Brazil, Costa Rica and Jamaica announce Miss Universe representatives

The three countries that have won high prizes at international beauty contests have just announced their representatives for Miss Universe 2008 to be held in Vietnam this July.


Natalia Anderle, 22, 1.80m, became Miss Universe Brazil on April 13. “Our people had great expectations on Natalia Guimaraes at Miss Universe 2007 but she only won the first runner-up title. I know that Brazilian people expect that I can make history this July,” she said after the enthronement.


On April 11, Costa Rica also unveiled its candidate for Miss Universe 2008. Though having a modest height, 1.68m, Maria Teresa, 21, possesses a beautiful face and charming style. With intelligent answers, Teresa won the support of the jury and audience and became Miss Universe Costa Rica 2008.



April Jackson has been crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2008 at the age of 18. “I’ve never been to Vietnam so I’m very enthusiastic and counting the days to go to this country together with other competitors to show my talent, meet people and introduce Jamaican culture to the Vietnamese audience,” she said.










S.Ha (Photo: GB, UOL, Outaroad)

Five more competitors for Miss Universe 2008 named

While Vietnam, the host of Miss Universe 2008 pageant, is preparing for Miss Universe Vietnam to find its representative, Albania, India, Paraguay, Estonia and Japan have just chosen their representatives.


Matilda Mecini, 19, a model, has become the new Miss Universe Albania 2008, and she will come to Vietnam to attend Miss Universe 2008. Mecini previously participated in Miss International Tourism Queen 2006 but she didn’t win a title.



Asked, “How to educate young couples to live happily together?”, Simran Kaur Mundi, 22, gave a convincible answer and won the first runner-up title in the Miss India 2008 beauty contest, and she will represent India at Miss Universe 2008.



Meanwhile, Giannina Ruffinelli, 21, became Miss Universe Paraguay on April 6; and Kadri Nogu, 21, has become Estonia’s candidate for Miss Universe 2008.



With an impressive face and professional lifestyle, Hiroko Mima, 21, was crowned Miss Universe Japan several days ago. She expressed her self-confidence at Miss Universe 2008 as current Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori will be a guest at Miss Universe 2008.

Son Ha (Photo: Postime and GB)

Vietnamese artifacts displayed online

Three Vietnamese museums have been chosen to display artifacts on a website established by Asemus, a network of museums in Asia and Europe.

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, the National Museum of Vietnamese History and the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts are among the 47 international museums chosen to participate in the online educational project.

Each museum will chose 25 objects from various fields including architecture, art literature and performing arts to display on the website. Further information is available at http://masterpieces.asemus.museum.

(Source: VNA)

Saigon tourist

The Vietnam Architecture Association has announced 20 outstanding architectural works of Vietnam during the renewal process, including hotel and resort complexes of Saigontourist in localities nationwide.

The hotel and resort complexes honored by the association are Saigon– Ninh Chu hotel, Saigon – Phu Quoc resort, Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang hotel, Saigon – Mui Ne resort, Saigon – Quy Nhon hotel and Saigon – Quang Binh hotel. The award ceremony will be held in Hanoi, on April 26, 2008.

The Vietnam Architecture Association’s criteria selected architectural and artistic works suitable with modern architecture trends, works making break-through changes to the urban image and living environment, improving people’s material and spiritual lives as well as the urban and rural environment.

Together with architecture and location strengths, hotels and resorts of Saigontourist have pioneerd good quality tourism products, meeting the abundant demand of both domestic and foreign tourists.

(Source: CPV/TT)

More budget air routes opened

In April, a lot of new air routes from Vietnam to regional countries will be put into operation by budget airlines.
The earliest budget airline in Vietnam, Indonesia’s Lion Air, first launched the HCM City – Jakarta air route in December 2003 with four flights a week.

After three years of interruption for restructuring, the airline has decided to come back to Vietnam on April 18. Lion Air plans to open new air routes from HCM City to Singapore and Jakarta, using Boeing 737 – 900 ER planes.

On April 15, Malaysia’s AirAsia will provide the first flight of HCM City – Kuala Lumpur – HCM City route. The Hanoi – Kuala Lumpur route of the airline came into operation several years ago.

Thai AirAsia, a member of AirAsia, is also planning to fly between HCM City – Bangkok with two flights a week. The first flight is expected to take off in April.

Cebu Pacific of the Philippines is going to open two new air routes, Manila – HCM City (4 flights a week), Manila – Hanoi (3 flights a week), commencing as of April 10.

Prior to that, at the end of 2007, Viva Macau, which is considered ‘half budget, half traditional airline’, opened the direct route from HCM City to Macau with four flights a week.

(Source: Tien phong)

Perfume Pagoda

The organizing board of the Perfume Pagoda Festival in Ha Tay Province registered the 1 millionth tourist of the 2008 festival on April 5. Mr. Lai Phuc Hien, a photographer from Hanoi was the lucky tourist.

This is the first time the number of tourists to Perfume Pagoda reached 1 million during the two month festival, said Mr. Nguyen Van Hau, Head of the Perfume Pagoda management board. Perfume Pagoda expects up to 1.4-1.5 million tourists by the time the festival concludes.


BTA (Source: SGGP)

Thanh Hoa province hurries to complete Ho dynasty citadel profile for UNESCO

On April 9th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will organize a conference to appraise the historical and cultural value of the Ho dynasty citadel in Thanh Hoa province.

Thanh Hoa provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is rushing to complete a supplementary profile according to UNESCO’s request for a general report to the ministry and scientific researchers.

As UNESCO requested, the Ho dynasty citadel relic Management Board, under Thanh Hoa Department of Culture and Information, has built a library and a scientific profile of 132 books and magazines about the Ho dynasty citadel; 18 historical relic sites and 7 plans and projects covering transportation, tourism and mining in Vinh Loc district which are related to the Ho dynasty citadel; 248 drawings and one map detailing the actual state of the relic site; and maps to establish the exact position of the proposed property.

According to researchers, this is the biggest, best preserve and most valuable stone citadel in Southeast Asia.

The citadel was built in 1397 by Ho Quy Ly. The citadel was also called Tay Do or An Ton citadel, and was the capital of the country at that time.




BTA (According to VietnamNet)

Hanoians flock to cherry blossom festival

A cherry blossom festival in Ha Noi on April 6 attracted thousands of local people who came to admire real Sakura flowers from Japan .

Three hundred branches of Sakura have been flown in from Japan for the festival, which is held for the second time in Ha Noi.

About 150 posters and pictures of Japan ’s landscapes, spring and cherry blossom were on display and short films about a modern Japan made by overseas Vietnamese students in Japan were also displayed at the festival.
Forty organisations and individuals in Japan have donated to the organisation of the festival, which is one of the activities to mark 35 year of Vietnam – Japan diplomatic relations

Vietnam Travel firms get inventive ahead of national holidays

With the two national holidays on April 30 and May 1 falling just before a weekend this year, the tourism market has become red-hot.

Operators have unveiled a clutch of new and interesting tours, many of them offering a chance to get off the beaten track.

Con Dao Island is on top of many tourists’ wish list thanks to its scenic and virgin coast and extreme sports like high-speed canoeing and deep-sea diving. Besides, the tour comes quite cheap at around VND2.9 million (US$180) all-inclusive.

For those wishing to experience the life of southern feudal lords of the past, Fiditour offers a new tour called Ba Gio Lam Dien Chu (Being a Landlord for Three Hours).

For three hours, visitors can reprise the luxurious life enjoyed by the landlords. The trip will include a fancy meal and a trip to a rice paddy or a performance of ca vong co, a popular southern folk music.

While most of the new tours on offer take visitors to the deep south, Saigontourist takes them to the north to explore the ancient Dong Son Culture in Vinh and Thanh Hoa cities.

The Dong Son archaeological site, Lam Kinh Citadel, and Thanh Hoa Museum offer them a chance to admire the sculptures and charming dances dating back to the era of the Hung Kings.

The tour costs VND4.5 million for departure from HCM City and VND1.52 million from Ha Noi.

(Source: VNS)

Vietnam tour companies, Vietnam airlines set to showcase summer offers

HCM City’s Dam Sen theme park will host a three-day festival this month on the travel promotions on offer around the country this summer.

Travel agencies and tourism promoters from 15 provinces and Vietnam airlines will take part in Gap Go Dat Phuong Nam (Meeting at the South) that opens on April 18.

A bonanza of discounts, coupons, and gifts from travel operators awaits visitors.

Saigontourist will hold a lucky draw for locals, with two winners getting a free trip to the US.

Others like Ben Thanh Tourist plan to offer discounts on outbound tours.

But a feature of the exhibition will be the preponderance of tours to beach towns.

The event will also have musical performances, a food and drink festival, and a photo contest with HCM City as the theme.

(Source: VNS)

Lang Co beach

The Hanoi Golf Club will coordinate with several companies to launch a campaign to vote for Lang Co Beach in central Hue city as one of the World Most Beautiful Beaches.

The official ceremony will take place at the golf club office on April 6 with sponsorship from UNESCO Vietnam.

The voting takes place during a current working visit to Vietnam by Bruno Bodart, Secretary General of the World Most Beautiful Beaches Club.

Hotel Nha Trang

The Vinpearl Tourism and Trade Joint-stock Company in late March began the construction of a six-star hotel, the first in Vietnam, in coastal Nha Trang city, central Khanh Hoa province.

Located on Bai Soi, one of the most beautiful beaches of the Hon Tre island, offshore Nha Trang city, the hotel Nha Trang will include two presidential villas with world-class deluxe conveniences, and three super luxury villas.

It will also have 125 six-star suite rooms, a 3,200 sq.m swimming pool and two tennis courts.

The hotel, part of a project to build a 80,000 sq.m Vinpearl Land tourism and entertainment complex, is scheduled to be put into operation in January next year.

North-south train fare back to normal as of April 10

As of April 10, the fares for the north-south train will decrease by 7-15% to return to the previous prices, after just ten days of increase.



The Vietnam Railways Corporation raised the fares for the north-south train by 7-15% on April 1. However, after the Prime Minister issued his guidance on not raising the prices of ten essential goods, including train tickets, the corporation had to reduce the fares.



As a result, the train fares will back to normal as of April 10. However, passengers who have bought tickets from April 1-10 will have to pay the higher fares.



(Source: TP)

Vietnam images aired on Italian TV channel

Well-known Italian tourism TV channel Marco Polo has been broadcasting a series of lively reports from Vietnam since April 1.

The one-hour broadcasts, which are on air every day and hosted by popular presenter Corrado Ruggeri, captured the vivid images of Vietnam stretching from Hanoi to HCM City, including those of rice fields, beauty spots and ethnic groups as well as their languages and traditions.

With titles such as “the Dragon and the Butterfly”, “Rice Song”, “Hanoi, Uncle Ho and the Red River”, “Saigon-HCM City”, “the Kingdom of Sea”, and “Vietnam today”, they are expected to meet increasing Italian demand for knowledge about Vietnam.

A recent research report on Italy’s external strategy until 2020 by the Italian foreign ministry regards Vietnam as a “strategic link” between Italy and Southeast Asia.

(CPV/VOV)

Maxim Gorky Cruise carries 814 foreign tourists to Vietnam

From April 1 to 5, Maxim Gorky Cruise (Russia) carrying 814 tourists from Germany, Russia and Ukraine came to Vietnam on the trans-Viet route of Ha Long Bay – Danang – Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao.

Under the route, the cruise visited Ha Long Bay on April 1; Danang on April 2; Nha Trang on April 3; Ho Chi Minh City on April 4 and will travel to Con Dao Island on April 5.

According to Mr. Le Quang Thang, Head of Cruise and Maritime Agents of Saigontourist, this is the first time Maxim Gorky will take foreign tourists to Con Dao. Con Dao’s natural beauty attracted the cruise organizer to choose it as a destination under its route to Vietnam. In 2001, Saigontourist arranged a trip to Con Dao for Super Star Aries Cruise.

BTA (Source:TT)

Visiting citadel ruins in Binh Dinh

Thanh Hoang De, or Emperor Citadel, has stood the test of time as an historical witness through the ups and downs of history. Built in 1776, it was first called Do Ban Citadel, and later renamed Emperor Rampart. In 1799 the citadel was lost to the Nguyen Dynasty and the name was once again changed to Binh Dinh Wall.
The rampart is located in Nhon Hau Commune, An Nhon District in the central province of Binh Dinh. There are no signs to the citadel but travelers can ask any of the local residents for directions.

I had expected the ancient rampart to be restored and crowded, like the Royal citadel in Hue City, but on the contrary, it remains as it was. Thus, even though I was standing right in front of it I did not recognize it until I asked a local, who gave a nod!

During its 200 year history, two military leaders of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vo Tanh and Ngo Tung Chau, committed suicide at the citadel when it was lost. The two royal tombs are located here.

According to a monograph by Binh Dinh, the Emperor Wall was 7,400 meters in perimeter and was built with five gates: North, West, East, South (also called Ve gate) and Tan Khai.

Currently only the South gate is open for tourists. Despite being an historical monument, there are no railings or even doors at the entrance.

Surprisingly, visitors entered the rampart without being hindered. Tran Duc Tam, an old man who works as a guard there, followed," offering a tour with his own knowledge of the history of the citadel. There was a flag tower in the centre and on the right a damaged grave with flowers and incense. At one time, there were many ramparts here, the Imperial Citadel and Purple Forbidden City among others. However, now there are no soldiers, just the whistling wind.

Two semicircle lakes have been excavated where the imperial concubines bathed, but the excavation was never finished and one, which was only partially exposed, is now covered with grass.

It is believed that Hon Da Chem (the guillotine stone) is 1.58 meters long, 1.35 meters wide and 0.38 meters thick. It was a stone where Le Van Thanh, a general of Tay Son, cut off the head of generals and high-ranking officers. Now this stone is enclosed in Thap Thap Pagoda which is opposite the wall.

Leaving the rampart, I saw two elephant statues with broken ivories; they have witnessed the history. I have been to many historical monuments, but this time I had a unique, strange feeling.

(Source: SGT)

CAD asks Vinapco to explain fuel supply interruption

An official of the Competition Administration Department (CAD) on April 3 said that CAD has sent a document to the Vietnam Air Petrol Company (Vinapco), requesting that the company explain why Vinapco did not supply fuel to Pacific Airlines on April 1, which caused the delays of 30 Pacific Airlines flights.
As such, CAD has officially kicked off the preliminary investigation over the said case. The official said that CAD will follow the set procedures, based on the two laws, the Competition Law and the Ordinance on Protecting Consumers.



The official said that the interruption of fuel supply has indirectly affected the benefit of consumers, and CAD may investigate if Vinapco is taking advantage of its dominant position as the sole distributor of air petrol on the market.



On April 1, 30 domestic flights of Pacific Airlines were delayed for 2-3 hours as the exclusive petrol supplier, the Vietnam Air Petrol Company, Vinapco, interrupted providing fuel to the airline.



Vinapco unilaterally stopped providing fuel to Pacific Airlines aircrafts since the two sides could not reach an agreement on the petrol price increase as of April 1as requested by Vinapco.



However, by late afternoon April 3, CAD still had not received a petition from Pacific Airlines about the case.



Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) Lai Xuan Thanh said that the new Aviation Law stipulates that airport development enterprises have the right to provide air services, which means that Vinapco will not be the only supplier of air petrol anymore. Currently, CAAV is restructuring companies that provide air services at airports. However, the requirements on air petrol provisions are really very strict.



On the afternoon of April 3, General Director of Pacific Airlines Luong Hoai Nam sent further documents to the Ministries of Transport, Industry and Trade, Finance and Vinapco. Nam wrote that though Vinapco is a one-member limited company, belonging to Vietnam Airlines Corporation, Vietnam Airlines and Vinapco are two independent companies which operate under two different laws.



Vinapco operates under the Enterprise Law, while Vietnam Airlines under the State-owned Enterprise Law. Vinapco and Vietnam Airlines are two legal entities, and each of them has to take responsibility for its production and business results.



Vinapco provides fuel to Vietnam Airlines based on the economic contracts between the two enterprises, though Vinapco is now a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines.



Prior to that, Nam expressed Pacific Airlines’ protest against Vinapco’s unfair treatment. Vinapco did not stop providing fuel for Vietnam Airlines, though the air carrier also did not accept the fuel price increases requested by Vinapco.



Pacific Airlines is a joint stock airline, in which the state holds 82% of stakes through the State Capital Investment Corporation and Saingontourist.



(Source: Tien phong)

Vietravel launches tour to Cambodia this month

Vietravel is launching a four-day caravan tour to Cambodia from April 30-May 3 in celebration of Liberation Day.
From HCMC, the caravan will travel to the to Moc Bai border in Tay Ninh Province. After going through customs, tourists will head to Phnom Penh to see the city's sites including the Royal Palace and Penh Lady Pagoda. Guests will then spend the night at the Cambodiana-Sunway Hotel.

Tourists will travel to Siem Reap on day two. Upon arrival, tourists will visit a fisherman on Tonie Sap Lake, shop at the market and enjoy a dinner buffet while watching Apsara dancing.

The following day will be spent exploring the temple complex with stops at Angkor Thom, Banteay Srei, Preup, Bayon and Angkor Wat. Tourists will then be treated to a gala dinner.

The tour will stop at Kampong Thom Province before crossing the Moc Bai border into Vietnam.

The tour is priced at US$319 and should be booked at least 15 days prior to the departure date. For more information, contact Caravan Center of Vietravel, 190 Pasteur Street, District 3, HCMC, tel: (08) 8228898, ext: 293 or website: www.travel.com.vn.

(Source: SGT)

Co Loa Citadel

In Co Loa Commune, Dong Anh District, about 18 km from Hanoi, the Co Loa Citadel, or ancient walled city, continues to fascinate domestic and foreign visitors.

After leaving Hanoi , tourists quickly end up in beautiful, open countryside on both sides of the road. As our bus stopped at its destination, the citadel looked like any small traditional village – with temple, wide well, and banyan trees.

Co Loa is the most ancient citadel found in Vietnam . It was built by King An Duong Vuong between 214 and 208 BC as the capital of Au Lac, one of the earliest Vietnamese kingdoms.

The citadel was built in three concentric circles – an 8km exterior wall, a 6.5 km, polygon-shaped, inside wall; and a central, 1.6 km, rectangular wall.

Passing through the central gate, tourists access the pillared Co Loa Communal Hall where officials once held court. Next to it is Am Ba Chua, a small temple to worship My Chau, a princess who died tragically. Burning incense for the princess’s soul, tourists listening passionately to the old legend. Walking up a short distance, an upper temple is dedicated to King An Duong Vuong.

The temple, rebuilt in the 20 th century, has two rock dragons guarding a three-step entrance through a gate, relics of the Tran and Le dynasties that ruled from the 13 th to the 16 th centuries. Inside the temple, there is a statue of the king himself cast in bronze, a metal ancient Vietnamese craftsmen were skilled in using. In front of the temple there is a wide pond, referred to in local terms as the Pearl Well. Presumably fed from a subterranean spring, it contains fresh water for the whole year.

In 1962, Co Loa was recognised as a major cultural and historical relic at the State level. Many priceless artifacts have been unearthed in and around the old city, such as a bronze drum, bronze currency and a bronze axe.

Every year, there is a festival in the first lunar month. People from eight villages in the commune form a traditional palanquin procession to the old royal courtyard, where they show their respect and gratitude to the historic king.

It is a long procession, at a show space, and to the beat of ancient music provided by a band, followed by the chief notable and the eight village notables. Finally come the villagers, who carry various offerings to King An Duong Vuong.

The religious ceremony and the procession are held on the same day. However, the festival itself continues until the fifteenth of the same month with various traditional games and activities.

Looking forward to the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi in 2010, Co Loa is in the process of improving the site through the project Restoring, Improving and Developing the Effect of Co Loa Citadel, set up by the Hanoi People’s Committee.

According to the plan, Co Loa Citadel, An Duong Vuong memorial and other cultural buildings and relics will be the central attraction in a park on over 830ha of land. Other new works, such as parks, a flower garden and a lake will be also set up to revivify the scenery.

Hue Festival to highlight children’s fairy tales

This year, the Hue Festival is targeting a new demographic: children. For the first time in its history, artists from all over will converge to celebrate the magic of fairy tales.

"Children will become primary festival participants," said Nguyen Le My Hoan, the event co-ordinator.

Organised at the 3.2 Park in front of the Hue Teachers University, the festival will have themed decorations such as the garden of the golden goose, based on the Grimm fairy tale of the same name.

Contributing to the ambience, thousands of Vietnamese children along with children of foreign diplomats across the country will draw pictures based on a Fairy Dream theme.

Members of the Hue Kite Club are expanding festivities to the windy spaces near Trang Tien bridge, teaching children how to make traditional kites in the shapes of colourful butterflies or eagles carrying princesses (like in the Vietnamese folk tale entitled Thach Sanh).

After that, children and artisans will release their kites to watch their fairy tale dreams take flight as onlookers cast their gazes upward.

Costumed children will parade, sing and dance in the streets. French artist Thoma Vuille, specialising in cat–shaped masks will provide feline displays.

He will teach children how to make the cat masks or even cat kites that will be exhibited.

Dreams come true

According to Hoan, the programme is original not only due to its subject and scale but because of its humanitarian approach.

"We wish everybody would show their love for children and encourage their talents," said Hoan.

"The goal of the fairy tale activities is to show the interest of the community towards children". During the festival’s closing ceremony on June 11, all the artistic works created by children will be auctioned.

"The money collected from the auction will be devoted to 28 children who have defective hearts," Hoan said.

"The money will also help build a school for San Diu, San Chay ethic minority students in Chang Hamlet, Dinh Thoa District, Thai Nguyen Province, right after the closing ceremony.

"Each year we plan to have an exhibition of children’s art work and have the money from the auction of the works on display go towards building a school for children in remote regions.

"The money will also help pay for operations for poor children suffering from heart diseases."

"We hope the children will enjoy the activities while also contributing to the humanitarian cause in their own way."
(Source: Viet Nam News)

Vietnamese stage French music, dance in HCM City

French music and dance will be staged by Vietnamese artists during a concert next week at HCM City’s Opera House.
Conductor Tran Vuong Thach and the HCM City Theatre Ballet and Symphony Orchestra (HBSO) will open the event with Offenbach’s overture Orpheus in the Underworld.

Violinist Tang Thanh Nam will play Saint-Saens’ Havanaise.

Among the other works to be featured will be Faure’s Pelleas and Melisande, Op.80.

The concert will end with an extract from the ballet Le Corsaire, a popular work by Leo Delibes.

Some of the city’s most talented ballet artists, including To Nhu, Bao Trung, Phi Diep and Kim Thoa, will be performing pas de deux and pas de trois in a mazurka and valse choreographed by Marius Petipa, who is well-known in France.

Begun in 1994, HBSO’s concerts with young artists, who studied in Belgium, Russia and France, are becoming more and more popular with local audiences.

The show is part of French Culture Week launched by the French Cultural Exchange Institute, which opens on April 6 featuring music, movie and the visual arts.

The concert will begin at 8pm on April 9 at the Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, District 1, HCM City.

Tickets, ranging from VND60,000 (US$3.5) to 150,000 ($9), are available at the theatre’s box office.

(Source: Viet Nam News)

African musical performances to take place in Vietnam

The Nyacha band from Mozambique will perform in northern Vietnam from April 8-15.

It will give two performances in Thai Nguyen province, one in Nam Dinh province, and one in Hai Phong city. Its final destination, which is scheduled on April 14, will be at the Hanoi Youth Theatre. All the performances are free entry.

Formed in 2002 in Beira - the second largest city in Mozambique, the Nyacha band consists of eight young students coming from a low income neighborhood of Beira.

Vietnam Airlines inks deal with Virgin Blue

Vietnam Airlines on March 1 officially announced a code share contract with Virgin Blue on April 1.
Under the contract, Virgin Blue will collect passengers in 22 destinations in Australia and fly to Vietnam through Sydney and Melbourne.

The above agreement will also allow passengers not to deal with check-in procedures and luggage transfers.

“This co-operation will help Vietnam Airlines provide diversified and convenient services to satisfy the increasing need for flights between the two countries,” said head of Vietnam Airlines’ branch in Australia , Nguyen Quang Phong.

According to Virgin Blue’s managing director, Brett Godfrey, passengers would enjoy many flexible services during flights from Vietnam to Australia .

Vietnam Airline offers flights between the two countries all days of the week, using B777 aircraft, with four from Sydney and three from Melbourne .

Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier that was established in 1989, has signed many developing contracts with large partners, such as Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Qantas Airways, l China Airlines, China Southern Airlines and several others.

(Source: VNA)

Hue: online guest registration

An online guest registration system has been in operation at 75 hotels and guest houses in the central city of Hue since February 1, 2008.

Around 95% of the total guests who are foreigners and overseas Vietnamese and 65% of local guests are registered online every night.

This system was built by the Hue Police Agency and the Hue IT Centre. To register, hotels and guest house staffs only have to visit the website http://www.catphue.vn to fill in registration forms, they do not have to bring passports or identity papers of guests to local police stations. The online registration service is available 24/7.

The system provides two-way information between the local police agency and hotels and guest houses and assists both police and hotels.

(Source: Dan Tri)

Luxury train on Saigon-Quy Nhon route to begin running

As of April 14 tourists can go from HCM City to Quy Nhon and vice versa on a high-quality train.

The Saigon Railway Transportation Corporation has signed a contract with the Golden Train Tourism Transportation JS Company to put a tourism train into operation on the HCM City-Quy Nhon route.

In the first phase, the train will run every other day, departing from Quy Nhon. As of June 2008, another train will be put into operation, departing from HCM City for Quy Nhon everyday.

According to a representative of Golden Train, the firm has invested VND40 billion ($2.5 million) in the first phase.

There is currently no high-class train running between HCM City and Quy Nhon.

The fares will range from VND395,000 to VND495,000 per ticket, double the normal fares for train tickets from Saigon to Quy Nhon.

The fares for children of 5-10 years old will be 75% of normal tickets; tickets will be free for children of under 5 years old.

Passengers can visit the website www.goldentrains.com.vn, call (84-8) 5261683/ 5261684/ 5261685 or go to the Saigon Railway Station to book tickets.

Booking online: Vietnam Railways

Surveying North East – North West tourism arc

On April 4, a delegation including 25 international travel businesses and representatives from relevant agencies and the press will begin a survey trip to seven mountainous provinces under the North East – North West tourism arc.

This is an activity held by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration.

During the eight days, the delegation will survey the terraced fields systems in Mu Cang Chai District in Yen Bai recognized as a national cultural heritage, the border gate and Muong Khuong Market in Lao Cai, Bac Me Prison and ethnic villages in Ha Giang, the Na Hang upstream hydroelectric dam, Na Hang nature preserve and Ba Be National Park in Tuyen Quang and Bac Kan, Ban Gioc Waterfall and Phuc Sen forging village in Cao Bang, and a newly-discovered cave in Chi Lang Pass in Lang Son. Moreover, the delegation will join a community tourism conference held by Ha Giang’s People’s Committee.

Mr. Luu Duc Ke, Director of Ben Thanh Tourist Company in Hanoi said that survey programs held by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration offer opportunities for travel businesses to establish new tourism products and improve the quality of tours. Furthermore, the delegation will consult with local authorities and people about investment, preservation and organization methods to develop tourism sustainably.

Mozambique music band to perform in Vietnam

A Mozambique music band named Nyacha will perform in Vietnam from April 8-15.

The band named ‘Nyacha’ will use their high energy to introduce various forms of African music performance to Vietnamese audiences and contribute to enhancing the cultural exchange between Vietnam and Mozambique .

The Nyacha band comprises eight young students from Beira , the second largest city in Mozambique . Their music is a combination of traditional and modern rhythms.

Hue Festival Tour

The Hue Festival 2008, themed “Cultural Heritage during the time of Integration and Development”, will take place in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue from June 3-11.

The highlight of this year’s festival will be a copy of Quang Trung Emperor’s enthronement ceremony, which took place in 1788.

Other activities will include performances of a Respect showing Ceremony for Heaven, the Nam Giao Altar, a Military Doctorate Examination, a Royal Palace Night, “Ao dai” (Vietnamese traditional dress) fashion shows and a programme entitled “Discovering the Legend of Huong River”.

The fifth International Sculpture Camp is also scheduled to be held during the festival.

Thirty nine art troupes from 21 countries have so far registered to take part in the festival.

Vietnamese ’creative entrepreneurs’ tour the U.K.

Vietnamese designer Ngo Thai Uyen and artist Nhu Huy recently traveled with delegates from East Asia to the United Kingdom on a trip organized by the British Council.
With stops in Glasgow, Bristol and London, the Creative Entrepreneur trip is a component of the three-year-long Creative City project, which is a cultural and artistic partnership between East Asia and the U.K. to develop cities where global citizens thrive.

The purpose of the trip was for local creative entrepreneurs to network and share ideas with their East Asian and U.K. counterparts and to observe how the British economy has benefited from the Creative Cities project.

The Creative Entrepreneur project aims to support the development of young entrepreneurs in creative industries who are integral to building successful economies.

Uyen, CEO and creative director of NTU Design Inc., said that after the trip she felt more confident as an artist conducting business and understands better how art contributes to the economy. She had the opportunity to learn from U.K. specialists about practical business know-how, which encouraged her to define her products based on real social needs.

The next step for the creative entrepreneurs is to establish a network of like-minded people in the region and in Vietnam. Once the network is established, a series of international seminars, workshops and partnerships between countries in the region and the U.K. will be organized.

Locally, a Vietnamese Creative Entrepreneur Club will be established for the purpose of networking, finding inspiration and keeping up to date with the industry.

The audio-visual project Re-Imagining the City, another component of the Creative City project, took place in Vietnam in January. The project explored how artists influence and are influenced by the cities in which they live and aimed to give artists a voice in how cities are planned and experienced.

(Source: SGT)

French Week kicks off with half-marathon

The France-Vietnam Friendship half-marathon will take place this Sunday morning, officially kicking off the start of French Week in HCM City.

In addition to the half-marathon, there will be a 10km, 7km and 3km races as well.

According to organizers, some 3,000 athletes from around the world are expected to participate in the event including some professional runners.

The race will begin at Le Duan Boulevard and will weave through the city's main thoroughfares including Dong Khoi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Van Cu and Dien Bien Phu.

Prizes totaling VND50mil will be presented at the end of the event.

There will be a number of other activities scheduled from April 6 to 12 in recognition of French Week including a photo exhibition by Nicolas Cornet at the Fine Arts Museum, fashion show, fairs and a friendship football match between retired French and Vietnamese players.

For more information about the French Week event, visit www.tuan-le-phap.com.

(Source: SGT)

AmericanTours plans Vietnam office

City lacks art programs for int'l tourists

VietNamNet Bridge – American Tours International LLC (ATI) pinning hopes on a strong increase in outbound tours from Vietnam to the U.S. plans to open a representative office in Vietnam.

Noel Irwin Hentschel, chairwoman and chief executive officer of AmericanTours International LLC; told the Daffy via email on Monday that the company was considering the representative office to work closer with local tour operators and other partners.

ATI is preparing manpower and promotion activities to attract visitors from Vietnam.

"We plan to conduct training seminars in Hanoi and HCMC late this year to educate tour operators and travel agents about the most popular U.S. cities," she said.

Hentschel joined a 22-member delegation led by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez in a four-day visit to Vietnam in November last year. She met local tour operators and tourism officials to sound out cooperation prospects.

She said that since that trip, her company had begun receiving many requests from Vietnamese tour operators to arrange America tours for Vietnamese tourists, and that tours for Vietnamese tourists were actually organized from last December to last month and more would be coming some time this year.

Groups of seven to 70 people, including both leisure and business travelers, have taken the most popular itinerary encompassing Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York and Washington D.C.

"The comments we received from the visitors have been very positive. We will be conducting familiarization trips for tour operators from Vietnam to understand the U.S. market better," she said.

ATI has created a Vietnam unit called AIT-VIETNAMERICA in the company's ATI-ASIAMERICA department, she said. It is recruiting and training Vietnamese sfaff in Los Angeles and New York.

"This year we are training more Vietnamese-speaking tour guides to ensure the best possible service for this emerging market to America," she said.

According to HCMC's tour operators, more and more Vietnamese tourists are inclined to visit the U.S. These companies offer regular tours to meet the rising demand, and some of them even organize weekly tours.

HCMC's department of tourism said in a report that a total of 21,336 Vietnam office Vietnamese visited foreign countries in January via the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, with 1,075 of them traveling to the U.S.

Previously the U.S. was not among the top ten destinations for Vietnamese tourists but January saw America climbing to the eighth position.

* A plan to enrich entertainment programs for foreign tourists and thus lengthen their stay in HCMC has been delayed over the past three years and when it gets rolling remains unknown.

Nguyen The Thanh, deputy director of the city's Culture and Information Department, told the Daily that her department had submitted to the city government a new plan to upgrade the Kim Chau Theatre into an entertainment venue for international tourists.

"We've asked the city government to allow private investment in the theater," she said, adding the lack of finance was the main reason for the delay.

The original plan for upgrading the theatre was worth VND10bil but the department has several times revised the budget due to higher construction material prices.

She declined to give further details about the revised plan for private participation in the project.

In late 2005, the departments of tourism and culture-information kick-started a plan to upgrade the Kim Chau theatre at 17-19 Nguyen Thai Binh, District 1 into a place for art performances to entertain international tourists.

After the trial of some traditional art performances at the theatre, the city government assigned the Culture and Information Department to carry out the plan.

(Source: SGT)

Duong Lam Village

Even though new houses have sprung up in Duong Lam Village, the antique Vietnamese-style buildings still garner most of the attention.
Located in the northern province of Ha Tay 50 kilometers north west of Hanoi, 140 antique homes constructed from earthy laterite bricks have attracted the attention of tourists and historians. Many of homes remain intact in spite of their 160-year history.

Each home features a row of rooms and a tiled roof in the shape of a dragon or unicorn. The entrances are made of ironwood and employ typical northern Vietnamese aesthetics. A giant banyan tree, fresh water well and communal house are also common features at the village.

Though Duong Lam has undergone changes as the result of urbanization, the daily life remains the same. Typical of countryside life in northern Vietnam, farmers retain community links and use buffalos and oxen to plough.

Adults often exchange greetings when they meet along the country road and children cross their arms in front of their chest and bend their bodies as a show of respect when greeting visitors.

Visitors will be able to smell freshly cut rice and see farmers drying straw along the country road during the village's harvest season.

(Source: SGT)

Duong Lam Village - The Journey to the Origin

Vietnam airlines - 30 flights delayed because of no fuel?

On April 1, all the 30 domestic flights of Pacific Airlines were delayed for 2-3 hours as the only petrol supplier, the Vietnam Air Petrol Company, Vinapco, interrupted providing fuel to the airline.
Pacific Airlines said that on the morning of April 1, Vinapco unilaterally stopped providing fuel to Pacific Airlines’ aircrafts, since the two sides could not reach the agreement on the petrol price increase as of April 1 as requested by Vinapco.

Tien phong newspaper on April 2 wrote that under the contracts on selling and purchasing petrol for 2008 signed between Pacific Airlines and Vinapco on December 31, 2007, Pacific Airlines has to pay Vinapco the petrol charging fee of VND593,000/tonne in addition to the petrol price, transport fee, insurance and import tax.

On March 20, 2008, Pacific Airlines received the dispatch from Vinapco, which informed that the latter will raise the petrol charging fee to VND750,000/tonne.

However, the air carrier did not accept to change the provisions of the contract, because Vinapco sells petrol to Pacific Airlines at the higher prices than the prices at which it sells to Vietnam Airlines. Meanwhile, according to the Government’s decisions, Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines must be equally treated.

On March 31, Pacific Airlines sent a petition to the Government, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, requesting the intervention to the issue.

Right after receiving the petition from Pacific Airlines, Minister of Transport Ho Nghia Dung immediately asked Vinapco to resume providing fuel to Pacific Airlines. Pacific Airlines’ aircrafts got the fuel at 8.30 of the same day to take off.

However, Tran Huu Phuc, Director of Vinapco, said that Vinapco would provide fuel for several days, and if Pacific Airlines does not accept the price increase, Vinapco will stop providing fuel “until the two sides reach agreement” as Nguoi lao dong wrote on April 2.

Deputy Head of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) Lai Xuan Thanh said that the action of Vinapco to stop providing petrol has violated the laws. CAAV has requested the Ministry of Finance to chair the price negotiation between the two sides in order to reach the final agreement.

Dr Le Dang Doanh, Economist, said that Vinapco has taken advantage of its position as the sole distributor of air petrol. This is a kind of public service, as the lack of fuel will cause air traffic jam, which badly affects the society.

Vinapco: We have to do that to protect ourselves

Tran Huu Phuc, Vinapco’s Director on April 2 stressed that Vinapco does not take advantage of its position as the sole distributor of air petrol. Phuc said that Vinapco only stopped providing petrol after it informed Pacific Airlines about the increase in fuel supply fee.

According to Phuc, Vinapco, the 100% state owned company belonging to Vietnam Airlines Corporation, provides 50,000 tonnes of fuel every year, 60% of which serves domestic airlines.

Vinapco does not build up its sale prices, but it sells fuel to airlines at the prices it imports from suppliers, and collects fuel supply fees (storage, preservation, transport, depot leasing fee).

Phuc said that the higher transport fee and the high ratio of loss in transit both have forced Vinapco to raise the prices. The State now does not subsidise air petrol and even imposes the high import tax rates of 10-15%.

He said that JET A-1, the petrol which is being used in Vietnam, cannot be stored in big quantities due to the chemical and physical properties of the fuel. The current reserves of this kind of fuel are 20,000 tonnes, which is enough for 10 flight days.

Under the latest contract between Vinapco and Pacific Airlines on December 31, 2007, the agreed price was VND593,000/tonne. However, Phuc said that the price was inked when the world’s price was $76.2/barrel, while the price now has soared to $110-130/barrel. Therefore, Vinapco three times, on March 12, 21 and 28 informed Pacific Airlines that it had to raise the price.

As for Pacific Airlines, it said that it would be reasonable to raise the price once the world’s price increases. However, the airline said that the supply fee must be the same for domestic airlines. While Vietnam Airlines can enjoy the lower supply fee, Pacific Airlines has to pay the higher fee.

However, Phuc said that in principle, Vietnam Airlines can enjoy lower fees because it purchases more fuel than Pacific Airlines (Vietnam Airlines purchased 500,000 tonnes of fuel, while the volume is 10-11 times lower for Pacific Airlines).

In fact, Vinapco sent a document to Vietnam Airlines, informing about the application of the new price of VND779,000/tonne. However, the corporation has not approved due to the complicated procedures.

Negotiations to be resumed

Pacific Airlines said that Vinapco is the only distributor of air fuel in Vietnam, therefore, the airline does not have any other choice. It also said that the interruption of fuel supply may push the airline into the wall.

Pacific Airlines’ said that the fuel price increases applied for Pacific Airlines alone but not for other domestic air carriers, will force Pacific Airlines to raise the airfare, thus reducing its competitiveness, while it is undergoing the restructure process.

A question has bee raised that why Vietnam Airlines, which also did not accept the fuel supply fee increase, still can get fuel from Vinapco, while Pacific Airlines does not.

Answering the question, Phuc from Vinapco said that the relationship between Vinapco and Pacific Airlines is the partnership, while Vietnam Airlines is the owner of Vinapco.

Luong Hoai Nam, General Director of Pacific Airlines, said that under the contract, the price and fee adjustments must get the agreement between the two sides. Negotiations must be carried out until the agreement is reached. The fact that Vinapco unilaterally stopped supplying fuel has violated the signed contract.

Nam said that as the air petrol supply remains the sole service with Vinapco being the only supplier. If the two sides cannot reach agreements, they need to carry out negotiations with the chair of the Ministry of Finance.

When asked if Pacific Airlines will sue Vinapco, Nam said ‘no’, adding that this is not an active move. Pacific Airlines is the second biggest client of Vinapco (after Vietnam Airlines), and it wants to build a sustainable relationship between the two sides.

Tran Duy

Vietnamnet

Ho chi minh Tourism

Nearly 160 booths of travel agents, airlines, entertainment service providers, etc. will take part in the “Tourism Festival” at HCM City’s Dam Sen Cultural Park from April 18-20.

According to Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Tourism La Quoc Khanh, the “Tourism Festival” aims to advertise attractive tours and promotional programs to travelers.

The “Tourism Festival” 2008 will also have cultural and art performances, including a singing contest for staffs of travel companies, a photo contest about HCM City, a presentation contest for tour guides, etc.

The Southern food festival will introduce special cuisines of restaurants that meet national and municipal standards.

The event is held each April by the HCM City Department of Tourism in cooperation with the HCM City Tourism Association. The first festival was held in 2004.

(Source: VNE)

One billion people watch Miss Universe in Vietnam

About one billion people in 160 countries and territories will watch Miss Universe 2008 taking place in July in Nha Trang City, south central Khanh Hoa province, through live broadcasts on NBC channel.

Over 7,500 people will be present at the final round ceremony in Vietnam and more than 800 reporters will cover the event.

The final round will take place at 9pm local time on July 14, including nine minutes of advertising for Vietnam’s tourist sites, landscapes and culture to the world.

More than 100 candidates from throughout the world attend Miss Universe. Vietnam’s representative to take part in this competition will be chosen from recent national beauty contests.

The candidates will not only stay in Nha Trang City but also experience a trans-Vietnam tour from Da Nang to Hue and Hanoi to understand more about the country.

Top press cartoonists crowned

HCM-based artist Le Anh Phong won first prize at the Viet Nam Press Cartoon Contest held under the auspices of the Vietnam News Agency and the Viet Nam Journalists’ Association.
Phong, who works at the Tuoi Tre (The Youth) newspaper, said: "I’m so happy to claim top prize at the inaugural press cartoon contest."

"[I think] the contest is a stepping stone for budding artists who want to make drawing cartoons their career," she said.

"I hope it becomes an annual event."

In recognition of his talents and in line with the contest’s comical theme, Phong will receive a cash prize of VND13,131,313.

The judging panel also announced two second-place prizes worth VND7mil each as well as three third-place prizes worth VND3mil. Three talented cartoonists will each get consolation prizes of VND1mil.

The competition organised by the The Thao & Van Hoa (Sports & Culture) newspaper drew a total of 800 entries from 99 artists. The prize-winning works and select others are on display at 45 Trang Tien Street, Hanoi until February 6.

Deserving works were also published in a book presented free to contestants. The book is on sale for VND50,000.

The cartoons address a wide range of subjects such as the economy and Vietnamese culture and society. Interestingly, anti-inflation was the most popular theme with 57 entries, followed by social evils with 26. Environmental issues such as pollution, traffic congestion, and deforestation accounted for 18 entries.

(Source: Viet Nam News)

Singapore hosts Vietnam Cultural Festival

A Vietnam Cultural Festival will be held in Singapore from now until December of this year to mark the 35 th anniversary of the cultural cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore .

During the festival, Vietnam ’s contemporary arts of over 30 years of development will be introduced at the Singapore Art Museum . Meanwhile, its stamps and postcards published from early 1990s will be exhibited at the Singapore Philatelic Museum and many Vietnamese antiques will be showed at the Asian Civilisations Museum in the country.

In mid-April, a Vietnam Film Festival will be held together with the 21 st Singapore International Film Festival.

Six movies and documentaries to be screened during the festival include “Chi Tu Hau” (Mrs Tu Hau), “Em Be Hanoi” (Hanoi Girl), “Sinh Menh” (A Life), “Dong Mau Anh Hung” (A Rebel), and “Nhung Neo Duong Cong Ly” (Ways of Justice).

The festival is held within a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cultural heritage cooperation between the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Heritage Board of the Singapore Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.
Resource: vnagency

Laos plans direct flights from Savanakhet to Vietnam, Thailand

Laos’ aviation authorities have announced they plan to open direct flights from Savanakhet airport to Vietnam and Thailand in 2010 or 2011.

Savanakhet airport Director Phonthong Nonsy says once completed, the new routes to Vietnam and Thailand will make important contributions to attracting tourists and investment.

The airport in the province of Savanakhet is among the biggest ones in Laos. It was repaired and upgraded from 1999-2001 but recently closed for another overhaul.