Vietnam Airlines 40% off on domestic fares in 2012

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will apply a discount of 40 percent on their domestic air fares for local travel agencies to promote inbound traveling from now until December 31, according to their southern office.

Vietnam Airlines and the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Tourism will pick certain travel agencies to cooperate in setting up discount tours for Vietnamese tourists.

Travel agencies need to book the tickets 30 days in advance and pay a deposit of 50 percent 14 days before departure.

Flights are on limited hours and are not applicable on national holidays like April 30 or May Day.

With the discount air fares, round trips between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi will cost VND3 million (US$150) per passenger, Ho Chi Minh City-Da Nang VND1.9 million (US$91) and Ho Chi Minh City-Phu Quoc VND1.6 million (US$80).

Tran The Dung, deputy director at the The He Tre tourism company, said this promotional program will make a positive impact on travel agencies, helping them to roll out discount tours to attract domestic travelers.

It is estimated that the fares for tours to central Vietnam and Phu Quoc island will drop by 20 percent compared to current ones.

“Our company will discount a further 8 percent to encourage people to travel inbound,” said Dung.

Bicycling Central Vietnam – Hue to HoiAn

Bicycling Around Hue

Biking through Viet Nam’s central coastal provinces on back roads is an interesting way to explore beautiful landscapes and traditional life during the summer holidays.
It’s a fascinating and enjoyable tour program, which allows tourists to free themselves from crowds and traffic and wind through the villages along more isolated routes.

“We want to create a trip that highlights the natural landscapes of Viet Nam. Foreign tourists can take their time and really experience country life, since they can stop as often as they like on the quiet back roads,” said Ngo Quang Nam, manager of Viet Nam Cycling.

“Tourists feel more carefree on cycling vacations because they don’t have to worry about traffic, which is nerve wrecking for other foreigners who try to drive,” Nam said.

He designed the routes for the tours, and said that a trip from Hue to Hoi An would take at least five days with different stages. He suggested that a team of 15 travelers was a comfortable number.

Starting point

Nam has selected King Khai Dinh Tomb and Duc Son Pagoda near the Huong River as the departure points for the bike tour.

Wheeling and dealing: Cycling has become a favorite for foreign tourists. – Photos Courtesy of Viet Nam Cycling Vacation

Travelers can stop to snap photos of farmers planting vegetables near Huong Canh Village.
After visiting Thien Mu Pagoda, tourists will cruise on the Huong River and tour the royal palaces. A lunch in Hue will help the group refresh themselves after a 30km ride in the morning.

“We also have a van and a truck to carry passengers and bicycles if they need help. If someone on the team is exhausted from biking, they can get in the van,” Nam explained.

The travel agent said he sometimes guides the tours as well.

In the afternoon, the cyclists travel 20km from the Hue suburbs along the Nhu Y River and wind through Thanh Thuy Village, the most-visited fishing village in the area.

The second day from Hue to Lang Co will be a coastal trip as riders cycle along pristine beach of Thuan An, home to fishermen and dotted with aquaculture centers.

Fresh seafood will be on the menu for lunch in Lang Co Town, and tourists will be invited to join in the cooking and preparation with their hosts.

“It’s very interesting because tourists are excited by new cuisine that they have never seen before. Yet they also feel like they are at home,” said tour guide Nguyen Van Quan.

A night stay in the beach town will ease a full day of riding, before they take on the next challenge.

The third day will test their skills and power as they cross the 24km Hai Van mountain pass that links Hue and Da Nang.

The climb is made worth it by the sweeping vistas at the top, where riders can gaze down at a train snaking past the foot of the mountain.

During the 30-minute break on the top of the mountain, tourists can touch clouds and breath fresh air for an unforgettable experience.

Nam O Village in the suburbs of Da Nang will be the second stop for lunch.

Travelers will keep riding from Da Nang to Hoi An where they will spend the night.

The fourth and fifth days of the tour are left open for travelers to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An.

“We arrange a 50-km route for each individual group, depending on their desires and fitness level. Hoi An is the most popular destination for domestic and foreign visitors because of its historic architecture and culture,” Quan explained.

He said the cycling agency also organized routes in other provinces such as Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Nha Trang and the Mekong Delta region.

HUE FESTIVAL

Hue Festival 2012 -

26 countries to participate in the arts and entertainment festival. April 7-15, 2012

26 countries will send 36 art troupes to entertain visitors to the 2012 Hue Festival.

America and Europe will send 14 groups, Asia 11, and the rest will come from other continents, according to the Hue Festival organizers.

France continues its roll as the traditional and special partner in the 2012 festival, making the journey will be the Smooth band (hiphop , funk and jazz), Carabosse troupe from Poitou Charentes region, street band Jazz Combo Box, and artist Francois Audrain.

The Piatnisky Song and Dance Ensemble, specialising in Russian folk music, and the Raduga dancing group will represent Russia at the festival.

Participants from the UK, Belgium, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Australia, Poland, Japan and the Republic of Korea are expected to give entertaining performances at the festival, said organisers.

More than 300 media representatives have registered to cover the event. There will be 17 official government information sponsors, including Vietnam Television (VTV), Voice of Vietnam (VOV), and Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

The festival will take place from April 7-15, 2012, to mark the National Tourism Year in the north-central coastal region of Vietnam.  If you’re traveling to Vietnam doing this time period, you should include the Hue Festival in your plans

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Vietnam Travel – Vietnam Airlines and VietJetAir Announce Low Fares

Two of Vietnam’s airlines have announced new discounts on local and international flights for the next several months for those interested in bargain Vietnam travel.

National carrier Vietnam Airlines is cutting between 20-70 percent off the prices of many domestic flights purchased between March 8-19, charging VND1,199,000 (US$57) for one-way Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City flights and VND777,000 ($37) for flights between Hanoi/HCMC and Hue/Da Nang.

The reduced airfares for Vietnam travel apply for flights made between April 1-26 and September 5 to October 31.

A Monday report by Thoi bao Kinh te Saigon Online quoted a source from Vietnam Airlines as saying the discounted seats will total more than 100,000, or 17 percent of all tickets sold during the promotional period.

Many two-way flights to 26 destinations in Asia, Europe and Australia, covering more than 80,000 seats, will also be discounted to between $49-499 for Vietnam travel.

Two-way tickets from HCMC to Bangkok/Kuala Lumpur/Singapore will cost $49, and $499 between Hanoi/HCMC to London or Paris.

The promotional international tickets also have to be purchased between March 8-19. They are valid for flights made between April 1-11, April 18-25, May 3-31, and September 5 to October 31.

Just before the Vietnam Airlines promotion was announced Monday, the new private budget airline VietJetAir announced domestic fares of VND299,000 ($14) for Hanoi-HCMC flights, before it launches the new routes HCMC – Da Nang on April 27 and Hanoi – Nha Trang on May 19.

VietJetAir said around 30,000 cheap tickets will be sold randomly until 5 p.m. on April 4, for travel period between April 1 to December 31, except for flights between April 27 and May 2, August 31 and September 3, and December 22-25.

Thanh Nien News

Vietnamese Border Crossings – Laos, Cambodia and China

To Laos

There are two border crossings to Laos:

▼ Keo Nua Pass (also known as CaU Treo):
From Hanoi, you can take direct overnight buses to Vientiane, across the border at Cau Treo, 80kms from Vinh City in Vietnam’s Central Provinces. For tickets and information, contact Hanoi’s tours and travel agents, under Travel Contacts.

▼ Lao Bao:
From Hue, direct buses for Savannakhet cross the border at Lao Bao, near Dong Ha in the Central Provinces.

To Cambodia

There are three border crossings to Cambodia:

▼ Moc Bai:
The main overland border crossing to Cambodia is northwest of Ho Chi Minh City at Moc Bai (in Tay Ninh Province). Direct buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh take around eight hours. Tickets cost between $8-16.

▼ Vinh Xuong:
A new riverside border crossing called Vinh Xuong is located 30kms north of Chau Doc, in the Mekong Delta at Vinh Xuong. For boat transfers up the Mekong River to Phnom Penh,

▼ Tinh Bien:
The third international border between Cambodia and Vietnam had been opened at Tinh Bien, about 25 km west of Chau Doc.

To China
There are three border crossings over China:

▼ Lao Cai – Ha Khau
The Hekou Bridge overland border to China is at Lao Cai, (the main train station for Sapa) in the northwest. Twice weekly trains also run from Hanoi to Kunming in China; you can also board the train at Lao Cai Train Station. .

▼ Mong Cai – Dong Hung
The Mong Cai – Dong Hung – the third border crossing China can be found at Mong Cai Town, northeastern of Vietnam. To get there, you can get hydrofoils direct from Hai Phong or Ha Long (see hidrofoils).

Contact the main boat jetties in town for tickets & information.

▼ Huu Nghi:
Huu Nghi is an overland border of 18kms north of Lang Son, in the northeast. From Hanoi, minibuses depart from Gia Lam Bus Station for Lang Son. There are also local trains from Hanoi, which stop at Dong Dang Station, 4kms away from Huu Nghi. The international train for China (Beijing) departs Hanoi’s main train station via Dong Dang Station, but you can only join the train at Hanoi.

Taxi service in Haiphong

Names and contacts of taxi companies in Haiphong

1. Hoa Phuong Taxi
Tel: 641 641

2. Mai Linh Taxi
Tel: 833 660

3. Xuan Truong Taxi
Tel: 747 747/ 84 84 84

4. Family Taxi
Tel: 767 767

5. Vu Gia Taxi
Tel: 778 778

6. Viet Phuong Taxi
Tel: 82 82 82

7. Hai Phong Taxi
Tel: 838 383/ 841 999

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ENJOY TRAVELING TO VIETNAM!

GOOD LUCK!

Here are step by step instructions for getting a Vietnam Travel Visa in the United Kingdom.  These instructions apply to just about every country in the world with a Vietnam Embassy.

http://london.stepbystep.com/how-to-get-vietnam-tourist-visit-visa-from-london-4914/

The Last Blacksmith
on Blacksmith Street (Pho Lo Ren)

When you travel to Vietnam take the opportunity to visit
the traditional trade / craft streets and villages that are found in and around Hanoi.