The 111-year-old Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and the Park Hyatt Saigon were included in the top-500 hotels worldwide on the Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards 2013 and Travel + Leisure magazine.

The Readers’ Choice Awards polled responses from nearly 47,000 readers who rated resorts and hotels on a five-point scale across five standards, including cuisine, position, architectural space, and room design and service quality, via a secure website.

Vietnam now has one of the top-three rated hotels in Southeast Asia, two of Asia’s top 15 resorts, and one of Asia’s top 10 cities.

The Sofitel Metropole was ranked third among the top 20 hotels in Southeast Asia; the Park Hyatt Saigon and the Sheraton Saigon were also included in the top 20 on the same list.

The Life Heritage Resort Hoi An and The Nam Hai Resort were chosen by voters as two of the top 15 resorts in Asia, placing 9th and 14th on the list, respectively.

The old town of Hoi An made its first appearance as one of Asia’s top 10 cities, joining the ranks of destinations such as Bangkok, Hong Kong and Kyoto.

VNA/VOV Online

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The gloomy picture of the development of the tourism industry of Vietnam has been defined at the consultation meeting on the state management of tourism recently, held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Hanoi. How to stimulate tourism in the difficult economic context is still a difficult problem for the non-smoke industry.

In the current context of economic difficulties, tourism is considered the highlight with around 6.7 million foreign visitors (up by 11 percent), 32.5 million domestic visitors (up 7 percent) and the total revenue of VND160 trillion (up 16 percent).

However, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said that the growth rate of tourism industry was relatively high in the last three years, but its development is unsustainable, unstable and not commensurate with the potential, particularly the competitiveness is low compared to many countries in the region.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, General Director of Vietravel, resource planning for tourism development is not good, leading to more resources being destroyed, especially marine ecotourism. Ky also pointed out the lack of connection between localities that causes a waste of resources.

Mr. Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association said that travel firms are called for cutting down the charges for hotel rooms, transport fees and food prices nobody pays adequate attention to the legitimate request for preferential policies to tourism stimulus.

According to Director of Hoa Binh Hoa Le Tourism, the state should exempt or reduce import tax rates on tourism cars, reduce land tax to encourage businesses to invest in tourism, develop infrastructure in the remote areas that are rich in tourism potential.

The panorama of the smokeless industry in recent years reveals many inadequacies. State management in tourism is not good enough, proved in the decrease in tourism environment, for instance: Many small travel firms imitate famous brands to cheat customers; tour guides of different companies are in collusion to exchange tourists; the qualification of tour guides in Vietnam is still low; fraud, robbery, environmental pollution still occur in many localities, especially in the key areas of tourism.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky warned: “This is an alarming problem. If we do not handle it firmly, it will affect the image of Vietnam’s tourism, and decrease the number of tourists to our country. The environmental tourism protection policy must become a major policy, which is inseparable from the Vietnam’s tourism development strategy.”

Tourism promotion program of Vietnam is so small compared to other countries in the region. According to Mr. Luu Duc Ke, Director of Hanoitourist, in many countries, when the number of tourists increases, the budget for tourism promotion also rises. In Vietnam, it is contrary.

The revenue of the tourism industry increased in the last three years but the funding for tourism promotion shrank, from VND40 billion ($2 million) in 2010 to VND35 billion ($1.7 million) in 2011 and only VND30 billion ($1.5 million) in 2012 (equivalent to $0.25/visitor while in Thailand and Singapore the rate is $10-15/visitor). On the other hand, tourism companies are not permitted to open representative offices abroad.

However, tourism promotion is not just the money, but also depends on the promotion measures. It is very important to answer the question “what are the things that make a difference for Vietnam’s tourism?”

Many tour operators believe that, in order to promote tourism it is necessary to build the national tourism brand as quickly as possible.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky said that Vietnamese cuisine is very attractive to international visitors. Many cuisines such as pho (noodles) and nem cuon (spring rolls) are frequently among the top world’s most attractive dishes. Vietnamese food, therefore, can be considered as the focus of the national tourism brand.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan asked the tourism industry to promote cultural and human strengths in building the brand; to consider safety for visitors as top priority; tourism firms must accompany the State in promoting tourism image.

The Deputy PM also asked the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to have the answer for the question–whether local travel firms are allowed to open overseas representative offices in the first quarter of 2013.

“The master plan for Vietnam tourism development to 2020, vision to 2030″ will be approved before December 20, 2012, and will be immediately implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Source:Vietnamnet

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More than 100 ong do (Confucian teacher) from across the country will gather in the coastal city of Vung Tau this weekend for the second Confucian Teachers Union.

According to event organiser and general director of Viet Nam Record Book Centre VietKings, Le Tran Truong An, the weekend aims to highlight Vietnamese people’s traditional fondness for learning and calligraphic culture.

There will be numerous cultural activities, including calligraphy demonstrations and drum performances during the three-day event which runs from tomorrow until Sunday.

In addition, eight new calligraphy records will be showcased for the occasion, which will run in conjunction with the city’s Tourism Fair.

The records include a set of conical hats depicting Viet Nam’s famous landscapes, the longest silk calligraphy presenting the poem To Quoc O Truong Sa (The Country in the Heart of Spratlys), and the biggest calligraphy demonstrating lotus flowers.

The first Confucian Teachers Union was organised in October 2010 at the eco-tourism complex Trang An-Bai Dinh in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

Source: VNS

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As of November, 2012 Binh Thuan was estimated to welcome more than 2,871,400 turns of visitors, an increase of 11.2% over the same period last year, including about 315,210 turns of overseas visitors, rose by 18% compared to the 2011’s corresponding period. Among foreign visitors from Russia, Germany, China, United Kingdom, the U.S, South Korea, Australia, etc, Russian arrivals made up 47.11%. Because the peak season of winter vacation for Russian tourists to “shelter from harsh winter” is from November onwards. At the same time, Cam Ranh airport has started to receive direct flights from Russia, the number of Russian visitors to Binh Thuan has sharply increased. Currently, Mui Ne-Binh Thuan has gradually become a “Russian village” with a lot of hotels, resorts, restaurants, spa centers, gymnastic centers jointly opened by Vietnamese and Russian investors.

Russian tourists prefer to travel to Binh Thuan mainly because this is an ideal destination where has several high-grade resorts known as “the capital of resorts”, various delicious dishes from fresh seafood at reasonable prices. The climatic conditions here are favorable for water and extreme sports such as: windsurfing, kitesurfing, diving, etc. Moreover, Mui Ne is only 200 km from Tan Son Nhat airport (Ho Chi Minh city) and Cam Ranh airport (Khanh Hoa province).

In current time, Russian tourists staying at Bamboo Village Resorts & Spa are making up more than 60% of our total customers. There are a lot of Russians coming to Mui Ne for recreation and they usually stay here from 7 to 10 days. Several visitors have come and returned to Bamboo Village resort & Spa for 8-9 times. Particularly, some travelers have ever stayed here 18 times. As annual plan, at the end of the year, the resort will organize two special Gala nights to welcome Christmas Eve (in the evening of December 24-) and New Year’s Eve (on December 31 night). On these events, our visitors will join in traditional games, enjoy tasty dishes and impressive performances with Vietnamese traditional songs and dances.

Most of Russian visitors usually arrive and spend long period in Mui Ne. Many of them have returned to Binh Thuan several times. According to Binh Thuan Tourism Association, the total tourism industry is joining hands to strive for the aim “Mui Ne-Binh Thuan- a destination today, tomorrow and forever”. Drawing tourists to Binh Thuan for the first time is a difficult task. But it is more difficult to satisfy and attract them to come back to the locality for recreation and enjoying new experiences. Besides Mui Ne – Binh Thuan, there are a lot of competitively attractive tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh city, Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Da Lat with each own advantages. Meanwhile, in spite of the fame of “the capital of resorts”, Binh Thuan tourism is still facing many obstacles due to disadvantages in traffic (both road and air traffic). For that reason, the province needs to promote and renew its images by means of organizing international events, as well as attaching special importance to improving service quality.

In recent years, Binh Thuan has hosted a lot of large-scale events such as: the international windsurfing (PWA Worldtour), international sailing festival, 1st Vietnam international hot air balloon fiesta, Mui Ne half-marathon. Otherwise, the provincial authorities have continually upgraded the traditional festivals of the locality such as: Kate festival of the Cham community, Nghinh Ong festival of the Chinese-Vietnamese people, Cau Ngu festival, lantern procession in Mid-Autumn festival, traditional boat race on Ca Ty river in Lunar New Year to be on par with other international festivals. Besides, visitors also contemplate flying sand hills in Mui Ne, Trinh Nu sand hill, Bau Ong and Bau Ba lakes in Hoa Thang commune (Bac Binh district), or the “Lying Buddha statue with more than 40 in length on the top of Ta Cu mountain, various temples and towers of the Cham ethnic minority… In addition, the resorts in Mui Ne often organize many art performances with intangible cultural features of the ethnic groups in the locality. By their own fair hands, visitors can wrap “banh chung”, one of the indispensable traditional meals of Vietnamese families in Lunar New Year.
Source: Binh Thuan Newspaper

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According to estimates by the General Statistics Office, more than 6.6 million international visitors came last year, a year-on-year increase of 9.5%. Certain tourists fond of Vietnam have called the nation a second travel power in the region after Thailand. The most popular destinations for visitors include Hanoi which is known for its charming cultural heritage, Hoi An and Hue for their culinary delights and Nha Trang for its white sand beaches.

On top of the iWantSun list are Mexico, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Turkey, the U.S., South Korea, Slovakia, Tanzania and Grenada.

The Luxpresso paper of India has also rated Vietnam as one of the places that must be discovered in 2013.
Source: SGT

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The capital city of Hanoi is introduced as a wonderful urban place with graceful boulevards for discovering.

The northern mountainous city of Sa Pa, which is geographically featured with hike mountain tracks, is the best destination for walking tours.

The world’s heritage site Ha Long Bay is a draw for charming coastal lines fringed by white sandy beaches and surreal-looking limestone islands.

The graceful historic old port of Hoi An in the central is labeled as the best place to enjoy local culinary delights.

And, the southern Mekong Delta is suggested for those who love to have experiences of a life on the river.
Source: VNA

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The Mong ethnic people have lived in Cat Cat Village since the mid-19th century. In early 20th century, French chose the village for officials to relax. There is a beautiful waterfall call CatScat in French so it become the name of village.

The village has nearly 80 houses along the brick-paved path, some ones on the mountain sides. Following some hundred steps to Cat Cat center, visitors are attracted by the beauty of Tien Sa, Gold, Silver streams and Cat Cat Waterfall where many tourists stop to take photograph on the Si or A Lu suspension bridges.

In the village, each house is some tens of meters far from another. They contain ancient features in architecture. Three – compartment house are roofed with Pomu wood and structured by rafters with three horizontal columns. These columns are placed on round or square stones. Walls are made of sawn timer with three doors: main door is placed in the central compartment of the house; two side doors are placed at the end of the house. The main door is always closed and will be opened only when there is an important even such as Tet holidays, weddings, funerals, or feasts, inlaid floor for food storage, beds and guest room. The unique thing is rice mortar run by water power.

Besides cultivating and breeding, they have maintained many traditional handicrafts, remarkably growing cotton, flax and clothing weave. Owing to looms, Mong women have made colorful weaved clothing with many patterns imitating trees, leafs, flowers and animals. Cat Cat village is famous with manipulating silver, copper or aluminum jewelry, one of traditional and long term handicraft, which has creates extremely sophisticated products. Visiting here, tourists can buy women jewelry such as necklace, arms, rings… as souvenirs.

Tourists to Cat Cat are most attracted by its unique customs, including the custom of “pulling wife”. When a man fall in love a gilf, he has a party to prepare a plan to lure a girl to his house and keeps her there in three days. During these days, if the girl agrees to become his wife, a wedding will be held. However, the girl can happily go home after three days if she does not like him.

The largest event in the first days of new year reflecting spirit of Mong people is Gau Tao festival which be held to pray for good weather, good harvest, peace and health. Coming festval, visitors have chance to enjoy local food like corn wine, thang co, “khang gai” bacon, frog cooke with bamboo shoot, corn cake…

To develop the potential tourism in Cat Cat Village, Lao Cai Province’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department organized programmes such as the “Cultural destival in Cat Cat Village” and the tours “A day of being a Mong ethnic farmer” or “A day of being a Mong bride”. Participating in these programmes visitors will experience many cultural activities of the Mong people through traditional dances, folk games like bow shooting, catching a goal while blindfolded, tug of rope, or enjoy giao duyen singing, silver carving, line weaving, brocade embroiding, coulter forging…

Source:vietnamtourism.gov.vn

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The minister made the pledge during a visit to Vietnam’s central province of Quang Nam on January 3. As part of the visit, he toured the world cultural heritage sites of My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An ancient town, according to Lao Dong (Labour) daily.

Earlier the same day, Minister Shri K Chiranjeevi attended a seminar on trade and investment organised by the Embassy of India, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He invited Vietnam to participate in the Indian International Tourism Mart which will be held in Guwahati city later this month.

A US$3 million project funded by the Indian Government to restore temples at My Son will be started in the third quarter of this year.
Source: VNA/VOV online

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They will also watch a water puppet show, shop in Ben Thanh Market, and visit fish quay, coconut candy firms, and honey bee breeding plantations in Tan Thanh Commune.

Two days later, the ship will dock at Tien Sa seaport in the central city of Danang to tour Hoi An ancient town and My Son sanctuary.

It will cruise to Ha Long Bay the following day, offering passengers the opportunity to climb to Yen Tu pagoda, buy goods in Thanh Nien (Youth) Market Fair and Hong Gai Market, and experience the daily life of local people.

The cruise is expected to return to Vietnam on January 14, 18, 26, and 30, anchoring in Ha Long and Danang seaports.

Costa Victoria has a maximum capacity of 2,394 passengers and 790 seamen and is equipped with five restaurants, 10 bars, three swimming pools, a theatre, a gym, and areas for entertainment.

Source: VOV

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Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said the event is to boost tourism development for the benefit of socio-economic growth.

Haiphong municipal People’s Committee Chairman Duong Anh Dien spoke of the huge potential of cities and provinces in the Red River Delta which are blessed with beautiful mountain, plain, sea and island scenery, and rich with cultural and historic values.

The National Tourism Year 2013 provides a good opportunity for Haiphong as well as other localities in the region to develop tourism, strengthen regional links, creating tourism services different from other regions in the country, he said.

After the ceremony, lion dances and other festive activities were held in Haiphong to welcome in the new year.

Source: VOV

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