Travellers
Notes
(03-12-2005)
Mekong
Tourism Fest ramps up
An Giang Province is preparing
for the second biennial Mekong Tourism Festival, which aims
to promote the rich tourism potential of the Mekong Delta
region.
This year’s festival will
be held mainly in the towns of Chau Doc and Long Xuyen from
Febuary 23-26.
The Long Xuyen event will
include a trade and tourism fair, a food festival, and a tour
guide competition. Chau Doc will be the venue for an art and
cultural event, with the participation of art troupes from
the Kinh, Hoa, Cham, and Khmer communities.
HCM
City lures Russian tourists
In 2005, the number of Russian
tourists coming to HCM City rose by 152 per cent over the
previous year, according to the HCM City Department of Tourism.
Most local travel agencies
reported a significant increase in Russian tourists, especially
those from the eastern part of the country.
Le Van Nghia, a representative
of Vladivostok Air in HCM City, said that all of the airline’s
tickets from Russia to Viet Nam in December and January had
been booked.
There are currently five international
carriers flying from Russian cities to Ha Noi and HCM City.
Pagoda
Bridge to be repaired
The ancient town of Hoi An
has launched the first stage of a VND14.7 billion (US$919,000)
plan to refurbish the beloved Chua Cau (Pagoda Bridge). Built
in the late 16th century, Chua Cau, also known as the Japanese
Covered Bridge, has become a cultural monument.
Its single span, 18m long
and 3m wide, crosses a small canal leading to the Hoai River.
Made of red painted wood with elaborate carvings, centuries
of wear and tear have taken their toll on the bridge’s appearance.
Sheraton
granted fifth star
The Sheraton Ha Noi has been
granted five-star status by the Viet Nam National Administration
for Tourism (VNAT), which brings the number of five-star hotels
in the capital city to eight.
According to VNAT’s figures,
Viet Nam is now home to 19 five-star hotels – eight in HCM
City, and one each in the central cities of Nha Trang, Da
Lat and Da Nang.
Hilton Hanoi Opera bags award
Hilton Hanoi Opera puts Ha
Noi in the international spotlight with the latest addition
to its collection of awards, the World Travel Award 2005.
The awards were established
in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate the enormous
achievements to be found in all sectors of the global travel
industry.
A decade on, dedicated travel
professionals and their clients have come to regard the World
Travel Awards as the best endorsement that any travel product
could receive.
The voting on the World Travel
Award is open to all travel agents and travel professionals
worldwide. The worldwide voting campaign is transmitted to
over 150,000 travel agents, tour operators and travel buyers
who have experienced the superior qualities within the specific
country’s hotels.
Entertainment complex planned
The 100 per cent Korean-invested
company Bowling Ltd has received a license to develop an entertainment
park in Hai Chau District in the central coast city of Da
Nang.
Bowling will invest US$5 million
to build the park, which will include a bowling alley, shopping
area, spa and swimming pool. Construction is scheduled to
begin early next year. — VNS
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