Vietnam launches tourism bonus for Western Europe, Belarus

Vietnam announced a demand-stimulation programme targeting tourists from Western Europe and Belarus, as heard during a workshop held in Hanoi on July 8.

Promotion packages will be launched for foreign passengers using three direct flights operated by Vietnam Airlines and connecting Paris, Frankfurt and London with Vietnam.

Accordingly, citizens of the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Belarus, all of who recently gained a unilateral visa exemption for stays lasting no longer than 15 days, now enjoy a range of good quality tourism services with prices reduced up to 30 percent.

The services, coordinated by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) , and the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, will include inter-country tours such as Indochina tours across Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

According to VITA Vice Chairman Vu The Binh, there are some 700,000 Western European nationals coming to Vietnam annually and about 150,000 Vietnamese visiting the five countries on average.

The figures have fallen short of their potential, Binh said, adding that the stimulation programme aims to attract 1.1 million arrivals from the market within the next three years, up 50 percent from 2015.-

FLC Samson resort complex inaugurated

The FLC Group held a ceremony to inaugurate the FLC Samson Beach and Golf Resort in the coastal town of Sam Son of the northern central province of Thanh Hoa on July 12.

Constructed within a year, the project covers an area of 200 hectares and cost about 5.5 trillion VND (254 million USD).

It comprises a 1,300-seat international conference centre, a five-star hotel, an 18-hole golf course and a five-star resort.

The FLC Group also built nearly 1,000 villas in the area.

Sam Son beach is 16 kilometres from Thanh Hoa city. Its 10-kilometre coastline is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in northern central Vietnam.

Impressive scenes, historical vestiges and the hospitality of local people linger in the minds of tourists.

In the first half of this year, Thanh Hoa earned more than 3.36 trillion VND (157 million USD), up 22.7 percent from the same period last year.

The total number of tourists to the province in the reviewed period exceeded 3.3 million, including 57,700 foreigners.

The Sam Son beach resort town alone earned 1.23 trillion VND (57.5 million USD) with 2.5 million tourists.

The town plays a central role in promoting the province’s tourism potential in the 2015 National Tourism Year.

Lai Chau preserves culture through community tourism

Ban Hon commune in Tam Duong district in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau is applying community-based tourism models which have proved effective in increasing local residents’ incomes as well as raising their awareness of environmental protection and cultural heritage preservation.

Ban Hon comprises approximately 540 households, which are home to Lu and Mong ethnic minority groups.

Since being recognised as a community-based cultural tourism site in 2013, the commune has attracted a large number of domestic and international visitors, welcoming one or two groups of 3-30 tourists every week.

On a visit to the locality, tourists can discover local traditions, trades and customs, including weaving techniques, ethnic costumes and cuisine, folk games, and the practice of teeth dyeing.

According to Lo Van La, Vice Chairman of the communal People’s Committee, there is a need to focus on investing in infrastructure upgrades and the creation of tourism services in order to boost community-based tourism.

Additionally, authorities should set up tourism skills training courses for local residents and run communication campaigns on the preservation of traditional cultural values.

Various activities at 2015 Nha Trang Sea Festival

The 2015 Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival opened in Nha Trang city in the southern central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on July 11, offering a variety of activities for local and international visitors.

Taking place from July 11-14 in Nha Trang and adjacent districts and towns, the festival features more than 50 festivities, culture and sports activities and economic and scientific conferences.

It will also host an exhibit displaying maps, documents and historic and legal evidence of Hoang Sa (Parace) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos as parts of Vietnam.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Anh Tuan said at the opening ceremony that the festival was not only a cultural and tourism event but also a token of love and responsibility for the country’s sea and islands.

The festival combines tradition and modernity in the province that has become Vietnam’s major tourist centre, seeking to tap its island and sea potential.

Besides yacht racing, a food festival, street art performances and basket boat racing, there are also classic activities unique to Khanh Hoa such as a traditional fishing festival, the release of sea creatures to preserve resources and a photo exhibition on the beauty of Tram Huong land.