Tay Ninh National Park is home to array of rare birds

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VietNamNet Bridge – A group of Vietnamese friends from the US visited Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park in the southern province of Tay Ninh to experience the virgin forests and eco-landscapes that abound there.
Feather dusting: The site is home to many rare species including eastern cranes. — VNS File Photos
Park deputy director Ly Van Tro guided the group through the area, which was gazetted as a national park by the Government in 2002.
There they witnessed three different forests at the same site – the old forests of the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), wetland and semi-wetland forests of the eastern region and the mangrove forests of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.
Tro told the group that the potential of these forests included fishing and seafood in the mangroves and river system, tourism, entertainment, and scientific research as well as other natural items such as fragrant mushrooms.
The forests accounted for roughly 25 per cent of the province's total natural forest cover and supported a mosaic of lowland semi-evergreen forests and lowland deciduous forest and melaleucas, Tro said. Smaller areas of lowland evergreen forest existed along watercourses. A variety of wetland habitats, including seasonally inundated grasslands and forests, permanent lakes and watercourses were also present.
Apart from the forests, the site was found to qualify as an Important Bird Area (IBA) due to the presence of a number of globally threatened birds and restricted-range species, including Germain's peacock-pheasant Polyplectron germaini, Tro said.
"Scientists have defined that the park is one of most rich important bird areas in Viet Nam."
Happy tree friends: The park also hosts endangered monkeys.
The visitors under Tro's guidance were interested in witnessing birds bathing in the park's puddles, while boucals and drongos try to land on guests' cars.
"Rabbits and monkeys ran around us as if we were their close friends," group leader Duong Quoc Minh said.
The park also has relics of a base of the southern liberation forces during the American War, which includes a radio station of the fighters, a news agency station and a printing house and many other facilities.
"We plan to build a museum to show visitors the history of the revolution and national liberation," Tro said.
"The park management board holds training courses for village officials, security guards, teachers and students to teach them more about the park's potential and to encourage them to protect the park.
"We plan to build a large stilt house on the Vam Co Dong River which forms a boundary of the park so visitors can stay overnight," he said.
Surveys had revealed Lo Go-Xa Mat qualified as an IBA, Tro said, while subsequent meetings with stakeholders generated considerable local interest in its value for biodiversity, resulting in the request for its formal protection.
The site was declared a protected area by the government of Viet Nam in 1986 to commemorate its historical importance as a revolutionary base during the American War, Tro said. In January 2001, following reports that the site had been designated for village resettlement, the BirdLife International Viet Nam Programme undertook a survey trip.
Wet and wild: A corner of the Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park.
The site was found to support a variety of lowland habitat types almost lost from elsewhere in Viet Nam but these were under severe and immediate threat from conversion to agricultural land. Indeed, drainage canals and roads were already under construction, he said.
In response to these threats, BirdLife and the International Crane Foundation convened a meeting with provincial leaders to explain the importance of the site for conservation, and to raise awareness of the threats posed by the resettlement project. The response from the provincial leaders was positive: they agreed to halt the project temporarily, pending a more detailed biodiversity assessment, Tro said.
Consequently, in October 2001, BirdLife led a joint survey of Lo Go-Xa Mat. The designation of the site as an IBA was announced at a provincial workshop, generating much interest among local leaders, who had been unaware of the biodiversity value of the site. Immediately following the workshop, the provincial leaders made an official request that the site be designated a National Park.
Now it is a place for students to learn about afforestation and Tay Ninh authorities have recently adopted a master plan to develop eco-tourism in the national park until 2020.
Vu Ngoc Long, deputy director of the Institute for Tropical Biology, who is in charge of the implementing the plan, said the province aimed to develop different kinds of eco-tourism such as walking or pedalling around the park to enjoy its flora and fauna and to swim, row dug-out canoes and camp, plus visit war bases, historic relics and craft villages and take part in community culture activities.
"All visitors are welcome at the park, to enjoy its natural beauty, join local people in caring for the trees and to learn about our great natural forest restoration project."
VietNamNet/Viet Nam News
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Vietnam, India plan direct flights

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A direct service between Viet Nam and India is on the cards following a memorandum of understanding signed between Vietnam Airlines and India's largest private carrier, Jet Airways.

Under the MoU for comprehensive co-operation signed in New Delhi on Wednesday during the ongoing visit by President Truong Tan Sang, the carriers will jointly evaluate the possibility of direct services which will significantly contribute to the development of bilateral investment, trade, and tourism relations and a strategic partnership.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Sang hoped it would translate into fruitful co-operation and benefit both carriers.

"The signing of this MOU with Jet Airways, India's largest private airline, is a step in achieving the two countries' strategic partnership commitment," said Pham Ngoc Minh, president and CEO of Vietnam Airlines.

Naresh Goyal, chairman of Jet Airways, said: "This agreement with Vietnam Airlines is an integral part of our strategy for increased international growth and providing seamless service for travellers between India and Viet Nam."

There is no direct flight yet between the two countries and passengers have to transit in one of the Southeast Asian countries.

Vietnam Airlines has a young fleet of 72 aircraft, mainly Boeing 777s, Airbus A330s and A321/320s, and operates more than 300 daily flights to 20 domestic and 26 international destinations.

Jet and its subsidiary JetLite have a fleet of 116 aircraft, including Boeing 737-700s/800s/900s, Boeing 777-300 ERs, Airbus A330-200s and ATR 72-500s, and operate 620 daily flights to 80 domestic and overseas destinations. 

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Ba Na - “the green fairy”

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Sitting 1,487km above sea level and within spitting distance of Da Nang City, the Ba Na resort area offers a wonderful respite for any weary traveller.

With its awesome landscape and year-round cool, Ba Na serves up the perfect alternative to the hustle and bustle of the city. However, the resort’s only accessible by a tortuous but spectacular 20km road running from the foot of the mountain across mist-covered hillsides.

The first attraction to thrill tourists is the clear skies and puffy clouds floating over the valleys below and spectacular panoramic views of Da Nang City, Thung Bay (with its semi-circle coastline from the foot of Hai Van Pass Tunnel to Son Tra Peninsula), My Khe Beach, Ngu Hanh (Marcle) Mountains, and Thu Bon River (embracing fertile fields in Quang Nam province).

The blue waves of the Eastern Sea lapping Cham Island are visible and the picturesque landscape is breathtaking.

Tourists can enjoy four seasons in one day: spring in the morning, summer at noon, a little of autumn in the afternoon, and a cold winter bite at night. Ba Na’s weather is unique. In Ba Na, rain often falls only halfway up the hill, leaving the peak and the sky above clear and the views spectacular.

The French turned Ba Na into a resort in 1901. In 1912, a progressive governor general of Indochina designated the area as a forestry reserve. However, in 1930, the French reclassified Ba Na as a holiday resort for French officers and built hotels and villas. After decades of war and neglect, the structures fell into disrepair. Then, in 2000, developers reclaimed Ba Na from the jungle. A tourist town rose from the ruins.

The areas greatest asset is its pristine eco-system and temperate climate. Ba Na is famous for its bio-diversity. Its flora and fauna contain over 544 tree species (including six rare species) and 256 vertebrates, all of which are recorded in Vietnam’s Red Book.

Endangered vertebrates include the crested argus, the Asian black bear, the yellow-cheeked gibbon, and lignum aquilariae, along with several other species yet to be listed that are thought to survive in small numbers, protected only by the pristine wilderness.

Stone steps lead adventuresome tourists to 18th century Linh Ung Pagoda, which houses ancient documents about the temple’s history and boasts a 30m tall statue of Buddha.

French wine cellars built during the colonial period which are still used for aging the locally grown products, are another attraction. Wine-tasting tours are popular with many visitors.

Suoi Mo (Mo Stream) near the magical Thach Tien Waterfall is another favourite spot for tourists during muggy summer days. Mist created by the waterfall looks like “fairy hair”.

The Ba Na area has many facilities, including villas, hotels, restaurants, tennis courts, and many other services. Most impressive is the new cable car that links the Ba Na Peak to Mo Stream. Strung between 22 pillars, its 94 cars can carry 1,500 people on a wonderful journey through the jungle.

People often call the unspoiled environment of Ba Na “Green Fairy”, for it provides a great opportunity for visitors to Da Nang to savor the jungle and enjoy an unforgettable experience among the clouds.

Ba Na in pictures: 




















































PV/VOV
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TRAVEL IN BRIEF 14/10

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Cruise ships to link Ba Ria, Can Gio
Two boats will be built to connect Phu My Port in Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province with HCM City's outlying district of Can Gio to mainly serve international tourists.
The two place are only 15 minutes apart by boat but have yet to be connected.
The two vessels, each with a capacity of 48 passengers, will be built by local tour operator Viet Excursion and the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve.
Besides, 30 kayaks and other services will also be launched to develop a river tour on Can Gio.
In Can Gio, tourists can move around the biosphere reserve by ship or kayak.
Hoi An to offer free Wi-Fi internet
Visitors to the historic town of Hoi An in Quang Nam Province will be able to surf the internet for free from the end of this year.
According to the Quang Nam Province Department of Information and Communications, the Viet Nam Data Communications Area 3 and Quang Nam Telecom have drafted the plan for setting up a Wi-Fi system in the town.
There will be 350 hotspots in areas around Hoi An where large numbers of people gather.
Ha Noi to host Diwali festival
Diwali or the festival of lights, India's largest festival, will be celebrated in Ha Noi at the Viet Nam Culture and Arts Exhibition Centre on October 29.
Organised by the Indian Business Chamber in Viet Nam along with the Indian embassy and Indians living in Viet Nam, the event will feature Indian dance and music, fashion shows, and games.
It will also have several stalls selling handicrafts and Indian food.
Tickets ranging from VND99,000 to VND149,000 are available at the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Heritage Hotel, 625 De La Thanh.
Viet Nam holds Culture Day in Ukraine
A Viet Nam Culture Day will be celebrated in Ukraine on November 14, the Viet Nam National Administration for Tourism has said.
A direct service to be launched by a Ukrainian carrier later this year is expected to bring a large number of tourists from that country to Viet Nam in future.
An agreement was signed between Vietnam Airlines and the Ukraine-based Aeroxvit Airlines during PM Nguyen Tan Dung's visit to the country last week.
Saigontourist wins top national award
Saigontourist Travel Service Co, which served 320,000 foreign and local customers last year, has been recognised as the country's leading tour operator in 2010 at the Viet Nam Tourism Association's Tourism Awards.
Out of the top 20 tour operators nationwide, 13 were from HCM City with the others being from Ha Noi, Da Nang, Can Tho, and An Giang Province.
The 10 top domestic tour operators included Fiditour, Ben Thanh Tourist, Lua Viet Travel, Youth Tourist, Can Tho Tourist and An Giang Travel.
The top 10 outbound operators were Saigontourist, Ben Thanh Tourist, APEX Viet Nam, Vietnamtourism, Fiditour, Vietravel, Peace Tour, Exotissimo-Cesais, Vitours, and Buffalo Tours.
VietNamNet/Viet Nam News
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Vietnam lacks three-star hotels

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VietNamNet Bridge – Investors have been told that they can find bigger profit if they have three-star hotels, because the demand has been increasing rapidly.

According to travel firms, 60-75 percent of domestic travelers choose to stay at three-star hotels. As for foreign tourists, 50-55 percent choose four-star hotels and 30 percent choose five-star hotels for their convalescence purposes. Meanwhile, those, who want to have discovery tours, regularly choose three-star hotels.

The Hoa Binh travel firm said that three-star hotels are the choice of 70-80 percent of Vietnamese individual tourists who take domestic tours. The proportion is 60 percent at Vietravel and TST Tourism, and 50 percent at Saigon tourist. Especially, the figures are very high at 65 percent at Du Lich Viet and VYC, and 75 percent at Lua Viet.

Three-star hotels provide barely enough facilities

When asked why tourists prefer three-star hotels, travel firms said that despite the current big economic difficulties, Vietnamese people still have high demand for traveling, but they tend to cut down expenses. The things that travelers most care about are how many destination points in the itineraries and how good the food is, while they do not care much about the accommodation facilities. They can stay at two or three star hotels, where they can enjoy barely enough facilities and clean beds.

There is a big difference in the tours with the same excursion programs and the same quality of food, but with different hotel service quality. As for the tours with 4-5 star hotel rooms, the expenses on hotel rooms account for 45-50 percent of the total tour expenses. 

Meanwhile, the spending on hotel room just amounts to 30 percent of total expenses, if travelers choose three-star hotels, and 20 percent if travelers choose 2-star hotels.

Hoang Le Quyen, Deputy Director of the Hoa Binh travel firm, has also noted that travelers nowadays tend to choose 3-star hotels, because the hotels have been better equipped recently, which nearly can meet the standards of 4-star hotels. 

For example, there are safety deposit boxes, free wi-fi, free swimming pools, healthcare service centers, entertainment area and restaurants right in the hotels’ precincts. Therefore, travelers would prefer three-star hotels to two-star hotels, if they just have to pay 100,000-150,000 dong per day to enjoy much better facilities and have breakfasts.

Foreign tourists now also tend to choose three-star hotel rooms for their holidays. This has led to the changes in the occupancy of three-star and four-star hotels. In the first six months of 2011, in HCM City, four-star hotels had the room rate occupancy of 80 percent, while three-star hotels 60 percent only. However, big changes occurred in the third quarter: while the three-star hotel room occupancy soared to 70 percent, four-star occupancy drops to 65 percent.

According to Doan Thi Thanh Tra, Marketing Director of Saigontourist, when choosing three-star hotel rooms, travelers do not demand for luxury, but they want “clean, green and safe” services.

Demand still higher than supply

According to Robert McIntosh, Managing Director of CBRE Hotels in Asia-Pacific, there are still big opportunities for hotel investments in Vietnam. Especially, the investors who seek long term growth should think of developing three-star hotels and resorts, because they would not have to spend much money to build the hotels and resorts, while it is easier to do business with them and get higher profit.

Accor Group has jumped into the field, planning to officially manage two hotels with ibis brand in HCM City – ibis Saigon and ibis Saigon South – the firsts of the system of popular hotels with international standards in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, many local authorities have not realized the opportunities. Ninh Binh, Binh Dinh and Soc Trang provinces have been trying to attract more tourists by introducing beautiful landscapes, natural heritages and cultural events, and designing long-time tours to persuade travelers to stay in the localities for more days. 

However, there are only one three star, three 2-star and 4 4-star hotels/resorts in Binh Dinh. Meanwhile, Ninh Binh only has one 4-star hotel and 10 2-star hotels. Soc Trang has been advertising for the international rice festival, but there is only one 3-star and 7 2-star hotels, which makes it impossible to keep travelers for many days.

Source: SGTT
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Ghenh Rang – memories of history and tragedy

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A tour to Quy Nhon is not complete without a visit to a national relic – the grave of poet Han Mac Tu in Ghenh Rang Hill.


Quy Nhon is a port town which traces its roots back to the last kingdom of Champa people in the tenth century who built the My Son Sanctuary which has been recognized as a world heritage by UNESCO. 

Quy Nhon City is one of the most beautiful cities in the central region and is endowed with sea, mountains, lagoons and a beautiful bay.

Around two kilometers southeast of the center of the city is Ghenh Rang Tien Sa tourist area, a must-see destination for tourists. It has a hill covered by green trees and is striking with a stone cliff directing to the sea at the end section of Xuan Van Mountain 500-1,000 meters above sea level in the Truong Son Mountain Range.

Eighty years ago, the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty, Bao Dai loved this place so much he built a hotel for the royal family’s relaxation at the foot of the mountain. Now, there is a complex of hotels to serve tourists who relax at Hoang Hau (Queen) Beach following in the footsteps of Queen Nam Phuong, wife of King Bao Dai, who would bathe and relax there.

Visiting the grave of Tu is a more somber affair. After tramping around the hill under the shade of betel trees, tourists will see a white stone grave in an area surrounded by trees and flowers. The fragrance of the trees and murmurs of waves in the distance together with whispers of wind though leaves will make travelers feel they are straying into a fairytale location.

Tu is well-known as a talented but melancholic poet. His poems emerged in Vietnamese poetry circles during the 1920s-1930s as the heart-broken voice of a young soul who suffered leprosy, an incurable disease at that time.

His inner voice has stirred millions of hearts and his poems are loved and respected by many Vietnamese people. People visiting this area of Vietnam are intrigued by stories of the life and career of the tragic poet.

SGT
vietnamnet
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Big hotel chains snub Tourism Awards

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Famous hotel brands such as Sheraton, Sofitel and Hilton snubbed the Vietnam Tourism Awards 2010 which announced its winners last week.

Any hotels keen to win awards have to register and then be examined by Vietnam Tourism Association or local tourism management agencies.

However, several five-star international hotels did not apply, according to Vietnam Tourism Association.

Saigontourist Holding Co. has up to 12 hotels earning awards with New World, Caravelle, Rex, Majestic, Palace, Grand, Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang, De Nhat, Continental, Saigon-Halong, Saigon-Phu Quoc Resort and Bong Sen.

The top 10 five-star hotels were New World, Caravelle, Rex, Renaissance Riverside, Hanoi Daewoo, Majestic, Ana Mandara, Vinpearl Resort and Spa, Windsor Plaza and Six Senses Ninh Van Bay.

The top 10 four-star hotels were Palace, Grand, Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang, De Nhat, Continental, Hoi An Beach Resort, Saigon-Halong, Palace, Saigon-Phu Quoc Resort and Lang Tre Mui Ne Tourist Site.

The top 10 three-star hotels were Bong Sen, Victory, Vien Dong, Vung Tau Intourco Resort, Hoa Binh, Petro Song Tra, Rex, Festival, Cuu Long and Cong Doan Vietnam.

The annual tourism awards are granted based on criteria of room occupancy rate, business result, food hygiene and safety and environment hygiene.

Together with granting Vietnam’s leading hotels in 2010, the association has also announced leading tour operator awards.

Winners received their awards at the Hanoi Opera House on October 17.

SGT
Vietnamnet
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Hong Kong and Vietnam Tourism Ambassadors vote for Ha Long Bay

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VietNamNet Bridge – In her first business trip as Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador, actress Ly Nha Ky and Hong Kong Tourism Ambassador, famous singer and actress Joey Yung, held T-shirts with Ha Long Bay pictures to call for Hong Kong people to vote for this landscape as the new world natural wonder.


From the left: Hong Kong billionaire Anne Shek, Ly Nha Ky, Vietnam’s Consul General in
Hong Kong Nguyen Thi Nha and a Hong Kong businesswoman.





Ly Nha Ky (white ao dai) in Hong Kong.
Ly Nha Ky’s business trip to Hong Kong on October 9 was her first event at the Asian Tourism Ministerial Forum. In front of Hong Kong investors, journalists and artists and some Vietnamese investors in Hong Kong, the Vietnam Tourism Ambassador spoke about the beauty of Ha Long Bay, the way to vote for this site and presented attendants with T-shirts with Ha Long pictures.


Ly Nha Ky and Mr. Luis Chavit Singson.
On October 12 in Manila, the Philippines, Ky met with Luis Chavit Singson, national security advisor and governor of Ilocos Sur province. The Filipino official said he would call for his citizens to vote for Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. His wife was also very keen on this activity.

Ky also talked with Xuede Lu, director of the Asian Development Bank, who committed to organize an event for his staffs to vote for Ha Long Bay.


Ly Nha Ky and Xuede Lu, director of the Asian Development Bank.















Earlier, Ky met with over 500 students of the Hanoi Tourism College, on October 6.

PV
Vietnamnet
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Ceiling airfare increase killing tourism industry

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VietNamNet Bridge – Travel firms believe that in the current big difficulties, when people tend to fasten their belt, Vietnam should have to slash the airfare to attract more travelers. However, Vietnamese air carriers are doing the opposite thing.

The ceiling airfare for the HCM City-Hanoi route once was raised to 5 million dong (return ticket) in May 2011, and then to 6 million dong. Meanwhile, the figure may raise to 8 million dong, if the proposal by airlines to lift the airfare is approved by the Ministry of Finance.

The information about the ceiling airfare increase has caused big worries to travel firms which complain that this would kill the tourism industry, because it makes the industry less competitive.

No need to raise prices in difficult period

Nguyen Phuong Nam, Director of the Phuc Tien Booking Agent in HCM City, said that the ceiling airfare increase would put big difficulties for travel firms.

“In the past, we sold tickets mostly to the companies which booked tickets for their staff’s business trips. However, the companies only book tickets when it is really necessary, because the air tickets have become too expensive,” Nam said.

“Previously, a lot of companies paid for the air tickets of their staff in vacation trips, but they have cut the spending,” he added.

He stressed that the 20 percent increase is really a sharp increase in the context of the current difficulties of the national economy. As everything is getting more expensive, consumers have to fasten their belt. “Is it really necessary for airlines to raise the ceiling airfares in such circumstances?” he questioned.

Travel firms entreating God

Nguyen Vu Manh Ha, Head of the Operation Division of Ha Dat Travel Firm in HCM City, said that the airfare increase has caused a headache to small and medium travel firms.

According to Ha, in order to ease the risks from the airfare increases, big travel firms can set up a booking agent to serve their tours, or they can spend money to buy all low-cost tickets several months before the departure time, which allows them to ease the costs, while small firms cannot do that. The firms have to book tickets from air carriers or from the travel firms and they would lose contracts if they cannot get tickets.

As such, bigger travel firms would get richer, while small firms would be at a big disadvantage because of the limited financial capability. Meanwhile, they still have to pay additional money to buy back tickets from bigger travel firms.

He went on to say that if the domestic airfare increases, it would be more costly to travel domestically than abroad. This would prompt Vietnamese travelers to choose to travel abroad, while foreign travelers would rather to go to other South East Asian countries than to Vietnam.

Travel firms have warned that once the domestic airfare continues increasing, this may lead to the “foreign currency bleeding.”

Tran Thi Lan Phuong from Dai Hung Son Company in HCM City said that the demand for traveling has been increasing, and that domestic travelers are really the important source of income for domestic airlines.

People nowadays usually compare the airfares offered by different air carriers, while the majority of medium and high income earners now choose foreign destinations for their trips. Meanwhile, foreigners would have to think about whether to travel to Vietnam if they have to pay high, while the number of tourism points is less than expected.

This would push Vietnamese tourism industry against the wall, while the national economy may face the “foreign currency bleeding,” because Vietnamese and foreigners pay more money to foreign firms.

“I think that the Ministry of Finance needs to consider if the proposal on raising airfare is suitable for now, when the CPI increases are very high,” she said.

Dat Viet
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Entry visa is free for Vietnamese tourists flying to Korea’s Jeju

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South Korea entry visa is now free for Vietnamese tourists from Ho Chi Minh City flying direct to Korea’s Jeju Island, tourist officials announced Monday in the city.

Mr. La Quoc Khanh, vice director of the city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Mr. Oh Chang-Hyeon, marketing director of the Jeju Tourism Organization, gave an information session Monday night to announce their cooperation result right after their working sitting in the day time.

Two chartered flights per week on Tuesdays and Saturdays contracted by Korea-based company Asia World Travel now link the two destinations, with visa free for Vietnamese tourists, said Mr. Oh Chang-Hyeon.

The chartered flights, which started over the weekend, are already fully booked for the HCM City-Jeju direction until December, said Mr. Vo Binh, Vietnam branch manager of Asia World Travel. Boeing aircraft with more than 140 seats are used for the chartered flights, he said.

A round trip package tour to Jeju now costs about US$600-620 depending on two or three nights, and on tour operators, he added.

Mr. Oh Chang-Hyeon is leading a Jeju tourism promotion mission visiting Vietnam on Oct. 14-18 to sound out more opportunities. Besides Ho Chi Minh City, they have come to the Mekong Delta in the south. They have also met with representatives of Vietnamese tour operators.

Mr. Khanh, vice director of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the two sides have agreed on some other activities to be conducted to lure more Korean tourists to the city and more Vietnamese visitors to Korea, especially Jeju Island.

About 10 Korean journalists joined the Jeju mission to make reporting and shooting on Vietnam, said James Shin from the Jeju Tourism Organization. 

In May this year, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in cooperation with the Korean Cultural Centre in Vietnam launched a website for online votes for Ha Long Bay of Vietnam and Jeju Island to become one of the seven new World Natural Wonders. 

Website www.jeju-halong.com is in three languages – Vietnamese, Korean and English – so that people in the two countries and others can easily vote for the two UNESCO-recognized natural heritage sites. 

Switzerland-based organization New7Wonders is scheduled to announce the result of global voting for the seven new World Natural Wonders on November 11, 2011.

SGGP
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Ha Long Bay’s World Wonder bid receives a boost

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Vietnamese people will have the chance to vote for Ha Long Bay as a new World Wonder through a TV programme to be broadcast live on October 29.


The live programme will be concurrently aired on Vietnam Television’s Channel 1 (VTV1) linking four places: Ha Long Bay in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh, the capital city of Hanoi, the former imperial city of Hue in the central region and Ho Chi Minh City. 

Famous figures, including pop stars, will vote for the bay and deliver messages calling on audiences to take part in the vote.   

Ha Long Bay has been twice recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). 

The programme will help promote the image of the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay and Vietnam as well, said Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) at a press briefing in Hanoi on October 19. 

According to MoCST Minister Hoang Tuan Anh, the voting campaign is entering the final stage. New7Wonders will announce the final results of voting around the world on November 11, 2011. 

He quoted New7Wonders as saying Ha Long Bay has received a relatively high number of votes compared to other nominees. 

Vietnamese people can vote for Ha Long Bay by logging on www.new7wonders.com and Facebook and using the SMS service. 

The voting will be closed at 11.11am (GMT) on November 11, 2011.

VOV
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