Over 100 international tourists have registered for trial adventure tours in Son Doong Cave, according to the Director of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Le Thanh Tinh.

Two seven day/six night tours will be held each month at a cost of US$ 3,000. Three five day/four night tours will be held each month for US$ 2,300. The tours begin in August 2013.
Each tour accommodates six tourists and about 15 local guides. After the trial period, if operations go well, adventure tours in Son Doong Cave will operate officially from February to August every year.
Son Doong cave, located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, was first discovered in 1991. Its existence was publicized in 2009 by a group of British scientists from BCRA, led by Howard Limbert, after their surveying trip in Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park.
According to Limbert, the cave is five times larger than the nearby Phong Nha cave, previously considered to be the largest in Vietnam.
Son Doong cave is found to have a length of at least 5 kilometres. It is estimated to be 200 metres in width and 150 metres in height.
Source: Nhan Dan

Indochina holiday, vietnam holiday, vietnam tours, Indochina tours , vietnam travel,cambodia tours, Laos tours

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The scale of operations of HCM City tourism is growing, but the management apparatus is getting smaller. Therefore, the city is bound to have the Department of Tourism for better management," HCM City’s Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Hong said.

According to Ms. Hong, in the first half of this year, 1.9 million international visitors came to the city, up 5 percent over the same period of 2012, nearly doubling the country’s average number (2.6 percent) and accounting for 54 percent of the total number of international visitors to Vietnam.
 

At present, HCM City has more than 1,800 hotels and motels, with 42,000 ranked rooms with 29,000 businesses operating in the tourism sector. However, the bigger the scale of the tourism sector is, the state management apparatus is smaller. After the merger of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism, the personnel for the tourism industry is thinner.

Hong said to develop HCM City’s tourism in a professional way, the city must establish the Department of Tourism. The city has asked the government’s permission to set up the tourist department.

Recently, the responsibility of the Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City has been questioned because until the local media reported that Travel Life abandoned 700 Vietnamese tourists in Thailand. This agency knew that this travel agent did not have a license for supplying international tours.

In recent years, tourism has been a key economic sector of HCM City (contributing 11-15 percent of the city’s GDP and 6 percent of the country’s tourism revenue). However, robbery, fraud and overcharging have been on the rise, affecting Vietnam’s tourism and the image of the country.

According to statistics from 10 hotels and 10 major tour operators in the city, there were 255 robberies of foreign visitors in 2012.

The local Department of Foreign Affairs received 222 complaints of foreigners on robbery and home burglaries while HCM City police recorded 117 cases related to foreigners, mainly robbery in 2012.

In an effort to professionalize tourism activities, HCM City has decided to operate the tourist information directory enquiries (number 1087) on a trial basis for two months.

Calling 1087, tourists will be supplied with information and answers for their questions about tourism in HCM City. The line is open 24/7, using Vietnamese and English.

The line also provides information on travel security (in coordination with the hot line of the mobile police,) information on tourism policy, tourism products, business travel, etc.

Souce: Indochina Tours

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VNA opens new flights from Da Nang to Seoul, Siem Reap
National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) on June 28 in Da Nang City announced that it has opened two direct flight routes from the city to Seoul (Korea) and Siem Reap (Cambodia).
There will be three flights a week on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, which will depart at 0.05 am in Da Nang and at 9.30 am (local time) in Seoul, by Airbus A321 aircraft for the Da Nang - Seoul route.
As for Da Nang - Siem Reap route, there will be one flight a day by ATR-72 aircraft, departing at 2.10 pm from Da Nang City and at 5.15 pm from Siem Reap.
The carrier announced that it will sell tickets at prices nearly 50 percent cheaper than normal prices for both routes until December 31 this year, with a round-trip ticket for Da Nang -  Seoul route costing VND5,940,000, and VND1,738,000 for Da Nang – Siem Reap route.
Holidaymakers rocket up in summer
Tran The Dung, deputy director of Young Generation Travel Company, said holidaymakers buying its summer tours increase seven times more than those last year thanks to promotion domestic flight tickets of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines’ stimulus program.
We sold only 600 tickets in May and June last year but this year we attracted more than 4,500 holimakers, said Tran The Dung.
It is due to the flagship carrier's program of promotion and ticket booking improvement.
In addition to available former flight, this year Vietnam Airline issued cheap tickets for four new destinations resulting in more tourists.
Da Nang kicks off tourism stimulus program
On June 28, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in Da Nang City started the program ‘Da Nang - Summer Destination 2013’ with many cultural, sport, and tourism activities to attract holidaymakers to visit the city during summer time.
Most main activities will take place at Bien Dong Park, Pham Van Dong Beach, and Tran Hung Dao Street. Of which, there are many new exciting activities added to the program, such as: freestyle football performance, X-game bicycle performance, Da Nang paragliding competition, and Korean art program. The organizers also maintained sea sport activities, including performances of parachute-pulled canoe, jetsky, and sailing boats.
Moreover, holidaymakers will also have other fascinating options, such as: scuba diving to view beautiful coral reefs in Son Tra Peninsula, waterfall sliding at Hoa Phu Thanh Resort, night cruise on Han River, and, especially, fish-catching tour around Son Tra Peninsula with fishermen.
The program will end on July 3.
Tam Dao to provide free wireless internet service
The Vinh Phuc Department of Information and Communications announced a VND15 billion (US$708,000) project to provide free wireless internet services (wi-fi) in Tam Dao town.
Tam Dao (Three Islands) describes the natural beauty of the area’s three mountains that resemble a trio of islands in a sea of clouds. The region is famous for its impressive natural scenery, mild climate, diverse flora and fauna, and a number of cultural and historical sites.
Sixty wi-fi “hotspots”, each covering a circular area 300 metres in diameter, will ensure simultaneous internet access for 10,000 users and will begin operating by the end of this year in the central area of Tam Dao town, which includes many hotels and office buildings.
The service aims to promote the town’s image and attract more tourists to by offering them easy, free and convenient access to information.
Other well-known tourism towns in Vietnam, including Hoi An in Quang Nam province, Ha Long in Quang Ninh province, and Hue in Thua Thien – Hue province, have already established free wi-fi internet systems for both local people and tourists.

Tags:  Vietnam Tours | Vietnam travel | Laos tours | Cambodia Tours | Indochina Tours

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The Northern Service Flight Company of Vietnam Helicopter Corporation under the Ministry of National Defense convened on June 6 to discuss use of helicopters as a means to exploit tourism.

 Ba Ria-Vung Tau. (Photo: Internet)

With a view to better exploit the country’s tourism potential, participants at the meeting said that use of helicopters will add a new service in tourism and also attract high income earners and foreign holidaymakers. This new service will also offer diversity in tourism to meet a growing demand.
At the meeting, representatives from Hanoi and the northern province of Quang Ninh spoke of tourism potential in the two regions.
Air operators also introduced flights, such as the North Flight Service Company plans to launch 20 flights from Hanoi to famous tourist destinations like Ha Long Bay, Cat Bi, Cat Ba, Mong Cai, Lao Cai, Dien Dien, Hoa Binh, in the North; Thua Thien-Hue, Vinh, Da Nang in Central Vietnam and Vung Tau, Con Dao and Can Tho in the South.
At the meeting, tourist operators, embassies and five-star hotels had a chance to exchange information and sign contracts to introduce potential customers to various helicopter services.
Source: Vietnam Tours

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Vĩnh Long is a province located in the Mekong River Delta of southern Vietnam. It is the islands in the Mekong River make trips to Vinh Long beautiful. Most of the islands are given over to fruit orchards and the narrow canals are often straddled by flimsy-looking wooden bridges made from the trunks of coconut palms or bamboo and known as monkey bridges. A glimpse of country scenery and simple lifestyle at the river.
What to do?

In Vinh Long, visitors can visit tropical fruit gardens and boating along canals to islands. Popular places are Mr. Sau Giao’s Flower Garden, Mr. Muoi Day’s Stilt-House, and Mr. Hai Hoang’s Old House. Home stay and join daily activities with the local people are also highlights of the trips.
Vinh Long has many pagodas, communal houses such as Van Thanh Temple, Long Thanh Communal House, Tinh Xa Ngoc Vien, Phuoc Hau, Tien Chau, Saghamangala pagodas…
When to go?

Vinh Long Travel Guide
The dry season lasts from December to April, the rainy season last from May to November. The annual average temperature is 27 Degree Celcious. Trips to Mekong Delta are suitable all year round.
Travel Tips
Bring along camera, hat, sunscreen and insect repellant.

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An Giang Province is located to the west of the Mekong Delta between the Tien and Hau rivers and shares a 100km border with Cambodia in the north – west.
An Giang Travel Guide
What to do?

An Giang has two main types of topography: midland areas and low mountains. The low mountains is Bay Nui (Seven Mountains) in Tinh Bien and Tri Ton districts. Vinh Te Tunnel runs along with the province’s border in the west, which connects from Chau Doc to Ha Tien.
Long Xuyen, the capital city of An Giang, is about 189kms (117 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City, making it an easy escape from big city life. Apart from ancient buildings and monuments, a favorite venue for travelers and visitors alike is the Ba Chua Xu shrine, a famous spot for those wishing to have prosperous financial success.
An Giang Travel Guide
Another spot not to be missed in the city is the riverside market located to the east of the main pier, lined with a number of shops and boutiques. From here, you can take a boat trip to surrounding areas to kill time.
Other notable sights in An Giang include Cam Mountain in Binh Tien and Sam Mountain in Chau Doc. Chau Doc, popular among backpackers, also makes an easy getaway to Cambodia.
Climate And When to go?

An Giang Travel Guide
An Giang is divided into two seasons: the rain (from May to November), and the dry (from December to April next year). The annual average temperature varies 27ºC. The highest temperature is 35ºC – 37ºC from April to May and the lowest ones is 20ºC – 21ºC from December to January next year. The annual rainfall is 1,400 – 1,500mm. Trips to Mekong Delta are suitable all year round but the best time is the monsoon from June to October.

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Hoi An's lucrative tourism sector is facing major fears about the impact of erosion along the ancient town's famous coastline, with dozens of resorts in danger of disappearing underwater in the future.

In the last couple of decades, rising sea levels and changes to the river flow in the Thu Bon River estuary have resulted in a 20-ha area of Cua Dai beach eroding away, the head of the city's natural resources and environment office Nguyen Van Hien has claimed.

"It's the worst situation of its kind that I've ever seen. The beach is dramatically disappearing. It stretched out 200m just 10 years ago, but now it has narrowed to 40m. The rest is underwater now," he said.

"The erosion has even approached a main section of the 1.5km road connecting the beach with Hoi An. We can often see waves crashing heavily against it," he added.

The road in question has already had to be extensively repaired once following damage sustained during a storm two years ago.

Hien blamed the erosion on the booming construction of resorts on the beach and the lack of proper environmental assessments before dredging occurred in the estuary.

"The building of resorts near the sea has changed the flow and currents and taken away sand from the beach every year. This, in combination with rising sea levels, has deepened the erosion taking place on the beach."

Pham Hong Trang, a staff member at the Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa, said the resort's beach is now no wider than 10m during the summer.

"The resort was launched in 2000 with a beach that stretched out for 40m, but it is much smaller now. During summer, the view is mostly just waves crashing against the resort's dyke," Trang said.

Similar accounts have been reported at the Sunrise, Golden Sand and Palm Garden resorts along Cua Dai beach.

The rising sea level has eroded 10,000sq.m of the Hoi An sea eco-tour company's 30,000sq.m property and it is now having to invest heavily in order to save what is left.

The city has responded by launching a construction project for a 1.5km embankment at a cost of VND115 billion (US$5.5 million). The dyke will help protect the most heavily damaged section of the road from erosion.

"The embankment is one of the city's seven projects in the fight against climate change. We will also dredge rivers and upgrade roads," said Hoi An City's People's Committee Deputy Chairman Nguyen Van Dung.

The city will also invest VND7.5 billion ($357,000) to replant 140ha of Nipa palm along the Thu Bon river. It is hoped that this ecological forest will protect the city from sea erosion and ease the flow of the river as well as reducing sand drift on the beach.

The majority of forest land in the area was destroyed in recent years to make way for aquaculture farms. Many of these have now been revoked so that the replanting can commence.

Cua Dai beach is 5km from Hoi An's old quarter. It is a favourite location for tourists visiting the UNESCO-recognised city.

Source: Indochina Tours

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