VN ranks in emerging hotspot list

The Hoai River in Hoi An ancient town.

Viet Nam is one of the world's 25 best countries to visit next year, according to US travel site Fodor.

It ranks 20th on the Go List 2015, which is based on a number of criteria like emerging hot spots, valued destinations, locations that will host special events in 2015, and are suitable for every type of traveller.

"Come for historic but fast-changing cities and stunning landscapes – and fabulous food," it says about Viet Nam.

It adds that the 40th anniversary of the end of the war in 2015 is the perfect time for tourists to explore the "energetic cities from Ha Noi to Hoi An to HCM City which buzz with enticing restaurants and hotels while temples, colonial buildings, and markets retain their classic charm.

"New options help you explore beyond Viet Nam's cities, whether you are overnight on a boat in Ha Long Bay or see the towns and rice paddies of the Mekong Delta on a river cruise or by bicycle. Wherever you travel, the true friendliness of the people and reasonable costs are added benefits."

Quang Nam to upgrade Hoi An

The provincial government of Quang Nam has designated Hoi An City government as an investor to take over an infrastructure upgrade project for the ancient town.

This is part of a master plan for the conservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Hoi An and the development of Hoi An City in 2012-2015 approved by the Government in January 2012.

The upgrade will be carried out from 2016-2020 with the total investment not exceeding VND75 billion, of which 60% will be from the State budget and the rest from Hoi An City.

The city government has announced to stop receiving applications for lodging business in the city. At the same time, the Trade and Tourism Department is also required to set up a plan for hotel development until 2020 to match the investment needs and market conditions.

According to a plan issued earlier, the city will prioritize the development of villas, garden houses and homestay clusters to preserve the ecological landscape of the ancient town. The accommodation demand is estimated at 8,046 rooms in 2020.

Statistics showed 203 businesses are operating in Hoi An with some 4,967 rooms including 1,898 meeting four-star standards and 631 rooms at guesthouses, locals’ homes and tourist villas.

Da Nang reveals tourism plan

The Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has unveiled an action plan for the city to become an outstanding tourist destination next year after it was listed among Top Traveler's Choice Destination on the Rise for 2015 by US tourism website TripAdvisor.

It will see the local tourism sector organise a series of activities to speed up communications, do surveys on customers' ideas from TripAdvisor and other tourism websites, and invite the international media to the city.

The city will offer more quality tourism products, organise the 2015 Da Nang International Firework Competition and other tourism and cultural festivals, and continue to train tourism human resources.

Flamingo Dai Lai listed in world’s Top 10 Hotels and Resorts

Flamingo Dai Lai Resort was listed in the Top 10 Hotels and Resorts of 2014 on December 24 by DESIGNBOOM, the world’s first and most popular digital architecture and design magazine.

The 10 hotels and resorts selected are incredibly diverse in form and unique in materials and production techniques, providing guests with a tranquil and calming temporary residence.

Flamingo Dai Lai Resort was described as a residential retreat for city dwellers to enjoy their weekends in a more natural environment with cultural and sports events as well as high class services.

In 2014, the complex also won a gold medal and the Building of the Year title at the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) Awards, the FuturArc Green Leadership Prize, the US’s Green Good Design and International Architecture Awards for the two bamboo structures within it, Dai Lai conference hall and Bamboo Wing, both designed by Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia.

Located one hour away from Hanoi in northern Vinh Phuc province, Flamingo Dai Lai Resort covers an area of 123ha in the middle of the forests between Dai Lai Lake and surrounding mountains.

Other buildings in the resort include Hilltop, Bach Thanh and Forest Resorts, first class restaurants, the biggest outdoor hot-water swimming pool in the north and a golf court which were recently available this year.

Tourism sector records highest growth in revenue

The tourism sector posted the highest ever increase of 15% year-on-year to VND230 trillion (US$10.9 billion) in revenue despite an array of difficulties in 2014.

So far this year, Vietnam welcomed 37.5 million domestic and 8 million international tourists, respective rises of 7.14% and 5.64% on an annual basis.

The results were attributed to the sector’s efforts to expand key tourism markets and stimulate domestic tourism demand, heard a press conference on selecting the top 10 culture, sports and tourism events of the year held in Hanoi on December 25.

Vietnam is home to 22 world heritage recognised by the UNESCO, including two natural heritage sites (Ha Long Bay and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park); five cultural heritage (the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, the Complex of Hue Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary), and one mixed heritage (Trang An Landscape Complex).

The country also boasts nine cultural practices winning UNESCO’s intangible heritage status, namely Hue's royal court music, Gong space culture in Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), the northern province of Bac Ninh's love duet singing, the Giong festival, Ca Tru ceremonial singing, Xoan singing, Don Ca Tai Tu music, the worship of Hung Kings, and the Nghe Tinh Vi-Giam folk singing.

Reverie Saigon among top 11 hotels of the year

Vietnamese luxury hotel The Reverie Saigon has topped the list of “11 hotels opening in 2015 that we cannot wait to check into”, said CNN.

It said that tourists will be impressed by the hotel’s modern living space mixed with classical European style. The 286 rooms and suites have been fitted out by four of Italy's finest interior designers and come with elaborate chandeliers, jewelled beds and velvet curtains.

“Cantonese food is dished up by a Michelin-starred chef, there's traditional Italian in a dining room named after Romeo and Juliet (R&J), a deli and one of the longest bar counters in HCMC (reportedly the length of a city block)”, says the CNN.

“You can arrive in one of the property's fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantom Dragons or, if you're short for time, chopper in -- the hotel has its own helipad.”

Rounding out the list include Mama Shelter (Los Angeles), Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia), Park Hyatt Zanzibar (Tanzania), Anantara Tangalle Resort & Spa (Tangalle, Sri Lanka), Patina (Singapore), Four Seasons Hotel (the Republic of Korea), Alila Seminyak (Indonesia), SLS Park Avenue (New York), Lofoten Opera Hotel (Norway), Ritz-Carlton, and Langkawi (Malaysia).

Luxury cruise liner docks at Hon Gai port

Royal Caribbean Cruise's luxury cruise ship Celebrity Millennium docked on December 24 at Hon Gai port in Ha Long city with nearly 3,500 visitors from the US, Canada, UK, and Australia.

From Ha Long, the tourists’ itinerary lists tours to Ha Long-Hanoi-Hai Phong-Hue-Danang-Hoi An-Vung Tau-HCM City.

The land portion of their trip is being arranged by Vietnam’s leading tour operator, Saigontourist.

To date, Saigontourist has welcomed more than 180 cruise ships carrying in excess of 220,000 arrivals from the Europe, Asia, the US and Australia to Vietnam’s shores.

Northern central region keen to develop culture-history tourism

The northern central region will focus on developing culture-history tourism taking advantage of the rich cultural and historical heritage, it was agreed at a December 22 conference on how to implement the Master plan on the region’s tourism development to 2020 with a vision to 2030.

Sea-based tours will be another priority as the region stretches along the coastline with many beautiful beaches, with the aim of turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector by 2020, a driving force for local socio-economic development and significantly contributing to poverty reduction.

The plan has set the targets of attracting more than 2.1 million of international visitors and 11 million of domestic tourists in 2020; generating VND32.8 trillion (US$1.56 billion) in tourism revenues.

On the occasion, the Vietnam National Tourism Administration launched a domestic tourism promoting programme with the aim of raising the number of tourists to 37.5 million in 2015.

The master plan for the northern central region was approved by the Prime Minister in 2013, with total investment of more than VND165 trillion (US$7.85 billion).

The region comprises six provinces, namely Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue. It is home to three World Heritage sites, which are the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh, the Ho Dynasty Citadel in Thanh Hoa and the Complex of Hue Monument in Thua Thien-Hue.

Vietnam among top 4 “must-visit” hotspots for 2015

Vietnam has been named as one of top 4 travel hotspots of the coming year, according to the online travel agency Destinia.com.

The travel website said that Vietnam will further promote a number of activities towards its National Tourism Year 2015.

This is an important event for foreign visitors to get better understanding about tangible and intangible cultural value and beautiful landscapes of the country.

Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates ranked top of the travel bucket list, followed by Namibia and Burma.

Amiana Nha Trang receives World Luxury Hotel Award

Amiana Resort Nha Trang has received the global prestigious World Luxury Hotel Award 2014 in the Luxury Honeymoon Hotel category.

Built on a legendary land and inspired by the romantic stories of “Hon Chong & Bai Tien”, Amiana Resort is the perfect setting for family, long-stay work, and honeymoon.

Vu Van Toan, General Director of Amiana Resort said that it is a sincere honour to be presented the prestigious award.

“Amiana Resort continuously strives to be an ideal destination whatever your business or purpose and this certifies us as a leading luxury location. With this award we can proudly say that Amiana is genuinely a world renowned resort destination”, he added.

The World Luxury Hotel Awards is a recognized global organization providing luxury hotels with recognition for their world class facilities and service excellence.

Awards are presented to luxury hotels in different categories on a country, continent and global basis.

It aims to encourage and raise service standards within the luxury hotel industry.

American Travel Channel documents caves in Quang Binh

US-based Trave Channel has recently made a documentary on the magnificent scenery and caves at Phong Nha–Ke Bang national park and surrounding areas, according to the park’s management board.

The board said on December 20 that the well-known cable programme focused their shoot on En Cave – the world third largest cave, and Tu Lan cave chain at Tan Hoa Commune, in mountainous Minh Hoa district.

Travel Channel has been renowned for its documentaries, reality, and how-to shows related to travel and leisure in the US and throughout the world.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, located in central Quang Binh province, is one of two World Natural Heritage sites recognised by UNESCO in Vietnam. It is also home to the famous Son Doong Cave, classified as the largest cave in the world by the British Cave Research Association.

Recently, the New York Times named Quang Binh as one of the most attractive destinations in Asia and the world’s 52 top must-go sites for 2014.

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