Vietnam Ethnic Tourism Village plan approved; Costa Allegra cruise ship docks in HCM City; Binh Thuan hopes to lure more northern visitors; Tour operators rush to qualify for visa exemption; New air route opens from Dong Hoi to HCM City

After docking at Tien Sa Port at 7am yesterday, July 2, the tourists visited tourist attractions in Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An before heading north for Ha Long Bay at 7pm. Costa Allegra was scheduled to leave Ha Long Bay for Hong Kong at 12pm today.

Binh Thuan hopes to lure more northern visitors

Provincial authorities of Binh Thuan have unveiled a plan to organise a cultural and tourism fair in Ha Noi. The fair will open at the Viet Nam Exhibition Centre at 148 Giang Vo in Ha Noi between August 3 and 9, aiming to introduce the province’s potential and attractions to Hanoians and the northern market.

The event will feature the achievements of culture and tourism scored by Binh Thuan in the past two decades, and introduce festivals such as the Whale Worship and Mid-Autumn festivals.

Tour operators rush to qualify for visa exemption

Local tour operators are hurriedly completing necessary formalities for visa exemption for foreign travellers who buy packaged tours of Viet Nam under the Impressive Viet Nam promotion campaign. Last month the Government agreed to exempt visa fees for foreigners who enter Viet Nam on packaged tours under the promotion campaign, but only upon registration.

Vu The Binh, head of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism’s Travel Department, said 90 tour operators have registered with the immigration agency to secure this benefit for their guests.

VietNamNet/VNS

New air route opens from Dong Hoi to HCM City

Vietnam Airlines and the People’s Committee of central Quang Binh province on July 1 held an opening ceremony for the new air route from Dong Hoi to HCM City and return.

This is the second new line in one year and regarded as an important mark in business performance and best customers service domestically and internationally. Vietnam Airlines operates three flights every week, with a FOKKER-70 aircraft.

Nguyen The Thuan, manager of Dong Hoi Airport, said that besides the flight on July 1, the flight from Dong Hoi to HCM City was sold out to July 15.

VietNamNet/VNA