VietNamNet Bridge – Tet, Vietnam’s longest holiday of the year, marks the beginning of spring and will come earlier than usual this year, between January 23 and 31. This festive time offers a chance for a journey around the country in the freshness of spring.

“Enjoy springtime in Vietnam’s homeland” a series of tours. They include three-day/ four-night tours to Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang and Dalat, and combine relaxation and entertainment.

As usual, Nha Trang, Dalat, Phan Thiet and Phu Quoc are the favorites of young tourists while more mature travelers prefer central and northern regions such as Hue city, Phong Nha, Danang, Hoi An, Hanoi, Ha Long, Tuan Chau and Sapa.

Many tourist companies in the city are offering discounts and promotional programs as well as redesigning tours.

Fiditour offers “Enjoy springtime in Vietnam’s homeland” a series of tours. They include three-day/ four-night tours to Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang and Dalat, and combine relaxation and entertainment.

These tours offer mud bath, steam bath and massage and sport activities such as fishing in Phu Quoc, coral reef diving in Nha Trang and hiking to conquer Langbian peak.

Day trips to My Tho in the delta are always available. Tourists here may row a canoe through floating flower markets, hear don ca tai tu (amateur southern music) and visit ancient pagodas to pray for good luck in the new year. The day tour is VND450,000 per guest.

Longer trips to the central to explore world heritages or to the north to enjoy cool weather, see the white apricot blossoming in Sapa or make a pilgrimage to Yen Tu, the capital of Buddhism, are also offered.

Vietravel offers new mud bath service in Phan Thiet and new tours to Nha Trang - Dalat, Nha Trang - Phan Thiet and Nha Trang - Ninh Chu by express train.

For those favoring traditional festivals, the company offers “Springtime festivals in the north” giving guests a chance to join traditional festivals such as Dong Da, Co Loa, Giong (Soc Son District) and Lim (Tien Du District) in Hanoi.

A company’s highlight this spring is a new eco-tour to Hanoi, Yen Tu, Ha Long and Ninh Binh and the magnificent beauty of Trang An grottos.

Dang Trung Nghia, deputy general director of Fiditour, said that the company estimates a light increase of 20% to 25% compared to normal days and this year the company will focus on the quality of the tour, making guests comfortable despite touring in the high season. The company will provide guests with insurance worth VND10 million and guests booking early will be discounted VND5,000 (around US$0.29) per day counted from booking day to departure day.

Vietravel estimates to host 4,000 tourists from January 20 to 31 offering standard or reduced prices and gives guests a chance to win a diamond worth VND83.5 million when booking before February 25.

(Source: SGT)