July 2018 - Vietnam Breaking News

Hai Phong: Tourist arrivals surge 19.9 percent in seven months

Hai Phong: Tourist arrivals surge 19.9 percent in seven months
<div>
<div><span>Lan Ha Bay of Cat Ba island (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p><strong>Hai Phong (VNA) –</strong> The northern port city of Hai Phong welcomed 4.5 million tourist arrivals in the first seven months of this year, 19.9 percent higher than the figure recorded in same time last year, according to Director of the city’s Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Thuong Huyen.</p>
<p>At a meeting on July 31, Huyen noticed that the number still falls short of the city’s expectation as tourism is taken as a spearhead sector of Hai Phong’s economy. Most of the travellers flocked to Cat Ba tourism site, she added.</p>
<p>Secretary of the city’s Party Committee Le Van Thanh pointed his finger to the tourism sector’s shortcomings, including poor development of infrastructure, especially the shortage of five-star hotels and entertainment zones, short stay by tourists, and travellers’ low spending.</p>
<p>These are a result of a lack of tourism management regulations, and limited investment in tourism infrastructure, he said, adding that the business climate is not really good to encourage more investments in the sector.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Tung ordered the tourism department to enhance promotion and help airlines to open and increase domestic and international flights to and from Cat Bi International Airport in the city, prioritising routes to the Republic of Korea’s Busan.</p>
<p>It should work to improve the efficiency of tourism management, and join hands with the Department of Transport and Cat Hai district People’s Committee to issue temporary regulations on passenger vessels.-VNA</p>
</div>
<br />
Hai Phong: Tourist arrivals surge 19.9 percent in seven months Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Hai Phong: Tourist arrivals surge 19.9 percent in seven months

Hai Phong: Tourist arrivals surge 19.9 percent in seven months

Hai Phong: Tourist arrivals surge 19.9 percent in seven months Lan Ha Bay of Cat Ba island (Photo: VNA) Hai Phong (VNA) – The northern po...

Ho Chi Minh City draws up new tourism master plan

Ho Chi Minh City draws up new tourism master plan
<div>
<p>Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism will draw up a strategy for tourism development to 2030 by the end of this year, officials have said.</p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Foreign tourists visit the Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City. – VNS Photo Thu Hang</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The department will integrate appropriate types of tourism into the master plan to develop the city as a world-class tourist destination, according to Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, deputy director of the department.</p>
<p>Over the past few years, the city has been developing tourism activities of various types, including cultural heritage, agriculture, ecology, river-based, cuisine, shopping, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events), Hoa said at a Dialogue with the Municipal Government on the Voice of Ho Chi Minh City People (VOH).</p>
<p>The programme, with the topic “Development of Tourism Products in Ho Chi Minh City”, aired on July 28.</p>
<p>Since 2015, the number of international tourist arrivals to the city has increased at an average rate of 16 per cent annually, while domestic tourism has risen at the rate of 12 per cent, according to Hoa.</p>
<p>In the first seven months of the year, the number of foreign tourist arrivals totalled 4.4 million, making the target of 7.5 million foreign tourist arrivals this year achievable.</p>
<p>Cao Thanh Binh, deputy head of the city People’s Council’s economic and budget committee, said the city had diversified tourism products as well as organised various cultural and tourism festivals and events.</p>
<p>However, many new tourism products have failed to meet tourists’ expectations, he said.</p>
<p>Boat tours along Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal, for example, which were expected to become an exciting river-based tourism activity, have failed to attract tourists after three years of operation.</p>
<p>Polluted water, the dirty environment, lack of a lighting system and uninteresting landscape along waterways resulted in few tourists for this activity, Binh said.</p>
<p>He said the Department of Tourism should complete the city’s strategy for tourism development soon. The strategy would be a foundation for the sustainable development of the tourism sector, and help it become “a spearhead economic sector”.</p>
</div>
<p>VNA</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Ho Chi Minh City draws up new tourism master plan Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Ho Chi Minh City draws up new tourism master plan

Ho Chi Minh City draws up new tourism master plan

Ho Chi Minh City draws up new tourism master plan Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism will draw up a strategy for tourism development ...

Vietnamese fermented pork roll

Vietnamese fermented pork roll
<div>
<p>Wandering around the Hanoi Old Quarter in the evening, visitors can easily become intrigued by the appetizing aroma and the greasy sweet taste of sizzling fermented pork rolls grilled on a barbecue over charcoals.</p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vietnamese fermented pork roll</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>It is well known that the traditional fermented pork roll is not less unique, nor less addictive, compared to the grilled version and that each region in Vietnam brings you different nem chua flavours, all of them are indeed delicious.</p>
<p>Made from rustic ingredients, namely ground pork thigh, minced pork skin, chili, garlic, fish sauce, sugar, salt, which are then mixed, pressed and naturally fermented with tender fig or guava leaves, nem chua has an acquired, highly characteristic, sour, sweet, garlicky and salty taste with a nice crunch of pork rinds.</p>
<p>While the fig leaf cover can be eaten with nem chua, creating a special acrid taste, the banana leaf cover makes its flavor more subtle and attractive. Both traditional nem chua and the grilled version are served with chutney mingled with squeezed kumquat or spicy fish sauce with added lemon juice.</p>
<p>Besides, it is common to enjoy the grilled nem chua with fruits such as star fruit, green mango, or jícama, reducing the fatty taste and also whetting the appetite. Just a look is enough for guests to salivate over the thought of savoring each bite of nem chua.</p>
<p>More interestingly, while nem chua of the north in general and of Thanh Hoa province in particular has a sour taste and a subtle fragrance of fern-leaf aralia, the southern version prefers sweet and spicy added to with powered grilled rice and pepper. Therefore, there are more choices for gastronomists to enjoy.</p>
</div>
<p>Nhan Dan</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Vietnamese fermented pork roll Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Vietnamese fermented pork roll

Vietnamese fermented pork roll

Vietnamese fermented pork roll Wandering around the Hanoi Old Quarter in the evening, visitors can easily become intrigued by the appetizin...

Vietnam, Indonesia discuss tourism cooperation

Vietnam, Indonesia discuss tourism cooperation
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div><span>A view of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage of Vietnam (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div><strong>Hanoi (VNS/VNA)</strong> – Vietnamese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Sanh Chau attended a workshop with representatives of Indonesian tourism authorities to discuss ways to promote tourism and share experiences of developing tourism at UNESCO World Heritage sites in Bali on July 30.
<p>Vietnam and Indonesia had many similarities in terms of nature, history and social and cultural traits, giving the two countries the ideal conditions to enhance tourism cooperation, officials agreed the meeting.</p>
<p>Chau said that before arriving in Bali, he had only been aware of its beautiful white sandy beaches, but had come to realise that Bali was a cradle of Hindu culture with the respected traditions and values.</p>
<p>“Bali has an age-old culture attached to Hinduism,” he said. “Visitors are impressed by the many impressive statues and temples and carved rich in culture.”</p>
<p>He pointed out some of the problems Bali faced including traffic jams, a lack of shopping malls, and inadequate tourism products and services.</p>
<p>Chau suggested that local authorities should invest more in water sports, shopping malls and infrastructure. “Bali has huge potential thanks to its beautiful landscape and diversified culture. The tourism industry should be promoted more effectively to attract more tourists and increase revenue,” he said.</p>
<p>Sharing experience from developing tourism at UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vietnam, he said development and heritage conservation needed to be balanced.</p>
<p>“Proceeds from tourism are spent on staff who work at the sites and on conservation work. We focus on preservation, and never sacrifice heritage sites for development. We target sustainable development and protecting traditions.”</p>
<p>“When we repair heritage sites, we work with professional experts from foreign countries to keep the site as intact as we can. For example, to repair the Hindu temples at the UNESCO-recognised My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam province, we asked Indian experts to help us preserve the Hindu characteristics and Italian experts to supervise the work.”</p>
<p>His remarks were followed by a Q&A session.</p>
<p>Dewa Ayu Laksmiadi, a representative from the Bali Government Tourism Office, said last year Bali received 4 million foreign tourists, mainly from China, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Australia. The Tourism Ministry had set a target of attracting 7 million foreign tourists to Bali next year, she said.</p>
<p>Laksmiadi said every year, Indonesia’s tourism industry sends delegates to attend international events in Vietnam, such as the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) in Hanoi and the International Travel Expo (ITE) in Ho Chi Minh City.</p>
<p>She expected more tourists from Vietnam to visit Indonesia and vice versa.</p>
<p>Iwayan Wiranata, head of the Jatiluwih Tourism Village Management Board, said he appreciated the development of the Vietnamese tourism industry.</p>
<p>Jatiluwih Rice Terrace which is very similar to the terraced fields in Vietnam was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012 and is a famous tourist destination featuring breathtaking views of the terraces running from the mountains down to the coast. </p>
<p>“I think we can learn a lot from Vietnam’s tourism development,” he said.</p>
<p>“Vietnam also boasts beautiful terraced fields and beaches, but we still want to invite Vietnamese people to come and discover the unique culture and traditions of Bali.”-VNS/VNA</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Vietnam, Indonesia discuss tourism cooperation Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam, Indonesia discuss tourism cooperation

Vietnam, Indonesia discuss tourism cooperation

Vietnam, Indonesia discuss tourism cooperation A view of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage of Vietnam (Photo: VNA) ...

Eiffel Tower strike looms over long lines

Eiffel Tower strike looms over long lines
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>People cooling off in the Trocadero Fountain in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on July 27, 2018 as a heatwave continues across northern Europe. — AFP Photo</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div><a>Viet Nam News</a>
<p>PARIS — Eiffel Tower workers are planning to strike this week over a new access policy for visitors which they say is generating “monstruous” waits at the famous tourist landmark, union officials said on Monday.</p>
<p>Since early July the monument has set aside half of daily tickets for people who buy them in advance on the internet and choose a scheduled time for their visit.</p>
<p>Previously just 20 per cent of tickets could be booked ahead of time.</p>
<p>But the tower’s management has also decided to reserve specific elevators for each type of ticket holder, a move which “creates lines that are at times monstruous and often lopsided,” the CGT union said in a statement.</p>
<p>During off-peak times for pre-booked tickets, such as early afternoon or evening, the reserved elevator might be half empty — despite lines of up to three hours at the elevator for walk-ins.</p>
<p>And high demand at the pre-booked elevator can cause backups that force people to wait long beyond their scheduled visit.</p>
<p>“Beyond the waste in terms of efficiency, and the unhappy visitors… employees’ patience has run out,” said the CGT’s Denis Vavassori.</p>
<p>He said that the problem was not that 50 percent of tickets are now pre-booked, but that all visitors should be allowed access to the same elevators in order to better manage the flows.</p>
<p>But he said management has refused to budge.</p>
<p>“We’re not talking about a failure… there’s just an adjustment that needs to be made,” Vavassori said.</p>
<p>The tower, which welcomed more than six million visitors last year, has been hit by repeated strikes by its 300-strong staff in recent years over issues ranging from pick-pocketing to maintenance work. — AFP</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Eiffel Tower strike looms over long lines Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Eiffel Tower strike looms over long lines

Eiffel Tower strike looms over long lines

Eiffel Tower strike looms over long lines People cooling off in the Trocadero Fountain in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on July 27,...

Vietnam embarks on developing online tourism

Vietnam embarks on developing online tourism
<div>
<div><span>The new tourism promotion website, http://bit.ly/2zizM6T, was recently launched by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.</span></div>
<p><strong>Hanoi (VNA)</strong> – With a growing number of Internet users in the country, Vietnam has begun to apply information technology (IT) to develop online tourism, which is also a current global trend.</p>
<p>More than 50 million Vietnamese people, or 53 percent of the country’s population, are using the Internet, higher than the averages for the Asia-Pacific region (46.64 percent) and the world (48.2 percent), according to the Authority of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications.</p>
<p>However, the Vietnam E-commerce Association said that strong international brand names are dominating Vietnam’s online tourism market with a market share of about 80 percent.</p>
<p>Le Tuan Anh, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said there are about 10 e-platforms for tourism in the country, including ivivu.com, mytour.vn, chudu24.com, gotadi.com, and tripi.vn. However, these sites only serve about 20 percent of the total online tourism demand.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, a survey of foreign tourists last year showed that up to 71 percent of visitors had searched for information about Vietnamese destinations on the Internet, and 64 percent had booked and bought services for their trip online.</p>
<p>Tourism insiders said that in order to turn tourism into a key industry, many solutions must be carried out simultaneously, including developing online tourism. They said online tourism will create the best possible conditions for visitors to enjoy their trips, as well as boosting business-to-business and business-to-customer connectivity.</p>
<p>VNAT General Director Nguyen Van Tuan said that IT application is not only an inevitable trend but can also work as a breakthrough to improve the competitiveness of the Vietnamese tourism market. The IT application in the sector will be geared towards the Fourth Industry Revolution so as to further digitalise tourism management and better meet the needs of holidaymakers, local people, and travel companies, he said.</p>
<p>In July, VNAT officially opened a new tourism promotion website (http://bit.ly/2zizM6T) with a view to enhancing e-marketing and Vietnam’s tourism promotion capacity.</p>
<p>Nguyen Tien Dat, deputy director of travel company TransViet, said his firm has launched a mobile app which can help users search and book tours quickly without having to arrive in person to its offices. This app also helps the company learn more about the demands of holidaymakers and recommend suitable tours for them.</p>
<p>Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said that in order to develop online tourism, management agencies, all-level authorities, and travel firms in particular, must work together.</p>
<p>Additionally, domestic companies often face technological problems, and so they also need to cooperate better with technology enterprises so as to remove such hindrances and boost online tourism.–VNA </p>
</div>
<br />
Vietnam embarks on developing online tourism Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam embarks on developing online tourism

Vietnam embarks on developing online tourism

Vietnam embarks on developing online tourism The new tourism promotion website, http://bit.ly/2zizM6T, was recently launched by the Vietnam...

Vietnam greets over 9 million foreign tourists in seven months

Vietnam greets over 9 million foreign tourists in seven months
<div>
<div><span>Foreign tourists visit Vietnam (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p><strong><br />
Hanoi (VNA) –</strong> Vietnam welcomed more than 9 million foreign vacationers in the first seven months of 2018, a year-on-year rise of 25.4 percent, according to the General Statistic Office.</p>
<p>In July alone, the country greeted over 1.18 million international tourists, a month-on-month increase of 0.5 percent.</p>
<p>Holidaymakers from Asian nations made up 77 percent of the total number of visitors to Vietnam, up 30.4 percent against the same month last year.</p>
<p>Most of the Asian markets registered growth in the number of holidaymakers, including China (up 34.1 percent), the Republic of Korea (up 56.1 percent), Japan (up 6.2 percent), Taiwan (up 13.3 percent), Malaysia (up 12 percent), Thailand (up 9.9 percent), and Singapore (up 4.7 percent).</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the number of European tourists to Vietnam rose by 10.4 percent, most of them from Russia.</p>
<p>Vietnam also saw growth in the number of visitors from five western European countries which are exempted from visas for 15 days namely the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.</p>
<p>In 2018, Vietnam aims to serve 16 million international tourists and 80 million domestic holidaymakers, according to General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan.</p>
<p>The tourism sector will promote smart tourism and actively carry out promotion activities in the remaining months of the year to attract more tourists in key markets, he said.</p>
<p>In 2017, Vietnam welcomed 13 million foreign visitors, up by three million against the previous year.</p>
<p>In the first half of 2017, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) revealed the world’s top 10 fastest-growing tourist destinations, with Vietnam in sixth position. The Southeast Asian country also led Asia-Pacific with growth of 31.2 percent.</p>
<p>The UNWTO described Vietnam as not a stranger to tourism with long-standing history, culture, rich cuisine and natural attractions. </p>
<p>Vietnam also received international tourism awards in 2017. Notably, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort set a record as it was honoured as the World’s Leading Luxury Resort for the fourth consecutive year. Meanwhile, the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay was named the World’s Best New Resort by the World Travel Awards.-VNA</p>
</div>
<br />
Vietnam greets over 9 million foreign tourists in seven months Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam greets over 9 million foreign tourists in seven months

Vietnam greets over 9 million foreign tourists in seven months

Vietnam greets over 9 million foreign tourists in seven months Foreign tourists visit Vietnam (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam welcome...

Extended visa exemption to increase Western European guests

Extended visa exemption to increase Western European guests
<div>
<p>(VEN) – The 15-day visa exemption policy for visitors from the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy was extended by three years commencing July 1. This is expected to increase the number of high-spending, long-stay visitors to Vietnam.</p>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vietnam has become an increasingly attractive destination for Western European visitors</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Western European market development</strong></p>
<p>According to Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung, the open-door visa policy aligned with enhanced tourism promotion has contributed to maintaining Vietnam’s growth rate of foreign visitors at nearly 30 percent annually.</p>
<p>Minister Dung noted that the government would consider proposals from the Vietnam Tourism Association concerning the extension of the period of stay in Vietnam from 15 to 30 days and the expansion of exemptions for more countries.</p>
<p>Western Europe is a desirable tourist market with its stable economy and high-spending, long-stay visitors. According to Hoang Nhan Chinh, Secretary General of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), since the visa exemption went into force in 2015, the number of visitors from the five Western European countries had increased more than 20 percent annually.</p>
<p>According to a survey by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), each Western European visitor spends an average of US$1,316 while in Vietnam. The number of Western European visitors reached 781,000 in 2016, up 87,000 from the previous year, and 1.5 million in 2017, resulting in direct revenues of more than US$114 million and additional indirect revenue of over US$124 million.</p>
<p><strong>Visa quality improvement</strong></p>
<p>Compared to other ASEAN countries, Vietnam has provided visa exemptions for visitors from 24 countries, while Thailand has provided visa exemptions for visitors from 61 countries, Malaysia – 155 countries, Singapore – 158 countries, Indonesia – 169 countries, and Brunei – 58 countries. These countries grant on-arrival and electronic visas (e-visa). While other countries offer 30-day visa exemptions, Vietnam’s visas are limited to 15 days and do not allow exemption beneficiaries to return within 30 days.</p>
<p>A TAB member, Luong Hoai Nam, said that to achieve the tourism development target stated in the Politburo’s Resolution 08, on-arrival visa procedures should be simplified, and the exemption period extended from 15 to 30 days. In addition, six countries – Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands – should be added to the list of visa exemption beneficiaries.</p>
<p>Travel businesses say the tourism industry needs to improve service quality to attract more visitors from the five western European countries. Relevant authorities should help the industry by facilitating tourism promotion and development of new tourist offerings.</p>
<p>Bao Thoa</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Extended visa exemption to increase Western European guests Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Extended visa exemption to increase Western European guests

Extended visa exemption to increase Western European guests

Extended visa exemption to increase Western European guests (VEN) – The 15-day visa exemption policy for visitors from the UK, France, Germ...

Chile to restrict tourists and non locals on Easter Island

Chile to restrict tourists and non locals on Easter Island
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Waste management resources have been stretched almost to breaking point by an influx of arrivals on Easter Island AFP/ANA FERNANDEZ</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Despite its isolated location some 3,500km from the coast of Chile, the island is a popular tourist destination, not least due to its remarkable collection of around 900 tall human figures with distinctive features and standing up to 10m tall.</p>
<p>However, it is those very tourists, alongside mainland migrants, who have become a threat to the island’s well-being. Chile, which annexed the territory in 1888, has decided to act.</p>
<p>In 2007, Easter Island was designated a special territory while back in March, congress voted to limit the number of tourists and foreign or mainland residents allowed on the island, and the time they’re allowed to stay.</p>
<p>As of Wednesday, new rules will come into effect that reduce the time tourists – Chileans not part of the Rapa Nui people and foreigners – can stay on the island from 90 to 30 days.</p>
<p>“Foreigners are already taking over the island,” Mayor Pedro Edmunds said.</p>
<p>At the last census in 2017, there were 7,750 people living on Easter Island, almost double the population of a few decades ago, before the island was hit by a tourism boom and the real estate development that accompanied it.</p>
<p>Edmunds says that number is 3,000 “too many.”</p>
<p>“They’re damaging the local idiosyncrasy, the thousand-year culture is changing and not for the good,” he added, saying that “customs from the continent” were infiltrating the island and “that’s not positive.”</p>
<p>Crime and domestic violence figures are also rising.</p>
<p>It’s not just obnoxious people from the mainland causing problems, though – the increase in tourism is harming the environment.</p>
<p>All basic services are straining under the pressure, not least waste management, Ana Maria Gutierrez, the local government’s environmental adviser said.</p>
<p>A decade ago the island generated 1.4 metric tons of waste per year per inhabitant, but that figure has almost doubled to 2.5 tons today, with a population that recycles very little.</p>
<p>“Environmentally the island is very fragile,” said Gutierrez.</p>
<p>The new laws, however, impose stricter rules on those who wish to live on the island, amongst them a requirement to be related to someone from the Rapa Nui people: either a parent, partner or child.</p>
<p>Others who will be allowed to stay are public servants, employees of organizations that provide services to the government, and those who develop an independent economic activity alongside their families.</p>
<p>On arrival, tourists must present their hotel reservation or an invitation from a resident.</p>
<p>The rules will also establish a yet-to-be-decided maximum capacity.</p>
<p>But Edmunds isn’t happy, as he feels the rules don’t go far enough to protect the island’s culture, heritage and singularity.</p>
<p>“I don’t agree with these rules, it’s not enough because it doesn’t reflect all the aspirations of the island,” he said, admitting that like “many other Rapa Nui” he favors a “total” ban on the arrival of new residents.</p>
<p>However, he said the legislation was at least “a good start.”</p>
<p>Rapa Nui are a Polynesian people closely related to those on Tahiti, whereas the majority of Chileans have European ancestry, with a minority of indigenous peoples.</p>
</div>
<br />
Chile to restrict tourists and non locals on Easter Island Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Chile to restrict tourists and non locals on Easter Island

Chile to restrict tourists and non locals on Easter Island

Chile to restrict tourists and non locals on Easter Island Waste management resources have been stretched almost to breaking point by...

‘Heaven guided’ underground maze proves Armenian tourist draw

‘Heaven guided’ underground maze proves Armenian tourist draw
<div>
<p>When Tosya Gharibyan asked her husband to dig a basement under their house to store potatoes, she had little idea the underground labyrinth he would eventually produce would prove to be one of Armenia’s major tourist draws.</p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Visitors can light candles in the subterranean caves decorated in the style of mediaeval Armenian churches AFP/KAREN MINASYAN</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>When Tosya Gharibyan asked her husband to dig a basement under their house to store potatoes, she had little idea the underground labyrinth he would eventually produce would prove to be one of Armenia’s major tourist draws.</p>
<p>Their one-storey house in the village of Arinj outside the capital Yerevan may not look like much but today it brings in visitors from all over the globe after a 23-year labour of love by Tosya’s late husband, Levon Arakelyan.</p>
<p>They come to see a twisting network of subterranean caves and tunnels known as “Levon’s divine underground.”</p>
<p>In the cold and quiet, Tosya leads tourists through corridors that connect seven chambers adorned with Romanesque columns and ornaments like those on the facades of mediaeval Armenian churches.</p>
<p>“Once he started digging, it was impossible to stop him,” she said of the project that began in 1995. “I wrangled with him a lot, but he became obsessed with his plan.”</p>
<p>A builder by training, Levon would toil for 18 hours a day – only pausing to take a quick nap and then rush back to the cave, confident that he was being guided “by heaven”.</p>
<p>“He never drew up plans and used to tell us that he sees in his dreams what to do next,” his widow told AFP.</p>
<p>Over more than two decades he hammered out the 280 sq m space, 21m deep into strata of volcanic rocks – only using hand tools.</p>
<p>“My primary childhood recollection is the loud knock of my father’s hammer heard at night from the cave,” said his 44-year-old daughter Araksya.</p>
<p>At the start he had to break through a surface layer of black basalt, but at the depth of a few metres Levon reached much softer tufa stone and the work progressed.</p>
<p>He pulled out 600 truckloads of rocks and earth, using only hand-held buckets.</p>
<p>Levon died in 2008 at the age of 67 from a heart attack after destroying the last wall that separated two tunnels.</p>
<p><strong>“AMAZING PLACE”</strong></p>
<p>A decade on from the project’s completion, Tosya also runs a small museum commemorating her husband’s work in the village of some 6,000 people.</p>
<p>The underground complex has several analogues in the world.</p>
<p>An eccentric man named William Henry “Burro” Schmidt spent more than three decades digging a half-a-mile tunnel to transport gold through a granite mountain in California, beginning his work in the early 1900s during the state’s gold rush.</p>
<p>In Ethiopia a man named Aba Defar began carving churches on a mountainside after claiming divine inspiration from years of dreams.</p>
<p>Today the Armenian cave features prominently in travel brochures, regularly drawing busloads of visitors.</p>
<p>Milad, a 29-year-old Iranian tourist, called the maze an “amazing place”.</p>
<p>He said it made him realise just “how boundless the spiritual and physical capabilities of a person can be”.</p>
</div>
<p>AFP</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
‘Heaven guided’ underground maze proves Armenian tourist draw Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

‘Heaven guided’ underground maze proves Armenian tourist draw

‘Heaven guided’ underground maze proves Armenian tourist draw

‘Heaven guided’ underground maze proves Armenian tourist draw When Tosya Gharibyan asked her husband to dig a basement under their house to...

2nd expansion project of Tien Sa Port inaugurated

2nd expansion project of Tien Sa Port inaugurated

2nd expansion project of Tien Sa Port inaugurated

2nd expansion project of Tien Sa Port inaugurated The project, which is part of Vietnam seaport development strategy, has total investment...

HCMC focuses on developing waterway tourism

HCMC focuses on developing waterway tourism
<div>
<div>
<div>According to Deputy chairman of the People’s Committee of district 9, Nguyen Ngoc Cuong, the distrit which is surrounded by Dong Nai and Tac river has a great potential for waterway tourism with fruit gardens along rivers and supplies fresh water for agricultural production.</div>
<div>Vice general director of Ben Thanh Tourist said that the city’s government should focus on improving a clean environment and the quality of tourist products, tighten control over sharp rise in the price to tourism products.</div>
<div>Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said waterway tourism will become a typical tourist product of Ho Chi Minh City. The Department of Tourism has proposed the municipal Department of Transport to grant license for vehicle parking, offering battery-operated electric vehicles at river bus stations and decorating landscape along the city canals.</div>
<div>The Transport Department has also coordinated with the Tourism Department to carry out infrastructure development programs and upgrade 11 piers in the city.</div>
<p>By THI HONG – Translated by Kim Khanh</p>
</div>
<div>
<h3>Tags:</h3>
<div><a>developing waterway tourism</a> <a>river bus</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
HCMC focuses on developing waterway tourism Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

HCMC focuses on developing waterway tourism

HCMC focuses on developing waterway tourism

HCMC focuses on developing waterway tourism According to Deputy chairman of the People’s Committee of district 9, Nguyen Ngoc Cuong, the d...

HCM City seeks ways to further develop tourism

HCM City seeks ways to further develop tourism
<div>
<div>
<div><span>Illustrative image (Source: VNA)</span></div>
</div>
<div><strong>HCM City (VNA)</strong> – The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council and the Radio Voice of Ho Chi Minh City People (VOH) held a dialogue with the municipal authorities on July 28 to discuss measures to further develop its tourism.
<p>Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said the city welcomed nearly 4.4 million foreign visitors in  the first seven months of this year. HCM City has various kinds of tourism products such as shopping, MICE, cuisine and river cruise tours, she said.</p>
<p>Dang Thi Thy Thanh, Deputy General Director of Ben Thanh Tourist Company, said several river cruise tours have yet to meet demand due to environment pollution and lax management in tourist destinations.</p>
<p>The construction on many wharves are unfinished so that the number of tourists accessing river cruise tours remains limited, Thanh added.</p>
<p>Ha Thanh Son, deputy head of the waterway transport management division under the municipal Transport Department, said apart from 11 completed wharves, the city has called for private investment in building 10 domestic wharves in districts 2,4, Binh Thanh, and Cu Chi and Can Gio suburban districts.</p>
<p>To welcome foreign holidaymakers, Nha Rong – Khanh Hoi port in district 4 and Mui Den Do international port in district 7 will be convenient facilities to develop cruise tours.</p>
<p>Saigon Peninsula Group Corporation is conducting procedures to build a 600-m wharf that could accommodate two vessels with a capacity of 60,000 GT, equivalent to 2,500 passengers per vessel. It is expected to be completed by 2020.</p>
<p>Hoa said the municipal Tourism Department will complete a tourism development strategy until 2030, improve workforce training and raise public awareness of tourism marketing, thus making Ho Chi Minh City a safe, friendly and attractive destination in the eyes of domestic and foreign visitors.-VNA</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
HCM City seeks ways to further develop tourism Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

HCM City seeks ways to further develop tourism

HCM City seeks ways to further develop tourism

HCM City seeks ways to further develop tourism Illustrative image (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council ...

Coast road named among Asia’s best by Tripsavvy

Coast road named among Asia’s best by Tripsavvy
<div>
<div><span>A section of the road running along the coast from Nha Trang city to Quy Nhon city (Photo: mytour.vn)</span></div>
<p><strong>HCM City (VNA)</strong> – The road running along the coast from Nha Trang city of Khanh Hoa province to Quy Nhon city of Binh Dinh province in central Vietnam has been named one of the most spectacular in Asia.</p>
<p>On one side of the Nha Trang – Quy Nhon road is the deep-blue sea and on the other are mountains and forests, and they offer your senses a treat if you traverse the road on a bright and breezy day.</p>
<p>There is also a lot to enjoy along the way: It has the longest mountain pass in the country and a host of stunning golden beaches.</p>
<p>Travellers can also explore lovely towns and villages along the road.</p>
<p>Also on Tripsavvy’s list are the Karakoram Highway (China), Hokkaido Scenic Byways and Golden Road to Samarkand (Uzbekistan).-VNA</p>
</div>
<br />
Coast road named among Asia’s best by Tripsavvy Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Coast road named among Asia’s best by Tripsavvy

Coast road named among Asia’s best by Tripsavvy

Coast road named among Asia’s best by Tripsavvy A section of the road running along the coast from Nha Trang city to Quy Nhon city (Photo: ...

Tours to Hanoi’s Opera House put on hold for repairs

Tours to Hanoi’s Opera House put on hold for repairs
<div>
<div><span>Visitors take the tour in September 2017 (Source: http://bit.ly/1PqSZ12)</span></div>
<p><strong>Hanoi (VNS/VNA)</strong> – Tours to Hanoi’s Opera House, a historic landmark in the capital, have been put on hold after less than a year.</p>
<p>According to a source from the Opera House, tours had been put on hold while repair work was taking place, and would resume in early September.</p>
<p>The tour was run twice a week on Mondays and Fridays and lasted for 90 minutes, costing 400,000 VND (18 USD).</p>
<p>When asked about the possibility of reducing the price, the official, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: “We are still running an experimental tour and haven’t decided a fixed price yet. It depends on the art programme, which has not been staged yet.”</p>
<p>“The tour is not that interesting and the price is fairly high so travel agencies haven’t shown much interest,” said Le Duc Phong, director of a travel agency in Hanoi.</p>
<p>“I have a feeling that the Opera House tour staff are still very busy with the shows and don’t have time for the tours.”</p>
<p>Luu Duc Ke from the Hanoi Tourism Corporation said that if the tours were only 15-20 minutes, reasonably priced and aimed at domestic guesses, they would be better.</p>
<p>“I find the tour is half Vietnamese, half foreign,” said Bui Thi Nhan, Director of the Sea Ecology Tourism Company. “The price is more suitable for foreigners than Vietnamese people, but the show is not really suitable for foreign tourists.”</p>
<p>The Opera House was built in 1901 and completed in 1911 by the French following the design of the Opera Garnier in Paris. It has been assessed as one of the most beautiful buildings in Southeast Asia. The house is one of the most opulent building in Hanoi, and houses major events, meetings and high-class performances by domestic and world artists.-VNS/VNA</p>
</div>
<br />
Tours to Hanoi’s Opera House put on hold for repairs Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Tours to Hanoi’s Opera House put on hold for repairs

Tours to Hanoi’s Opera House put on hold for repairs

Tours to Hanoi’s Opera House put on hold for repairs Visitors take the tour in September 2017 (Source: http://bit.ly/1PqSZ12) Hanoi (VNS/V...

Da Nang, Japan seek ways to boost tourism cooperation

Da Nang, Japan seek ways to boost tourism cooperation
<div>
<div><span>At the conference to promote tourism cooperation between the central city of Da Nang and Japan (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Da Nang (VNA) –</strong> A conference to promote tourism cooperation between the central city of Da Nang and Japan was held in the city on July 26 as part of the 2018 Vietnam-Japan Cultural Exchange Festival.</p>
<p>The event, co-organised by Da Nang’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), drew the participation of about 50 delegates from travel companies. </p>
<p>It was viewed as an occasion for Vietnamese and Japanese businesses to connect together and explore tourism promotion activities, thereby deepening bilateral relations.</p>
<p>At the conference, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda affirmed that as Vietnam and Japan are celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, it is an optimal time for the two nations to foster cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, culture, social affairs and tourism.</p>
<p>Da Nang has already established relations with 20 Japanese localities and held many exchange activities with them over the past years, said Director of the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs Lam Quang Minh. </p>
<p>He noted that the launching of two direct flights from the city to Japan’s Narita and Osaka has created favourable travel conditions for businesses and citizens of Da Nang. After four years, the annual Vietnam-Japan Cultural Exchange Festival attracted more than 60,000 visitors. </p>
<p>Minh expressed his hope that Vietnamese firms will receive counselling on Japan’s tourism market, helping them expand business activities and provide qualified tourism services which attract more Japanese tourists to the city and vice versa.</p>
<p>At the event, JNTO representatives also introduced famous tourism destinations, festivals, cultural traits, and shopping malls in Japan.</p>
<p>JNTO statistics showed that the number of Vietnamese tourists to Japan hit 300,000 for the first time in 2017. Meanwhile, Japan ranked third in the number of tourists to Vietnam. The Vietnamese Cultural Festival in Japan and the Cherry Blossom Festival in Vietnam have become annual much-awaited events for people of the two nations.–VNA </p>
</div>
<br />
Da Nang, Japan seek ways to boost tourism cooperation Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Da Nang, Japan seek ways to boost tourism cooperation

Da Nang, Japan seek ways to boost tourism cooperation

Da Nang, Japan seek ways to boost tourism cooperation At the conference to promote tourism cooperation between the central city of Da Nang ...

Community based ecotourism thrives

Community based ecotourism thrives
<div>
<p>Tourism in Vietnam is no longer a private playground of major  firms in the travel business as local people have become more directly involved in the sector through a special product called “community-based ecotourism”.</p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Community-based ecotourism thrives</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>New direction</strong></p>
<p>A part of responsible tourism, community-based ecotourism is a model based on the ability to balance the reasonable exploitation of resources with the local community’s responsibility to protect and preserve the natural environment. In particular, the local community is the key factor in making this tourism model attractive and successful. They will directly participate in the process of introducing the area, supplying products, and guiding visitors towards enjoyable experiences.</p>
<p>Travel companies now only act as consultants, connecting visitors with local tourism products and ensuring that visitors have the best experience.</p>
<p>The AC Nielsen’s survey of travel trends shows that 65 per cent of travellers want to experience local cultural heritage, 54 per cent of visitors wish to experience nature tourism, and 97 per cent of travellers are willing to pay more for an environmentally friendly holiday.</p>
<p>In recent years, Vietnam’s tourism industry has been promoting community-based tourism in general and community-based ecotourism in particular as a unique product to attract international visitors. With the increasing number of international visitors, the diversified natural potential, and the uniqueness of the culture, ecotourism has a lot of opportunities to develop in Vietnam.</p>
<p>“Community-based ecotourism is a trend for sustainable development in the future. If it succeeds, it will make a difference in Vietnam’s tourism compared to the tourism products of other countries, and then the competition will be greatly reduced,” said Nguyen Ngoc Bich, general director of Mekong Rustic Management.</p>
<p><strong>Each household is a travel agency</strong></p>
<p>Some localities have already applied this model and initially achieved great success. In the mountainous areas where many ethnic minorities live, such as Lao Cai, Ha Giang, and Hoa Binh, this model has brought about practical effects and contributed to improving the lives of many people.</p>
<p>Coming to Mai Chau, tourists have the chance to live in the unique stilt-houses of the Thai tribe, and participate in daily local activities such as weaving, bamboo dancing, and enjoying traditional cuisine. In Sapa, H’Mong villages such as Ta Van, Ta Phin, Cat Cat, and Lao Chai have become attractive destinations for foreign tourists.</p>
<p>Despite appearing later, this model also brought many successes in the northern province of Quang Ninh, especially in some of the unspoilt islands such as Quan Lan, Minh Chau and Co To.</p>
<p>In the central region, Hoi An (in the central province of Quang Nam) is cited as having opportunities for developing community-based tourism, with such familiar destinations as Tra Que Herbal Village, Cu Lao Cham Island, as well as ecotourism sites associated with the nipa palm forests and canals along the Thu Bon River, and fishing villages along An Bang and Cua Dai beaches.</p>
<p>In the Mekong Delta, an area well known for its ecotourism tours, visitors can immerse themselves in the local living space and experience the activities of the water region such as fishing, harvesting fruits, enjoying floating markets, and listening to traditional music with local amateur artists. Many travel companies also co-operate with homestays to organise tours which appeal to foreigners, such as “Be a farmer for a day” in Cai Be (Tien Giang province), and “A foreigner in my house” (Vinh Long province).</p>
<p>Simone Kapitza, a German tourist visiting An Giang province, said, “Only community-based ecotourism helps me to experience nature and understand the aspirations of this land.”</p>
</div>
<p>By <a>Hoang Oanh</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Community based ecotourism thrives Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Community based ecotourism thrives

Community based ecotourism thrives

Community based ecotourism thrives Tourism in Vietnam is no longer a private playground of major firms in the travel business as local peo...

Telegraph lists out 17 reasons to visit Vietnam

Telegraph lists out 17 reasons to visit Vietnam
<div>
<p>UK daily newspaper The Telegraph has picked 17 reasons visitors should take advantage of a paperwork-free trip to Vietnam, which has maintained its essences despite a tourism boom.</p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>According to Telegraph, one of the reason is hustle and bustle in Hanoi.</p>
<p>What makes Hanoi so interesting is that it feels very old-fashioned, stuck in the past with its French colonial history entrenched in its pavement cafes, architecture and wide tree-lined boulevards.</p>
<p>“Take a ride in one of the thousands of tuk-tuks swarming through the city’s streets to get a sense of the daily buzz,” The Telegraph wrote.</p>
<p>In addition, The Telegraph’s experts also picked cuisine is one of the reason why should visitors choose Vietnam. From pho to banh mi, and spring rolls to steamboat, Vietnam’s cuisine is fascinating.</p>
<p>“We watched tofu being made and shaped into pliable white girders, ready to be cooked with tomato sauce. There were stalls heaving with tiny clams; baskets of colourful chillies and limes; delicious and sweet jackfruit (best fried in flour with coconut milk); plumes of banana flower; sacks of lotus seeds to make puddings, and giant live catfish that periodically made a bid for freedom from their giant bowls,” Mark C O’Flaherty wrote for The Telegraph Travel after visiting a market in Hanoi.</p>
<p>There are many things visitors might choose to do in Vietnam, such as visiting bustling Ho Chi Minh City, breathing in the Mekong, finding the right angle at Ha Long Bay, staying in a hotel with history, finding luxury in Da Nang, etc.</p>
<p>Vietnam has become increasingly attractive to tourists from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy who will enjoy visa exemptions for the next three years until June 30, 2021, from July 1, 2018.</p>
<p>The country first offered visa waivers for citizens from the five European countries in July 2015. The policy has been updated annually and would have expired at the end of June. The continued visa exemption is expected to push up the development of the Vietnamese tourism sector.</p>
<p>The number of foreign tourists to Vietnam in the first half of 2018 surged 27.2pc year-on-year to 7.89 million, according to the General Statistics Office.</p>
<p>Arrivals by air, road, and sea in the reviewed period recorded annual increases of 22.2pc, 63.7pc and 1.7pc, respectively.</p>
<p>Growth was also seen in the numbers of visitors from all five continents, with Asia (32.7pc), Europe (11pc), America (13.5pc), Oceania (10pc) and Africa (22.2pc).</p>
</div>
<p>Hanoitimes</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Telegraph lists out 17 reasons to visit Vietnam Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Telegraph lists out 17 reasons to visit Vietnam

Telegraph lists out 17 reasons to visit Vietnam

Telegraph lists out 17 reasons to visit Vietnam UK daily newspaper The Telegraph has picked 17 reasons visitors should take advantage of a ...

Sapa named among Southeast Asia’s top cool weather holiday destinations

Sapa named among Southeast Asia’s top cool weather holiday destinations
<div>
<p>Channel News Asia’s annual list top 6 of the cool weather holiday destinations in Southeast Asia throughout the year.</p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sapa in Vietnam. Photo: Channel News Asia</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Sapa has gained the first position among the cool weather holiday destinations in Southeast Asia throughout the year, according to Channel News Asia, a Singaporean English language Asian cable television news agency.</p>
<p>Located 350km northwest of Hanoi, Sapa town enjoys cool weather throughout the year – it rarely goes above 25 degrees Celsius and it never drops below 17 degrees Celsius even during the “hottest” periods between June and August.</p>
<p>“Your best bet for a chilly holiday would be from November to February, with average high temperatures of between 17 and 11 degrees,” Channel News Asia wrote.</p>
<p>Once there, you can enjoy trekking through the Hoang Lien National Park, and catching a glimpse of Vietnam’s highest peak, Fan Si Pan, as well as views of terraced rice paddies. There are also lots of highland tribal culture to be seen, at villages such as Cat Cat and Ta Phin, as well as in markets. It also has its own colonial history – French military and missionaries set up camp here in the 19th century.</p>
<p>Sapa tops the list, followed by Cameron Highlands (Malaysia), Kundasang (Malaysia), Cipanas (Indonesia), Baguio (Philippines), etc.</p>
<p>Earlier, Sapa has been named among the top ten places to visit in Southeast Asia, as selected by the readers of Rough Guides, a UK-based travel website.</p>
<p>The northwest town of Sapa in Lao Cai province occupies the 6th place on the list. Die-hard fans of Vietnam will know that this former hill station is the place to visit for a taste of heart-stirring Southeast Asian scenery, according to the Rough Guides article.</p>
<p>In 2017, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed a decision recognizing the resort town of Sapa as a national tourism site.</p>
<p>Sapa welcomed nearly 1.5 million visitors in the first eleven months of 2017, of which more than 30% were international tourists. In 2016, there were 1.2 million visitors to the hill town, according to the Lao Cai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.</p>
</div>
<p>Hanoitimes</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Sapa named among Southeast Asia’s top cool weather holiday destinations Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Sapa named among Southeast Asia’s top cool weather holiday destinations

Sapa named among Southeast Asia’s top cool weather holiday destinations

Sapa named among Southeast Asia’s top cool weather holiday destinations Channel News Asia’s annual list top 6 of the cool weather holiday d...

Montgomerie Links honoured amongst best golf clubs in Vietnam for 2018

Montgomerie Links honoured amongst best golf clubs in Vietnam for 2018
<div>
<p>Montgomerie Links Vietnam has been awarded the Top 10 Best Golf Courses in Vietnam certificate and trophy by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism.</p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>This is the fourth consecutive year that Montgomerie Links has been awarded the prize</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>On July 9, 2018, reputed properties in hospitality were recognised at the Vietnam Tourism Award 2018, which honoured individuals and organisations who have contributed to the development of Vietnam’s tourism industry. The award helps encourage and improve the quality of services, diversify tourism products and promote the image of Vietnam’s tourism industry.</p>
<p>Named as one of Asia’s Top Ten Elite Courses by Forbes Travel, and with 10 years experience operating in the golf industry, Montgomerie Links has been created using outstanding natural features.</p>
<p>The sandy soil, wind-blown dunes, and indigenous vegetation combine to create the framework for a very strong links-style golf course. Added to that, the course always remains well maintained with the goal of providing high customer satisfaction.</p>
<p>Montgomerie Links golf course caters to players of all abilities and is a sheer delight to play on.</p>
<p>In the past 10 years of operations, Montgomerie Links has gone through several renewals to improve the quality of services, and create more value to meets all customers’ need. Besides being a 5-star standard golf course, in 2014 Montgomerie also put into operation a luxurious hotel and villas next to hole # 9.</p>
<p>The three bedroom pool villas and luxury designed rooms offer an exclusive retreat featuring a private pool, spacious living area, fully equipped kitchen and dining area. Each room embraces the natural ambiance with floor-to-ceiling windows, terraces and balconies offering stunning fairway views.</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Montgomerie Links golf course</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>By <a>Nguyen Huong</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Montgomerie Links honoured amongst best golf clubs in Vietnam for 2018 Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Montgomerie Links honoured amongst best golf clubs in Vietnam for 2018

Montgomerie Links honoured amongst best golf clubs in Vietnam for 2018

Montgomerie Links honoured amongst best golf clubs in Vietnam for 2018 Montgomerie Links Vietnam has been awarded the Top 10 Best Golf Cour...

HCM City advised to optimise potential of waterway tourism

HCM City advised to optimise potential of waterway tourism
<div>
<div>
<div><span>Saigon waterbus in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
</div>
<div><strong>HCM City (VNA)</strong> – As much as 16 percent of the natural area of Ho Chi Minh City is made up of rivers and canals, which creates a great resource for the city’s tourism development through the forming of diverse waterway tourism products, according to experts.
<p>Currently, the city has over 1,000km of waterways. Of this, the city has building plans for 975km, including 175km for seven maritime routes, 203km for nine national routes, and 612km for 94 local routes.</p>
<p>With 320 ports – including the four big ones of Sai Gon, Tan Cang-Cat Lai, Ben Nghe, and Nha Be – the city has typical characteristics of a metropolis built with western architecture, with one-third of architectural heritage lying along rivers and canals, which is suitable for tourism development.</p>
<p>Thanks to its diverse natural resources, since 2013, the city has defined waterway tourism as one of its major products, drawing the investment of many travel firms and investors.</p>
<p>Notably, it has recently launched Saigon waterbus, while introducing seven new river tourism products.</p>
<p>Since 2016, the city has issued several key resolutions and documents highlighting the need to boost waterway tourism.</p>
<p>Under a waterway tourism development plan for the 2017-2020 period approved by the municipal People’s Committee, there will be at least seven tourism routes in 2020, situated in the Saigon, Dong Nai, Nha Be, Soai Rap, and Long Tau rivers, as well as other internal canals.</p>
<p>The number of tourists travelling by waterway in the 2017-2018 period reached about 450,000 per year and up 15 percent in following years.</p>
<p>However, the tourism potential of Ho Chi Minh City has yet to be fully exploited.</p>
<p>In 2011, the city had 37 enterprises with 130 vessels. However, now the figures have shrunk to only 19 enterprises with 100 vessels.</p>
<p>According to experts, despite the city’s orientations in boosting waterway tourism development, it has yet to make adequate investment into infrastructure for the sector. In particular, the closure of the Bach Dang port in District 1 and some other ports in District 4 has caused many difficulties for travel firms in loading and receiving tourists as well as docking their vessels, resulting in the quitting and switching of business operations.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, docking stations along waterway tourism routes have stayed modest in number and quality, as well as attraction, while water tourism products have remained few.</p>
<p>Many experts held that it is necessary to review the planning of riverside heritage for the restoration and repair in order to serve tourism.</p>
<p>Architect Truong Thai Hoai An, from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, asserted that the preservation of historical relic sites along rivers is not only the responsibility of the Government, but the whole society, and especially urban development advisors.</p>
<p>The investment in waterway tourism in line with the exploitation of the value of heritage is also part of solutions to protect heritage amidst strong urbanisation process. -VNA </p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
HCM City advised to optimise potential of waterway tourism Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

HCM City advised to optimise potential of waterway tourism

HCM City advised to optimise potential of waterway tourism

HCM City advised to optimise potential of waterway tourism Saigon waterbus in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – As much as...

Zimbabwe edges back onto tourist map

Zimbabwe edges back onto tourist map
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>An aerial view of the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Tourism accounts for around 10 percent of Zimbabwe’s GDP. (Photo: AFP/Zinyange Auntony)</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The number of foreign visitors to Victoria Falls, the southern African country’s flagship destination, jumped nearly 50 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2017, the tourism minister says.</p>
<p>Countrywide, arrivals rose by 15 per cent to 554,417, according to treasury statistics.</p>
<p>Political and economic turmoil under longtime autocratic ruler Robert Mugabe had wrecked the sector, but authorities and tourism operators now believe the industry has a new lease of life.</p>
<p>Mugabe was ousted in November after a 37-year repressive rule during which tourists shunned the country, fearful of police demanding bribes, crumbling infrastructure and scarce fuel.</p>
<p>Cash was also in short supply from 2009, when hyperinflation forced Zimbabwe to abandon its own currency in favour of the US dollar.</p>
<p><strong>‘GOOD VIBES’</strong></p>
<p>“We were in a closed period for a long time,” admitted Tourism Minister Priscah Mupfumira, speaking ahead of key elections on July 30. “We closed ourselves in, doors were locked.”</p>
<p>Since Emmerson Mnangagwa took over as president from Mugabe in a de facto coup last year, “we are poised for growth,” the minister told AFP.</p>
<p>“There are good vibes from the industry and from the international world – everybody is so positive,” she said.</p>
<p>With Zimbabwe’s economy still in tatters, an influx of tourists is expected to help bring in desperately needed revenue, with the sector already contributing around 10 per cent to GDP.</p>
<p>“It’s a key pillar to our economy and a low-hanging fruit – we just have to get our act together,” Mupfumira said.</p>
<p>But visiting Zimbabwe is generally more expensive compared with neighbouring countries.</p>
<p>“It is not a cheap holiday,” said Ilan Wiesenbacher, a restaurateur in Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi River plunges over a gorge and raises a mist that can be seen more than 20km away.</p>
<p>“We have seen a steady rise in numbers,” said Wiesenbacher, manager at the Three Monkeys restaurant. “There is a general good feeling around Zimbabwe and tourism.”</p>
<p>Even in the traditional low season from January to March, craft beer brewer Jake Le Breton had more glasses to fill at his River Brewing Company bar in Victoria Falls.</p>
<p>“We have just come out of a quiet season… (but) it was a busy time with a higher number of tourists than we have seen in previous years,” said Le Breton, adding that local hotels have been fully booked.</p>
<p>“The general sense in this country, especially from a tourist, is one of anticipation, one of excitement.”</p>
<p>Lloyd Machaka, who operates Chikopokopo Flights helicopter tours over the Victoria Falls, has also seen more visitors from Malawi and the southern African region.</p>
<p>“Hopefully, we will have more investors coming in to build more hotels, bigger hotels. We want more airlines coming here,” said Machaka, standing by one of his helicopters.</p>
<p><strong>FRESH START?</strong></p>
<p>Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines now fly direct to Victoria Falls’s smart new airport.</p>
<p>“I feel very safe, the people are welcoming. Getting the visa was really easy,” said Canadian tourist Katelyn Pretzlaff.</p>
<p>French tourist Patrice Lehmann, who was visiting the Victoria Falls for the third time, said: “It’s one of the most impressive things I have seen in my life.”</p>
<p>Zimbabwe has also removed the notorious police roadblocks that had become a constant annoyance for motorists. Typically, drivers reluctantly paid bribes to evade long questioning over minor alleged offences.</p>
<p>“The issue of roadblocks – it was a disaster, a real problem,” the minister admitted.</p>
<p>Authorities have launched an aggressive drive to “reassure the world that Zimbabwe is open for business, Zimbabwe is a safe, peaceful tourist destination,” Mupfumira said.</p>
<p>Alongside “Vic Falls”, the country’s highlights include Lake Kariba, the vast game-filled national parks of Hwange and Mana Pools, and the Eastern Highlands mountains.</p>
<p>Mnangagwa, a former ally of Mugabe, has vowed to hold a clean election next week as proof of the country’s fresh start, but many critics say the same ZANU-PF party chiefs still call the shots.</p>
<p>Mnangagwa is the favourite to win, but any dispute or violence over a close result could spell a return to instability.</p>
</div>
<br />
Zimbabwe edges back onto tourist map Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Zimbabwe edges back onto tourist map

Zimbabwe edges back onto tourist map

Zimbabwe edges back onto tourist map An aerial view of the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River at the border between Zambia and Zimba...

Vietnam’s high quality aviation industry takes off

Vietnam’s high quality aviation industry takes off
<div>
<div>
<div>It will be good opportunity for airlines. Vietnam’s young aviation industry is a high-profile example of the many sectors benefiting from the country’s tremendous growth. The Vietnamese people are eager to spend their rising disposable incomes to pay for their trips by air.</div>
<div>Aviation market in Vietnam has seen impressive growth with the rate of 15 percent during ten years. In the first quarter of 2018, the market surged 17 percent, higher than the forecast with 34 million passengers in international and domestic flights.</div>
<div>In addition to a surge in local travelers, record numbers of foreign tourists are visiting Vietnam.</div>
<div>Outbound and inbound airport passenger checks increased over 20 percent mostly in cheap flights in South Korea and China while there has been a reduction in European countries even lower than forecast by 4.7 percent because of visa-issuance policies in German and the UK.</div>
<div>Home market has grown slowly yet it leaped by 7.7 percent with 16.8 million passengers. Highlights of Vietnam’s aviation in 2018 is that more firms hire a flight for their staffs’ trip with growth rate year-on-year rise of more than 70 percent.</div>
<div>Though skyrocketing fuel is impeding the country’s aviation activities, its market still showed positive sign in the first half of 2018 with growth rate of 15 percent.</div>
<div>Amongst carriers in the market, Vietnam Airlines takes the lead. It announced pre-tax profit in the first six months was VND1,920 billion, a robust growth compared to the same period last year.</div>
<div>In the year, the national carrier has carried 13.7 million passengers in 65,800 flight, a year-on-year surge of 5 percent.</div>
<div>Best way to retain passengers is to improve its quality to meet demand; accordingly, Vietnam Airline has continuously upgraded its service. For instance, it invited Vietnamese- Australian celebrity chef Luke Nguyen to bring Vietnamese cuisine to the world.</div>
<div>In July this year, it was certified as a 4-Star Airline by the international air transport rating organization SKYTRAX for three consecutive years.</div>
<p>By MINH TUE – Translated by UYEN PHUONG</p>
</div>
<div>
<h3>Tags:</h3>
<div><a>Vietnam Airline</a> <a>high quality</a> <a>aviation industry</a> <a>takes off</a> <a>Vietnamese- Australian chef Luke Nguyen</a> <a>4-Star Airline</a> <a>SKYTRAX</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Vietnam’s high quality aviation industry takes off Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam’s high quality aviation industry takes off

Vietnam’s high quality aviation industry takes off

Vietnam’s high quality aviation industry takes off It will be good opportunity for airlines. Vietnam’s young aviation industry is a high-p...

Da Nang tourism makes spectacular leap in past decade

Da Nang tourism makes spectacular leap in past decade
<div>
<div><span>A corner of Da Nang city (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p><strong><br />
Hanoi (VNA) –</strong> Da Nang city has made a “spectacular” leap forward in tourism development over the past decade, said Chairman of Da Nang Tourism Association Huynh Tan Vinh.</p>
<p>Located between two famous destinations of the ancient imperial capital of Hue and the ancient port city of Hoi An, Da Nang used to be merely a transit point without any outstanding attractions.</p>
<p>Deciding to make tourism a spearhead sector, the city has invested in infrastructure, adopted policies to attract investors and created its own events, such as the international fireworks festival and international sport tournaments.</p>
<p>The efforts have paid off, with a three-fold increase in the number of visitors from 1.2 million in 2008 to 6.6 million in 2017 and a ten-fold rise in tourism revenues, from 2 trillion VND in 2008 to nearly 20 trillion VND last year.</p>
<p>Chairman of Da Nang Tourism Association Huynh Tan Vinh noted that in the past decade, hotel rooms in the central city have increased 10 fold to over 28,800, with the arrival of big brands like InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Novotel, Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa, Vinpearl and Pullman.  </p>
<p>According to deputy director of the municipal Department of Tourism Tran Chi Cuong, the municipal People’s Committee is implementing a tourism development project this year with a total cost of 14.4 billion VND (629,582 USD).</p>
<p>The project aims to improve quality of services and develop various forms of tourism such as ecological tourism, village tourism and waterway tourism, he revealed.</p>
<p>Statistics from the municipal Department of Tourism showed that the number of visitors to the city grew at an annual average rate of 20.06 percent in 2013-2017.</p>
<p>Over the past decade, the central coastal city has also made it into many top-ten lists in the world.</p>
<p>Da Nang was named in the top 10 holiday places in Asia of the prestigious online tourism magazine Smart Travel Asia and top 10 fresh destinations of the global online accommodation reservation provider Agoda in 2013.</p>
<p>The listing has enabled the city to reach out further to the world, according to Amir Ahmad Mohamad, general manager of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Plaza Hotel Da Nang.</p>
<p>Da Nang International Airport was ranked third among the best airports in the world in 2014, according to a survey by Dragon Air.</p>
<p>The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort won the Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort in 2014 thanks to its perfect combination of traditional beauty and modern, luxurious standards.</p>
<p>The US’s Forbes Magazine selected My Khe Beach in Da Nang as one of the six most attractive beaches on the planet in 2013.</p>
<p>The cable line that takes visitors to the peak of Ba Na Hills at an altitude of 1,487 metres in just 17 minutes and is able to carry 3,000 passengers per hour won four Guinness Records in 2013.</p>
<p>The US’s New York Times listed Da Nang among 52 places to go in 2015.</p>
<p>On the list of the world’s top 10 destinations for 2018 compiled by the online marketplace and hospitality service Airbnb, Da Nang was ranked fifth in booking surges of up to 255 percent.</p>
<p>This year, the city was ranked the second most popular destination for solo or couple travellers, according to the Republic of Korea’s Ticket Monster Inc.</p>
<p>The website said people who plan to travel abroad with family members often chose Da Nang.</p>
<p>The RoK is expected to surpass Chinese tourists and become the biggest group of visitors to Da Nang in the near future.</p>
<p>According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Da Nang was said to be the best place to live in Vietnam with many world-recognised records.-VNA</p>
</div>
<br />
Da Nang tourism makes spectacular leap in past decade Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Da Nang tourism makes spectacular leap in past decade

Da Nang tourism makes spectacular leap in past decade

Da Nang tourism makes spectacular leap in past decade A corner of Da Nang city (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Da Nang city has made a “spect...

Charter flights take off in Vietnam

Charter flights take off in Vietnam
<div>
<p>(VEN) – Some 100 charter flights between Vietnam’s southern Can Tho city and major cities in China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and other Asian countries will be launched in the coming months as package tour operators increase the use of charter flights to and from Vietnam.</p>
<div>
<p>A total of 28 charter flights between Can Tho and Thailand’s capital Bangkok will be launched during the June-August period, serving some 5,000 passengers, the World Transportation Services Joint Stock Company (WorldTrans) said. Jetstar Pacific announced that it would operate charter flights to China during the third quarter of this year. In July and August 2018, the airline will offer additional charter flights from Da Nang to Fuzhou twice weekly.</p>
<p>Vietjet revenues from leasing air charters have surged from VND412 billion in 2014 to more than VND2.63 trillion in 2016. On average, one in every four of its flights is an air charter.</p>
<p>Charterer flight buyers benefit from fast airport check-in and even visa exemptions for customers of their prioritized travel service partners. Package tour buyers can also enjoy better prices for hotels, food and other services. A charter flight tour to Fukushima (Japan) or Bodgaya (India), offered by Vietravel Hanoi, for example, costs 30 percent less than a conventional flight tour.</p>
<p>Some major Vietnamese travel companies have begun cooperating with carriers and localities to organize charter flights, but smaller tour companies are out of the game. TSTtouris Marketing Director Nguyen Minh Man said his company must carefully consider whether to buy charter flights, as it needs to ensure that it can sell all or most of the seats if it is to avoid losses. Only big, high-class travel companies dare to buy charter flights, Man said.</p>
<p>Indeed, several top travel companies in Vietnam, including Saigontourist, Vietravel, Vietrantour, and TSTtouris, are buying charter flights. Since 2017, Vietravel has bought about 70 charter flights, carrying 11,000 visitors to Thailand, China, the RoK, and Japan. Meanwhile Vietrantour began offering charter flight tours in 2016 and has attracted about 10,000 charter flight tour buyers per year.</p>
<p>The introduction of charter flights also brings a large number of foreign visitors to major domestic tourist cities.</p>
<p>Da Nang International Airport is now connected with 20 destinations in the world, including 14 charter flights to major cities in China. Nha Trang also attracts a high number of foreign visitors thanks to charter flights, most of them from Russia and China.</p>
<p>According to travel experts, 2018 will see a surge in charter flights. The development of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions) tourism is expected to contribute to charter flight development.</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p><span>Charter flights are expected to become a hit with travel companies, and the number of charter flight tour buyers in</span></p>
<p><span>Vietnam is expected to increase strongly.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Bao Thoa</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Charter flights take off in Vietnam Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Charter flights take off in Vietnam

Charter flights take off in Vietnam

Charter flights take off in Vietnam (VEN) – Some 100 charter flights between Vietnam’s southern Can Tho city and major cities in China, Jap...

Cyclo tour – a leisurely sightseeing experience in Hue

Cyclo tour – a leisurely sightseeing experience in Hue
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>On the cyclo, visitors will have an unobstructed view as they move slowly enough to see everything along the street, while learning all about the city through the drivers’ guidance.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>“For just VND150,000, you can travel across the city.” The ads spoken in an authentic Hue accent by cyclo drivers are too attractive for visitors to deny.</p>
<p>On the cyclo, painted green or purple, visitors will have an unobstructed view as they move slowly enough to see everything along the street, listening to the clicking sounds when pedalling while learning all about the city through the drivers’ guidance.</p>
<p>There are around 5,000 registered cyclos in Hue, which are available at every corner of the city’s tourist attractions: around the Imperial city, along Huong (Perfume) River, Truong Tien Bridge, and Dong Ba Market.</p>
<p>Not only serving tourists, cyclos are also used in weddings and engagement ceremonies in Hue.</p>
<p>Looking back to the past, when living conditions were more difficult, cyclos were the major means of transport for ordinary people, particularly among the poor who couldn’t afford to have their own vehicles.</p>
<p>As urbanisation and modernisation have gradually reached the city, xe om bikers and taxis have become dominant on the streets. It was thought that cyclos would be replaced and disappear. However, the cycle rickshaws are still busily pedalling across the city.</p>
<p>Since Hue has become an attractive destination for visitors to Vietnam’s central region, cyclo tours have received more appreciation from both tourists and local authorities, helping to improve the living conditions of cyclo drivers.</p>
<p>According to a veteran cyclo driver, a standard cyclo should not be so high as to subject passengers to strong breezes, while it should not be so low that passengers are unable to take in the sights.</p>
<p>During the tour, visitors can stop by any place they want to take photos or taste local dishes while the drivers wait politely nearby.</p>
<p>Cyclo tour – a leisurely sightseeing experience in Hue, travel news, Vietnam guide, Vietnam airlines, Vietnam tour, tour Vietnam, Hanoi, ho chi minh city, Saigon, travelling to Vietnam, Vietnam travelling, Vietnam travel, vn news</p>
<p>A standard cyclo should not be so high as to subject passengers to strong breezes, while it should not be so low that passengers are unable to take in the sights</p>
<p>According to cyclo driver Nguyen Van Tuan, who has 50 years of working experience, the job is seasonal, from Tet (lunar New Year) festival to the seventh lunar month, when the weather is favourable for passengers to take a cyclo tour. From the seventh lunar month to the end of the year, it is rainy season.</p>
<p>Visitors often dub cyclo drivers in Hue as a living dictionary as they can narrate detailed stories about the imperial city in the past as well as present day. They also have a bunch of great tips, what to do, where to go, what to eat, where and how to buy souvenirs at the most reasonable prices.</p>
<p>Often serving foreigners, it is not surprising that some drivers can speak both English and French fluently.</p>
<p>Since the 1970s and 1980s, every cyclo had to be registered with a number plate. However, over recent years, a number of cyclos have been operating without registration, and they often play tricks and show bad behaviour towards tourists.</p>
<p>Consequently, the unregistered cyclos, which have been reported in local newspapers as well as on tourist forums for foreigners, can leave international visitors unwilling to use the service and it can also damage the image of the city’s tourism sector.</p>
<p>To address the problem, trade unions of cyclo drivers have been established, which run under the management of Hue City Trade Union, in order to provide proper training in communication skills and the provision of tourist information for the drivers.</p>
</div>
<br />
Cyclo tour – a leisurely sightseeing experience in Hue Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Cyclo tour – a leisurely sightseeing experience in Hue

Cyclo tour – a leisurely sightseeing experience in Hue

Cyclo tour – a leisurely sightseeing experience in Hue On the cyclo, visitors will have an unobstructed view as they move slowly enou...

Vietnam Airlines reschedules flights due to storm Ampil

Vietnam Airlines reschedules flights due to storm Ampil

Vietnam Airlines reschedules flights due to storm Ampil

Vietnam Airlines reschedules flights due to storm Ampil Accordingly, flights between Hanoi/HCMC and Shanghai, including VN522, VN523, VN53...

Former imperial city of Hue to build tourism mart

Former imperial city of Hue to build tourism mart
<div>
<div><span>The famed Truong Tien Bridge in Hue at sunset. Hue is to offer visitors a place for muster with modern look (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p><strong>Thua Thien-Hue (VNS/VNA)</strong> – The former imperial city of Hue in central Thua Thien-Hue province plans to develop a complex featuring a hotel, leasing offices, shopping malls and tourist recreation facility to offer something new from the heritage monuments in the former imperial capital.</p>
<p>Local authorities called the complex a tourism mart. According to the local tourism department, the mart will be a righteous place for visitors to Hue to enjoy.</p>
<p>The mart will be built at An Dong, a new urban zone east of the city. It will be built around a lake surrounded with trees, creating a green and natural ambiance.</p>
<p>Under the mart’s master plan approved by local authorities in early July, the mart’s core will also include a square and small parks.</p>
<p>The core nearby areas will be reserved for a tourist information centre, a trade centre, a floating market and duty-free stores.</p>
<p>Hotel facilities and leasing offices will be located in the rear of the mart, with a hotel capable of housing 320 people each day.</p>
<p>In the area beside the mart, authorities plan to build a residential area with room for 1,200 residents.</p>
<p>Authorities also plan to place public toilets along the roads in the mart and a separate system for collecting rubbish.-VNS/VNA</p>
</div>
<br />
Former imperial city of Hue to build tourism mart Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Former imperial city of Hue to build tourism mart

Former imperial city of Hue to build tourism mart

Former imperial city of Hue to build tourism mart The famed Truong Tien Bridge in Hue at sunset. Hue is to offer visitors a place for muste...

HCM City in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 list

HCM City in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 list
<div>
<div>
<div>The most famous travel guide book said that “Though long heralded as hip, Vietnam’s southern supercity somehow keeps getting cooler. Aging apartment blocks are being colonised by vintage clothes stores and independent coffee shops, innovative breweries like Heart of Darkness and East West Brewing are fuelling one of the best craft beer scenes in Southeast Asia, and a selection of eclectic venues are strengthening the local music scene.</div>
<div>Add these recent developments to the city’s essential long-standing attractions like the War Remnants Museum, which details HCMC’s recent history in eye-opening displays, a pioneering street food scene and accommodation suited to all standards – not forgetting superb flight connections – and it appears this buzzing Asian megalopolis is in no danger of going out of style.”</div>
<div>According to the HCMC Department of TourismHo Chi Minh City received more than 3.8 million international visitors in the first 6 months, a 26.5 percent higher than in the same period last year, and reached 51 percent of this year’s target. The city’s tourism sector earned VND62,600 billion (US$2.7 billion), up 15.7 percent compared to the last year and achieved 45 percent of the target in this year.</div>
<div>According to the Ho Chi Minh City Statistics Office, a foreign tourist spent averagely VND3.3 million (US$145) per day and stayed 5.21 days in 2017. The number of international visitors who have an average length of stay of 4-7 days accounted for 48 percent of the total while the survey showed that 40 percent of international travelers had a stay of 8-14 days. A domestic holiday maker spends averagely VND1.58 million a day. The number of local visitors who have an average length of stay of 1-3 days accounted for 61.1 percent of the total while the number of people had a stay of 4-7 days accounted for 40 percent.</div>
<div>Lonely Planet’s travel experts voted Busan in first place ahead of Uzbekistan.  </div>
<div>Western Ghats in India  was ranked the fourth after Nagasaki in Japan, Thailand’s Chiang Mai, Nepal’s Lumbini, Arugam Bay in  Sri Lanka, Sichuan in China and Komodo National Park in Indonesia.</div>
<p>By GIA HAN – Translated by Kim Khanh</p>
</div>
<div>
<h3>Tags:</h3>
<div><a>Ho Chi Minh City</a> <a>Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 list</a> <a>top ten places to visit in Asia in 2018</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
HCM City in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 list Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

HCM City in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 list

HCM City in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 list

HCM City in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 list The most famous travel guide book said that “Though long heralded as hip, Vietnam’s s...

Emirates to offer passengers flying to and through Dubai exceptional summer experiences across the city

Emirates to offer passengers flying to and through Dubai exceptional summer experiences across the city
<div>
<p>(VEN) – Airline partners with hotels and entertainment providers to offer visitors a memorable summer stay in Dubai from July 1st until 30th September 2018. Emirates passengers can take advantage of hotel packages as low as USD $49 a night.</p>
<div>
<p>Travellers who are yet to decide on summer plans can take advantage of attractive holiday packages to Dubai by simply flying with Emirates. Upon booking, passengers can avail exclusive rates at world-class hotels, enjoy outstanding entertainment and experience theme parks across Dubai, including tickets to some of the city’s world-class shows and attractions.</p>
<p>Customers can experience Dubai starting at USD $49 a night (~VND1,130,000), applicable to two guests per room, at Rove Dubai Marina – located in the city’s stylish waterfront district. The package also includes two complimentary tickets to visit Dubai Parks and Resorts – the largest integrated theme park destination in the region, featuring Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park.</p>
<p>In Downtown Dubai, travellers can experience the finest shopping and restaurants as well as admire the iconic architecture. The bustling central area offers several hotel options including Rove Downtown, Manzil Downtown and Address Downtown. Customers who prefer to stay in this area can avail special rates across any of these three hotels.</p>
<p>Rove Downtown offers USD $99 (~VND2,290,000) a night package for two guests with each receiving a complimentary Virtual Reality Park ticket to Dubai’s brand new virtual reality theme park located at Dubai Mall – the world’s largest and most visited retail and entertainment destination.</p>
<p>Manzil Downtown offers USD $149 (~VND3,450,000) a night package for two guests per room, including two complimentary tickets to La Perle – the city’s theatrical showcase, which transports its audience with interactive experience around Dubai’s past, present and future.</p>
<p>Customers can also choose to avail packages at Address Downtown for USD $199 (~VND4,600,000) a night for two guests – inclusive of complimentary tickets to visit At The Top, Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building in the world, where guests can experience stunning 360 degree views of the city at 456 meters.</p>
<p>Visitors who wish to spend a couple of days in Dubai ahead of their next destination, or for those who planning to stay in the city, can take advantage of these offers by simply booking their flight online through a travel agent or local Emirates Sales Office, and choosing their preferred offer. Packages must be booked online at least 24 hours prior to arrival and passengers are requested to present their Emirates ticket at the hotel check-in.</p>
<p>The offer is valid for any Emirates booking made from July 1st until 29th September 2018 and for hotel stays between 1st July and 30th September, 2018.</p>
<p>Emirates offers customers travel options and unsurpassed connectivity to 159 destinations in 85 countries. Passengers can enjoy the airline’s award winning in-flight entertainment system with up to 3,500 channels and up to 20MB complimentary on-board Wi-Fi, LIVE TV, as well as regionally inspired meals on-board prepared by award-winning chefs.</p>
<p>Minh Ky</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Emirates to offer passengers flying to and through Dubai exceptional summer experiences across the city Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Emirates to offer passengers flying to and through Dubai exceptional summer experiences across the city

Emirates to offer passengers flying to and through Dubai exceptional summer experiences across the city

Emirates to offer passengers flying to and through Dubai exceptional summer experiences across the city (VEN) – Airline partners with hotel...

HCM City listed as third best Asian tourist spot in 2018

HCM City listed as third best Asian tourist spot in 2018
<div>
<div><span>Foreign tourists at the War Remnant Museum in HCM City (Photo: VNA)<br /></span></div>
<p><strong>Hanoi, (VNA)</strong> – “Though it has long been heralded as a hip destination, Vietnam’s southern supercity somehow keeps getting cooler” is how Lonely Planet describes Ho Chi Minh City which it has named the third best place to visit in Asia this year.</p>
<p>The US-based travel guide book publisher listed Ho Chi Minh City alongside places like Busan (the Republic of Korea), Uzbekistan, Western Ghats (India), Nagasaki (Japan), Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Sichuan (China) in the “Best of Asia 2018: the Asian Destinations You Should See Now.”</p>
<p>With more than 3.83 million foreign arrivals in the first half of this year, the city continues to soar up the popularity charts, seducing globetrotters with its local music scene, craft beers, street food, and nightlife.  </p>
<p>“Aging apartment blocks are being colonised by vintage clothes stores and independent coffee shops, innovative breweries like Heart of Darkness and East West Brewing are fuelling one of the best craft beer scenes in Southeast Asia, and a selection of eclectic venues are strengthening the local music scene,” the Lonely Planet guide said.</p>
<p>The site named the War Remnants Museum one of the essential long-standing attractions which details HCMC’s recent history in eye-opening displays. It also praises the local pioneering street food scene and accommodation which is suited to different demands.</p>
<p>“It appears this buzzing Asian megalopolis is in no danger of going out of style,” the site said.</p>
<p>International visitors to HCM City on average spent 145 USD a day and stayed for 5.21 days last year, according to a survey carried out by the city’s Department of Tourism and Statistics Bureau.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, domestic travellers spent a daily average of 1.58 million VND (69 USD) and stayed for 3.6 days.</p>
<p>Last year, one of the UK’s most respected travel sites, Rough Guides, released a list of eight best nighttime experiences in Southeast Asia, with Ho Chi Minh City coming second on the list, offering a celebrated nightlife experience. –VNA</p>
</div>
<br />
HCM City listed as third best Asian tourist spot in 2018 Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

HCM City listed as third best Asian tourist spot in 2018

HCM City listed as third best Asian tourist spot in 2018

HCM City listed as third best Asian tourist spot in 2018 Foreign tourists at the War Remnant Museum in HCM City (Photo: VNA) Hanoi, (VNA) ...

Da Nang welcomes first direct flight from Daegu

Da Nang welcomes first direct flight from Daegu

Da Nang welcomes first direct flight from Daegu

Da Nang welcomes first direct flight from Daegu The daily flight takes the travel time around four hours and 15 minutes. The airplane will...

More foreign travelers to HCMC choose self guided tours

More foreign travelers to HCMC choose self guided tours
<div>
<p>Many foreign travelers are creating their own tours to HCM City instead of booking package tours at travel agencies.</p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>More travelers choose self-planned tours</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The number of self-guided domestic travelers is also high, but most Vietnamese appear to prefer package tours.</p>
<p>A survey on the length of stay and average expenditures of travelers to HCM City conducted in 2017 by the HCM City Statistics Office and the Tourism Department found a growing tendency of self-planned tours.</p>
<p>Sixty-nine percent of polled foreign travelers said they chose self-planned tours, while the remaining said they would book tours at travel agencies.</p>
<p>Travel firms confirmed that many travelers book partial services, rather than book package tours. After arriving in HCM City, travelers choose the next destination themselves.</p>
<p>Travel firms confirmed that many travelers book partial services, rather than book package tours. After arriving in HCM City, travelers choose the next destination themselves.</p>
<p>However, package tours provided by travel firms still prevail. “The majority of travelers still buy package tours, but the number buying partial services is on the rise,” said Bui Viet Thuy Tien, CEO of Asian Trails.</p>
<p>Nguyen Son Thuy, CEO of Duy Nhat Dong Duong Travel, also said self-planned travelers are mostly from near markets.</p>
<p>Travelers from Malaysia, for example, don’t book package tours, but they fly to HCMC with air tickets they book themselves and reserve hotel rooms in the Ben Thanh Market area.</p>
<p>After arriving in HCM City, they go to domestic travel agencies to book tours to Mekong Delta’s provinces, or tour HCM City.</p>
<p>The travelers from faraway markets prefer package tours, but a high number of European travelers now tend to book online.</p>
<p>“They only buy tours to do sighseeing, not package tours with full services provided by travel firms,” Thuy said. “The trend began some years ago and it has been growing.”</p>
<p>The survey also found that the proportion of Vietnamese self-guided travelers to HCM City was even higher than foreign travelers – 80.9 percent last year. However, comparing three surveys in 2005, 2011 and 2017, the number of travelers using package tours is on the rise.</p>
<p>In 2005, the number of travelers using package tours accounted for 11.9 percent. The figure rose to 16 percent in 2011 and to 19.1 percent in 2017.</p>
<p>The surveyors explained that Vietnamese travelers tend to choose package tours because the tour fees have become more attractive.</p>
<p>Travel firms can cooperate well with service providers (food, accommodation and transport services) to slash the selling prices.</p>
<p>Analysts have also found that the number of domestic travelers coming by air has increased sharply. Only 16 percent of travelers flew to HCM City in 2015, while the figure rose to 41.5 percent in 2017.</p>
</div>
<p>Vietnamnet</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
More foreign travelers to HCMC choose self guided tours Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

More foreign travelers to HCMC choose self guided tours

More foreign travelers to HCMC choose self guided tours

More foreign travelers to HCMC choose self guided tours Many foreign travelers are creating their own tours to HCM City instead of booking ...

Cheaper ticket launched for Hanoi tourist buses

Cheaper ticket launched for Hanoi tourist buses
<div>
<p>The Hanoi Transport Service Company (Transerco) has introduced the new ticket price for its double-decker tour bus service.</p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The double-decker tour bus service in Hanoi</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The new ticket which is VND196,000 (USD8.91) for a two-hour tour will be applied from July 10. The new ticket will exclude the hop-on, hop-off service, which means passengers need not get off the bus during the entire trip to 30 attractions in the city.</p>
<p>The company has also proposed launching a double-decker bus night tour from August 1, starting at 7:30 pm or 8:30 pm every day.</p>
<p>The current double-decker bus tour prices are VND300,000 (USD13.30) for a four-hour tour, VND450,000 (USD20) for 24 hours and VND650,000 (USD28.80) for 48 hours.</p>
<p>On May 30, Hanoi launched its first double-decker city tour, with hop-on and hop-off at 13 stops, running through 25 streets and taking tourists to 30 destinations in the city.</p>
<p>The bus arrives every 30 minutes from 9 am to 5 pm every day. Tourists can choose to join or stop the tour at any bus stop along the route. The buses are equipped with an automatic multi-lingual narration system in Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.</p>
<p>Transerco Deputy Director Nguyen Cong Nhat said that after nearly one month on trial, the results remained modest. Transerco has been selling 70 tickets in a day on an average, mainly to foreign tourists.</p>
<p>The main reasons for the poor results were high ticket prices and hot weather, he added.</p>
</div>
<p>Lao Dong/ DTiNews</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Cheaper ticket launched for Hanoi tourist buses Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Cheaper ticket launched for Hanoi tourist buses

Cheaper ticket launched for Hanoi tourist buses

Cheaper ticket launched for Hanoi tourist buses The Hanoi Transport Service Company (Transerco) has introduced the new ticket price for its...

Hanoi’s open top bus to run during evenings from August 1

Hanoi’s open top bus to run during evenings from August 1
<div>
<div><span>A double-decker bus near Hoan Kiem lake (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p><strong>Hanoi (VNA)</strong> – The Hanoi Transport Service Company (Transerco) will launch an open top double-decker night-tour bus from 7:30pm to 8:30pm from August 1 to attract more passengers.</p>
<p>The 80-seat double-decker buses have 13 stops going through more than 30 famous attractions, allowing travelers to explore and experience the city without the need for tour guides.</p>
<p>The operation time of the day service is from 9am to 6:10pm. Buses will depart every 30 minutes. Ticket prices are 300,000 VND (13.2 USD) for a four-hour tour, 450,000 VND (19.8 USD) for 24 hours, and 650,000 VND (28.6 USD) for 48 hours.</p>
<p>From July 20, Transerco will offer new kinds of services for its customers. A new, cheaper ticket worth 196,000 VND (8.43 USD) will exclude the ‘hop on, hop off’ service, meaning the ticket can only be used for one single bus ride. </p>
<p>After being put into operation, the double-decker bus service has attracted the attention of both local people and tourists. The bus route is equipped with automatic multi-lingual narration systems in Vietnamese, English, Chinese, German, Spanish, Japanese, and French.</p>
<p>Before the double-decker bus service, tourists had to pay more for travelling costs to explore the capital city. Now, tourists can hop on and hop off at 30 attractions as many times they want with only one ticket.</p>
<p>In the first six months of the year, Transerco replaced 29 vehicles on bus route No.23 and 26. It transported 30 million passengers during the period, up 102 percent year-on-year. -VNA</p>
</div>
<br />
Hanoi’s open top bus to run during evenings from August 1 Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Hanoi’s open top bus to run during evenings from August 1

Hanoi’s open top bus to run during evenings from August 1

Hanoi’s open top bus to run during evenings from August 1 A double-decker bus near Hoan Kiem lake (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi Tr...

Hundreds of Vietjet tickets priced VND0 at Myanmar International Tourism Expo 2018

Hundreds of Vietjet tickets priced VND0 at Myanmar International Tourism Expo 2018
<div>
<p>Vietjet will attend Myanmar International Tourism Expo 2018 during July 20-22, 2018 at Tatmadaw Exhibition Hall (Yangon) offering visitors many exciting activities.  </p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vietjet will attend the Myanmar International Tourism Expo 2018</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Visitors will have the chance to attend the lucky draw to receive free Vietjet tickets, interesting gifts, play funny “Vietjet Skyfun” games, enjoyed exciting performances and take pictures with beautiful, friendly cabin crews.</p>
<p>Especially at the event, Vietjet will give 200 super promotional tickets priced only from VND0 at two time frames: 3-4 PM (on July 20, 21, 22, 2018) and 10.30–11.30 AM (on July 21, 22, 2018).</p>
<p>The promotional tickets are applied for Hanoi – Yangon (Myanmar) route with flight period from now to December 31, 2018 (except for national holidays in Myanmar and Vietnam).</p>
<p>Since its first flight to Yangon in 2015, Vietjet has contributed an important role in connecting, promoting cooperation relationship between two countries, met the travel, trading demands of tourists as well as people of two countries.</p>
<p>Aiming to “Consumer Airline”, Vietjet is continually opening new routes, adding more aircraft, investing in modern technology and offering more added-on products and services to serve all demands of customers.</p>
<p>Vietjet is a pioneering airline that is loved by many for its exciting promotional and entertainment programmes, especially during the festive season. With high-quality services, diverse ticket classes and special low-fare tickets, Vietjet offers its passengers flying experiences on new aircraft with comfy seats, delicious hot meals, beautiful and friendly cabin crews, and other interesting added-on services.</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vietjet will launch hundreds of VND0-tickets at the Myanmar International Tourism Expo 2018</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Vietjet Air is the first airline in Vietnam that operates a low-cost, modernised carrier model to provide a wide range of services to its customers.</p>
<p>Apart from air transportation, the airline also provides consumer goods and services to the customers through the application of advanced e-commerce technology.</p>
<p>Vietjet is an official member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) with IOSA Safety Certificate. In addition to the “Top 500 Leading Brands in Asia 2016” and “Best Recruiting Brand in Asia” for many consecutive years, Vietjet is also honored to be the Best Asian Low Cost Carrier awarded by TTG Travel Award in 2015. Besides that, Vietjet is also honored as the Top 3 Fastest Growing Facebook Fanpage award by Socialbakers.</p>
<p>Currently, Vietjet operates 60 A320, A321 aircraft with more than 385 flights daily, carrying more than 60 million passengers up to date, with 93 routes covering destinations in Vietnam as well as international destinations such as Hongkong, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, among others.</p>
<p>Vietjet plans to expand its network across the Asia Pacific region and is continuing to expand its regional network.</p>
</div>
<p>By <a>Tuan Khanh</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Hundreds of Vietjet tickets priced VND0 at Myanmar International Tourism Expo 2018 Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Hundreds of Vietjet tickets priced VND0 at Myanmar International Tourism Expo 2018

Hundreds of Vietjet tickets priced VND0 at Myanmar International Tourism Expo 2018

Hundreds of Vietjet tickets priced VND0 at Myanmar International Tourism Expo 2018 Vietjet will attend Myanmar International Tourism Expo 2...

Primitive landscape turns mountainous village into tourist site

Primitive landscape turns mountainous village into tourist site
<div>
<div><span>Si Thau Chai  tourism village (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p>Lai Chau, VNA – The primitive landscape in parallel with time-honoured cultural values preserved by local people have helped turn Si Thau Thai village in Tam Duong district, the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau into a charming community-based tourist destination.</p>
<p>Si Thau Chai village is located about 40 km from Lai Chau city. The village in Ho Thau commune, Tam Duong district, is home to 62 households of Dao ethnic people.</p>
<div><span>Dao ethnic people in the village (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p>Situated 1,400m above sea level, Si Thau Chai village boasts cool weather all year round.</p>
<p>The village with its natural beauty has now become a spotlight in developing community-based tourism in the mountainous province and an ideal tourist destination in northern Vietnam.</p>
<p>“This tourist site is simple but very clean and pretty,” said Nong Thi Sam, a visitor from Lai Chau city. “Next time I will invite more friends to come.”</p>
<div><span>Nong Thi Sam, tourist (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p>Coming to the community-based tourism village, tourists have a chance to experience the daily life of locals. The model has also helped local households improve their living standards.</p>
<p>“Under the instruction of local authorities, we learnt the model from other villages. We keep our village clean to attract tourists. The model has helped improve our living conditions,”  Tan A Diu, a Dao ethnic in the village said.</p>
<p>Tourists can also enjoy the picturesque Tac Tinh waterfall when visiting Si Thau Chai village. The waterfall’s pristine beauty was considered a stunning picture of the northwestern region.</p>
<div><span>Tac Tinh waterfall (Photo: VNA)</span></div>
<p>The waterfall is part of a sad love story of a Dao ethnic couple who love each other. Locals named the waterfall Tac Tinh in hope the two people could come together in the next life.</p>
<p>With its natural beauty, Si Thau Chai village is a promising destination for anyone.-VNA</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
<br />
Primitive landscape turns mountainous village into tourist site Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Primitive landscape turns mountainous village into tourist site

Primitive landscape turns mountainous village into tourist site

Primitive landscape turns mountainous village into tourist site Si Thau Chai tourism village (Photo: VNA) Lai Chau, VNA – The primitive l...

Anger at plan to curb surfing on Sydney’s iconic Bondi beach

Anger at plan to curb surfing on Sydney’s iconic Bondi beach
<div>
<p>A proposal to ban surfing on most of Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach has triggered anger among the local boardriding community.</p>
<div>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>A surfer takes a wave on Bondi Beach in Sydney. (Photo: AFP/Peter Parks)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Current restrictions confine fibreglass boards to the southern end of the Sydney beach. Softer foam boards popular among novice surfers and children are allowed anywhere, other than inside the flags – a lifesaver-supervised area designated for swimmers.</p>
<p>But Waverley Council, the local government with authority over the beach, is canvassing feedback from residents on a plan to abolish the distinction between hard and soft boards, and instead categorise them as “simply fin or no fin”.</p>
<p>This would force all surfers to the southern end of the 900-metre-long (3,000-foot) beach, where waves are usually bigger and dangerous rip tides more frequent.</p>
<p>Between 50 and 300 people surf Bondi each day, according to the council, with 84 per cent of people in the ocean using the beach outside the flagged area.</p>
<p>In the warmer months the iconic shoreline draws thousands of people.</p>
<p>The council says the change would reduce the risk of people swimming between the flags being hit by a surf craft with fins. But it notes the change would increase surfer congestion and heighten the risk of injury outside the flags.</p>
<p>Surfers slammed the proposal, saying it would crowd too many surfers as well as users of other craft into too small an area, notably creating hazards for novices.</p>
<p>“If they agree with the proposal, there will be nowhere for our kids to learn about the ocean other than sticking them with hundreds of surfers on glass boards with kooks mowing them down,” Bondi Boardriders posted on Facebook Tuesday.</p>
<p>Waverley council on Wednesday called for calm, saying there were no plans to ban surfing on the beach.</p>
<p>“At this stage, we are only seeking feedback and no decision has been made,” it said in a statement.</p>
</div>
<p>AFP</p>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Anger at plan to curb surfing on Sydney’s iconic Bondi beach Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png" width="200" /><br />

Anger at plan to curb surfing on Sydney’s iconic Bondi beach

Anger at plan to curb surfing on Sydney’s iconic Bondi beach

Anger at plan to curb surfing on Sydney’s iconic Bondi beach A proposal to ban surfing on most of Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach has trigge...

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Populars
Comments
Archive

Top