Construction and Real Estate Corporation (HBC), the investor on Thursday resumed work on the project after around 16 months of interruption due to a funding shortage. HBC is still the main contractor to build the project’s foundation and basements.

The name of the foreign partner has not been revealed but the project’s investor and the partner are conducting procedures on capital contribution. As a result, the Hilton Danang project will be no longer a 100% local-invested project.

The project, which is scheduled for completion within 20 months, will have a five-star hotel of 29 floors and a commercial, office and apartment tower of 21 floors. Its total investment is around VND800 billion.

The Bach Dang hotel complex project is called Hilton Danang as the investor previously signed a deal with the U.S. hotel management company Hilton Worldwide. Then, the project’s hotel was expected to be finished and put into service in late 2012.

No letup in travels to bird flu-hit regional destinations

Local demand for tours to Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Korea and Malaysia remains high despite rising avian flu deaths, according to travel firms.

Nguyen Van My, director of Lua Viet Travel Company, told the Daily via telephone on Thursday that the firm has yet to receive an advisory against travel from the Ministry of Health over risks of transmission of the bird-flu virus to humans.

Customers still book tours to bird flu-hit destinations although Lua Viet staff give them warnings on the ongoing bird flu outbreaks in the region, My said.

A representative of travel firm PerfectToursTravel also said tours to Asian destinations such as China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are on offer as usual.

Lien Phuong, a customer in HCMC who has booked a trip to China, said she is hesitant at the rising bird flu deaths in the neighboring country. However, she will depart as scheduled since she has paid for the tour.

“I have searched for information about bird flu. There has been no case of human-to-human transmission so far. In addition, it will be safe if I avoid contacting with live poultry,” Phuong said.

China has reported nearly 360 A/H7N9 cases so far with 73 persons killed. Recently, Malaysia has also announced the death of a Chinese tourist attacked by the virus.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not issued an advisory against travels to or from China. In addition, it is almost impossible for the virus to transmit among air passengers.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, China was Vietnam’s biggest source market in January with over 180,000 Chinese tourists arriving in Vietnam, accounting for 23.3% of the nation’s total.

Vietnam showcased at tourism fair in Belgium

Vietnam is an honoured guest of the 2014 Chaleroi Tourism Fair in Belgium, an event which opened on February 20.

Chairman of the fair, Van Cawenbergher, hailed Vietnam’s tourism potential, adding that the country is home to natural landscapes with many attractive tourism offerings.

Following the success of a similar fair in 2010, the organising board selected Vietnam as the main subject of this year’s event, showcasing its culinary fame, handicraft products and cultural identity, Cawenbergher said.

The Vietnamese pavilion at the fair is decorated with displays of traditional conical hats, peach blossoms, bamboos and flowers.

Vietnam is introducing attendees to its lotus green tea, handicraft items made by Vietnamese artisans, an Ao Dai (traditional dress) fashion show, and a guide for visitors on how to make nem cuon ( Summer Rolls) – a traditional Vietnamese dish.-

Mekong Delta province targets 4 mln tourist arrivals

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang will work to attract at least four million tourist arrivals, including 185,000 foreign arrivals, in 2014, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The department said the locality also targets 1.3 trillion VND (61.1 million USD) from tourism.

In order to reach the goal, many comprehensive measures will be deployed, including increasing investment promotion and enhancing campaigns to introduce and strengthen its tourism trademark, it said.

In addition, the province will also focus on upgrading the infrastructure of the tourism sector, while continuing its cooperation with neigbouring localities such as Can Tho city, An Giang and Ca Mau provinces as well as those in the Mekong Delta Economic Region to boost tourism development.

More attractive events will be organised throughout the year, while typical tours, tourism products and services will be developed to lure visitors, the department said.

The province will also pay more attention to the domestic market and design more policies to attract foreign tourists, it added.

With abundant natural beauty spots such as Phu Quoc Island, Ha Tien beach and U Minh Thuong National Park, Kien Giang possesses a lot of potential for tourism development.

Last year, the province welcomed over 3.8 million arrivals, a rise of 8.2 percent year on year, earning 1.12 trillion VND (52.64 million USD), up 27.6 percent.-

Binh Duong New City - new attraction for tourists

Binh Duong New City has gradually become a familiar destination for people from all walks of in the province and neighboring regions. Report by the Binh Duong online newspaper.

This is because when coming to the new city, visitors' demands for culture, sports and entertainment will be fully served with diverse products.

Diversification of cultural institutions

As one of important elements for a city, the system of cultural institutions have got development at the same time with main works in Binh Duong New City. Speeding up investment in cultural institutions in the new city has helped the local residents and tourists to have more selections for their entertainment demand.

Many places like the Central Park, Sports Center, Lady Thien Hau Temple, Lucky Square Convention Center in Binh Duong New City have gradually become familiar with all people.

Noticeably, the Central Park has absorbed most visitors. This large park is designed with a harmonious combination between lake, lighting system, etc, creating a cool and green space for visitors during the daytime and a sparkling color by lamplight at night. Hence, it is always an ideal destination for picnics, return-to-the-root activities.

Along with cultural-sports institutions, many large-scale works in Binh Duong New City, including Integrated Administration Center, Convention Center,etc, have become attractive to visitors.

A series of restaurants, hotels, coffee schools and so on invested by individuals in Binh Duong New City will also serve visitors’ demand for entertainment at maximum level.

Efficiency upheld

Cultural-sports institutions in Binh Duong New City have lured more and more visitors. This shows that they are well upholding their efficiency. Currently, the Central Park draws thousands of visitors everyday.

Similarly, the Sports Center in Binh Duong New City has been bringing into play its certain efficiency. With great investment, the Sport Center including a mini-football ground, a tennis course, and a swimming pool is very attractive to many people who would like to take exercises.

According to statistics, it last year lured more than 10,000 participants. In the coming time, it will further put more practical models into operation, contributing to well serving the recreational demand for residents in Binh Duong New City and neighboring regions.

Hoi An pagoda and Lady Thien Hau Temple in the new city are also known by many people. Although just being built, the two pagoda have attracted more pilgrims, especially on Tet and great holidays. In 2013, they welcomed more than 100,000 pilgrims, thereby partially serving the demand for religious belief of residents in and out of the province.

Towards tourism development

Binh Duong New City is gradually becoming a familiar destination for the local residents and those living outside the province are also very eager to visit the new city.

Tran Minh Tam, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh city’s Cu Chi district said that he was very surprised at the scale of Binh Duong New City, especially the Integrated Administration Center, the Central Park…He and his family would continue paying a visit to the new city for the next time.

Possibly speaking, speeding up investment in cultural and sports institutions in Binh Duong New City has not only met residents’ demand for culture, sports and entertainment, but also contributed to promoting its position. According to Vo Thi Anh Xuan, acting director of provincial Tourism Promotion Center, if well upholding its promotion programmes, Binh Duong New City is sure to become one of the local tourism sector’s ideal destinations.

Source: VNS/SGT/SGGP/VNA