Sheraton Ha Noi among Asia’s best; Hoi An to build terracotta park; Costa Allegra brings 1,250 passengers; Tour to Singapore for Formula 1

Sheraton Ha Noi Hotel.

The Best in Travel Poll 2009 was voted on by international readers of SmartTravelAsia.com, a regional online travel magazine, from May through July of this year.

Sheraton has also received the World Travel Award as Viet Nam’s Leading Business Hotel for two years running in 2007-08 and has been nominated for the honour in 2009.

Hoi An to build terracotta park

The city authority of Hoi An has appointed the HCM City-based Nha Viet Corp to develop a terracotta park in the centre of Thanh Ha Pottery Village. Covering 6,500sq.m, the park, which will preserve and develop cultural values and activities of the craft village, is expected to host traditional craft festivals and become a new attraction for tourists to the historic city.

Construction will begin later this year and be completed in 2010, with total investment of US$1 million. The park will include a pottery reserve displaying the history of the craft village and related artefacts, an outdoor display area for large pottery statues, a performance area for artisans, a playground to host craft contests and a trade and service promotion area.

Costa Allegra brings 1,250 passengers

The Costa Allegra cruise ship, carrying 1,250 passengers from Italy, Spain, the UK and Germany on board, docked at the Navy Oil Port in HCM City on Monday. The tourists visited spots in HCM City, My Tho and Cu Chi and enjoyed traditional art performances as well as fruit and honey tea in the Mekong River Delta. This is the fourth visit the Costa Allegra has made to Viet Nam.

Tour to Singapore for Formula 1

Saigontourist Travel Service has launched a new package tour for Singapore, offering tourists the chance to watch the Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix 2009 this weekend. The four-day tour will start today. The tour is priced between US$579 to $1,666 per guest from HCM City, and from $599 per guest for those from Ha Noi, depending on the standard of accommodation.

Can Tho to host Mekong-Japan fest

More than 200 guests, including leaders of the culture and tourism sector and representatives of travel agents from Mekong sub-region countries and Japan, will attend the Mekong-Japan Tourism and Cultural Festival to be held in Can Tho from December 2-5, according to the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

The event will include photo exhibits, traditional arts of the Mekong region and Japan, a travel fair, sports activities and performances by local and foreign artists. It is aimed to promote Viet Nam’s image and highlight the socio-economic potential of the Mekong Delta, and to strengthen co-operation and friendship among Mekong sub-region countries, as well as enhance the partnership between Viet Nam and Japan.

Firms prepare for overland tours

Representatives of 60 local travel agencies, most of them based in HCM City and Ha Noi, recently toured destinations in Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam for a familiarisation (FAM) trip arranged by Vitours Co. Ltd and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in preparation for new overland tours.

The FAM trip takes in tourist sites in the central parts of Viet Nam, southern Laos and northeastern Thailand, the organisers said. TAT organised the Thai leg of the FAM trip and helped Vietnamese tour operators find partners during the trip, which wrapped up yesterday.

RV La Marguerite starts first cruise

The RV La Marguerite river cruise ship began its first cruise from HCM City’s Sai Gon Port last Sunday, taking tourists through destinations on the Mekong River route between Viet Nam and Cambodia. The Indochina Sails JSC, the co-owner of the vessel, is promoting an eight-day tour from HCM City to Siem Reap and return. It is also promoting short cruises of three or four nights in October this year. There are tours between HCM City and Phnom Penh and tours from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap or Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. A three-night tour is priced at US$705 and a four-night tour $939 per passenger.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News