Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand Travel Information: November 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is the government agency of Vietnam which manages tourist operations and activities throughout the country. It has full control in terms of business development, planning, public relations, personnel training, conducting research, and instructing and inspecting the implementation of policies and other regulations in the tourism sector.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has submitted to the government a scheme on advertising Vietnam’s tourism on CNN, said Pham Huu Minh, Head of Tourism Promotion Department. Under this scheme, Vietnam will pay US$400,000 for a 30-second advertising clip to be broadcast for three months on the famous CNN channel. The clip will be broadcast several times each day during “golden hours” of CNN. Mr. Minh said that CNN had agreed to make the clip free of charge (worth around $40,000-$50,000). If the government approves, the clip will be broadcast on CNN in the third quarter of 2007. In the first four months of 2007, Vietnam welcomed more than 1.4 million foreign visitors, an increase of 12.5% compared to the same period of 2006.

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Tourism Indochina: Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Relation

Tourism Indochina: Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Relation

Cambodia shares borders in the north with Laos and Thailand, in the east with Vietnam and in the southwest with the Gulf of Thailand. The landscape comprises tropical rainforest and fertile cultivated land traversed by many rivers. In the northeast area rise highlands. The capital is located at the junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The latter flows from a large inland lake, also called Tonle Sap, situated in the center of the country. There are numerous offshore islands along the southwest coast.

Laos is a landlocked country bordered to the north by China, to the east by Vietnam, to the south by Cambodia and to the west by Thailand and Myanmar. Apart from the Mekong River plains along the border of Thailand, the country is mountainous, particularly in the north, and in places is densely forested.

Vietnam has a unique civilization and a highly cultured people. Most visitors to the country are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of the country's natural setting: the Red River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the south and almost the entire coastal strip are a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies tended by women in conical hats.

Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam tourism cooperation:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-06):

Tourism ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam issued a joint declaration on trilateral cooperation at their meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on October 5. The three countries agreed to encourage their national tourism agencies to boost exchange of information and experiences in tourism development and promotion. They agreed to jointly hold and attend tourism events and tours and cooperate in personnel training. The three countries will take measures to facilitate tourists’ travel, boost tourism and cultural activities among their sister cities and heritage sites, as well as encourage public-private partnerships with regard to tourism development. Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the meeting of tourism ministers of the three countries, the first of its kind, was an important milestone in boosting trilateral cooperation to a new height matching their potential. He expressed his belief that the scheme “three countries – one destination” would help build the three countries into a single tourist destination with diverse, unique and sustainable tourism products and high competitiveness in the region. Sharing the host’s view, Cambodia Tourism Minister Thong Khon and Lao Minister and Chairman of the Lao National Tourism Administration Somphong Mongkhonvilay said their meeting laid a foundation for stronger tourism cooperation among the three countries, which will contribute to fortifying sustainable tourism development in the Greater Mekong Sub-region and the ASEAN. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: Sene Dolta Festival Vietnam-Cambodia

Tourism Indochina: Sene Dolta Festival Vietnam-Cambodia

The Dolta festival or the ancestors worship is one of three great festivals of Khmers. It is organized during three days, from August 29 to September 1 every year.

The festival is organized in commemoration of the parents, the missing relatives and to wish good to the alive ones. During the three feastdays, the activity of religion, belief, customs take place alternatively to express the specific culture of Khmers in the South.
The first day, each family tidies up the house, cleans and decorates the furnace bridge magnificently. Afterwards, four rice bowls are prepared on the table, fire lit and all the family celebrates the ceremony. Each one prays and pours tea to call missing close relatives to come to eat together. The first ceremony in the day is called the reception ceremony. In the afternoon, everyone washes to prepare and invite the ancestors to go with them to the pagoda to take part in the ceremonies. In the night, in the pagoda, people still organizes the festival with the participation of young couples who come to sing du-ke (traditional theatre of Khmers in the South), to dance Lâm thol...

The second day, after one day and night in the pagoda, one invites the ancestors' soul back house to eat and have fun before returning to the pagoda at the end of the festival.

The last day, each family still prepares the meals and the fruits like the first day to worship the ancestors and to say goodbye to them. Thus, this ceremony is called the farewell ceremony. Once the rites finished, the Dolta festival is also terminated. The festival is a characteristic which Khmers in the South contribute to the diversity, eminence of the Vietnamese culture. Once come to the festival of Khmers in the South, the visitors will understand better the people of this region as well as the influences of agriculture on their life.

More than 200 Khmer dignitaries, monks, nuns and people from Mekong Delta localities flocked to Can Tho City to celebrate the Sene Dolta Festival:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-07):

More than 200 Khmer dignitaries, monks, nuns and people from Mekong Delta localities flocked to Can Tho City to celebrate the Sene Dolta Festival. This year’s Sene Dolta Festival is being held from the 29th day of the 8th lunar month to the first day of the 9th lunar month, which falls on October 8-10. The event is the 2nd largest annual festival after the Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) of the Khmer people in the Mekong Delta. Local Khmer people have gathered at pagodas to pray for bumper crops and pay tributes to their ancestors, and enjoy traditional song and dance performances and other light-hearted activities after a hard working year. To mark the occasion, leaders of Tra Vinh Province visited and presented gifts to 25 pagodas and 95 families of the Khmer group in the province. Meanwhile, an ox race was held in An Giang Province on October 9 with over 30,000 local people and domestic and foreign visitors coming to watch. The majority of the Khmer population, around 1.3 million people, is living in the southwestern region, which has 453 Khmer pagodas that are home to almost 10,000 monks and nuns. (Source: VNA)

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Tourism Indochina: Tourists to Ho Chi Minh City on the Rise

Tourism Indochina: Tourists to Ho Chi Minh City on the Rise

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly named Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn) is the largest city in Vietnam. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochin-china and later of the independent state of South Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. In 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Định Province and was officially renamed Hồ Chí Minh City after Hồ Chí Minh (although the name Sài Gòn is still commonly used.) The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers (37 mi) from the South China Sea and 1,760 kilometers (1,090 mi) south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

Today, the city's core is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings. The most prominent structures in the city center are Reunification Palace (Dinh Thống Nhất), City Hall (Ủy ban nhân dân Thành phố), the Municipal Theatre (Nhà hát thành phố, also known as the Opera House), City Post Office (Bưu điện thành phố), State Bank Office (Ngân hàng nhà nước), City People's Court (Tòa án nhân dân thành phố) and Notre-Dame Cathedral (Nhà thờ Đức Bà). Some of the historic hotels are the Hotel Majestic, dating from the French colonial era, and the Rex Hotel, Caravelle hotel some former hangouts for American officers and war correspondents in the 1960s and 1970s.

The city has various museums, such as the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Museum of Vietnamese History, the Revolutionary Museum, the Museum of Southeastern Armed Forces, the War Remnants Museum, the Museum of Southern Women, the Museum of Fine Art, the Nha Rong Memorial House, and the Ben Duoc Relic of Underground Tunnels. The Củ Chi tunnels are northwest of the city in Củ Chi district. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, in District 1, dates from 1865.

Besides the Municipal Theatre, there are other places of entertainment such as: the Bến Thành and Hòa Bình Theaters and the Lan Anh Music Stage. The Đầm Sen Tourist and Cultural Park, Suoi Tien Amusement and Culture Park, and the Can Gio Eco beach resort are three recreational sites inside the city which are popular with tourists. Ho Chi Minh City is home to hundreds of cinemas and theatres, with cinema and dramatic ticketing revenue accounting for 60–70% of Vietnam’s total revenue in this industry. Unlike other dramatic teams in Vietnam’s provinces and municipalities, those in Ho Chi Minh City live on their own income and keep their theaters active everyday, and are not subsidized by the Vietnamese government. The city is home to most of the private movie companies in Vietnam. Like many of Vietnam's smaller cities, the city boasts a multitude of restaurants serving typical Vietnamese dishes such as phở or rice vermicelli. Backpacking travelers most often frequent the "Western Quarter" on Pham Ngu Lao street in District 1.

Tourism Indochina: Tourists to Ho Chi Minh City on the Rise:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-17):

In the first nine months of 2007, HCMC greeted an estimated 1.9 million foreign tourists, an increase of 13.7% year on year, reaching 71.6% of the yearly target, said the city’s Tourism Department. Of this figure, about 1.5 million foreigners visited the city by air, up 11% year on year, 25,000 foreigners came by sea, up 38%, and the overland visitors were up 25%. The number of foreign tourists surged over the nine months because the trans-Asia road route has been completed, more international border gates have been upgraded in the North-Western and Eastern provinces as the city’s promotion of caravan tours got underway. The five leading countries posting great number of foreigners to visit Vietnam are the US (up 8%), Japan (up 15%), Taipei (up 8%), the Republic of Korea (up 33%), and Australia (up 37%) year on year. In spite of not listing in top ten, the Russian tourists, mainly via MICE (meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition) type, achieved a high growth (81%) and this is expected to develop strongly in Vietnam if the Vietnam tourism promotion campaign is carried out successfully.

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Tourism Indochina: Cruise Ships Bring Visitors to Nha Trang Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: Cruise Ships Bring Visitors to Nha Trang Vietnam

Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district. The city has about 300,000 inhabitants, a number which is projected to increase to between 500,000 and 600,000 inhabitants by 2020[citation needed] according to an estimation of Nha Trang Administrative Board Statistics.

Nha Trang is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travellers on the Southeast Asia circuit. It is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists. Nha Trang Bay is widely considered as amongst the world's most beautiful bays. Tourists are welcome to participate in the Sea Festival, held biennially. Nha Trang was the site of the Miss Universe 2008 Pageant on July 14, 2008 and Miss Earth 2010 held December 4, 2010.Besides, Nha Trang was also approved to host 2016 Asian Beach Games.

Nha Trang is one of the most important tourist hubs of Vietnam, thanks to its beautiful beaches with fine and clean sand and the clear ocean water with mild temperatures all year round. There are several resorts - such as Vinpearl, Diamond Bay and Ana Mandara - and amusement and water parks, both in the city and on islands off the coast. The possibly most beautiful street of Nha Trang is Tran Phu Street along the seaside, sometimes referred to as the Pacific Coast Highway of Vietnam.

Lying off Nha Trang is the Hon Tre Island (Bamboo Island), with a major resort operated by the Vinpearl Group. The Vinpearl Cable Car, a gondola lift system, links the mainland to the five-star resort and theme park on Hon Tre Island.

Nha Trang is a stopover for annual yacht races starting in Hong Kong. In recent years, the city has welcomed many five-star sea cruises. In addition to sail boat racing, Nha Trang provides a rich variety of tourist activities for visitors. Island hopping, scuba diving, water sports and other sporting activities can be enjoyed in the city. The Nha Trang Tourist Information Center (a non-governmental organisation), located near the Cho Dam Market has been set up to provide information for visitors.

Cruise ships bring visitors to Nha Trang Vietnam famous bay:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-18):

Cruise ships bring visitors to Vietnam’s famous bay Bahamas’ Seveseas Mariner ship brought 674 visitors, mainly from Australia, Canada, Panama and the US to Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa on October 17. The visitors made a sightseeing tour of country landscapes and places of cultural interest in the province. They planned to leave for Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon of October 18. On October 12, another cruise ship Saphhire Peinceis, brought 2,650 tourists to the province.

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Tourism Indochina: The Vung Tau International Tourism of Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: The Vung Tau International Tourism of Vietnam

Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is 140 km2 (54 sq mi) including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism in Vietnam. Located near Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong province, Vũng Tàu in association with these two places forms a triangle of economic power.

To most tourists, however, Vũng Tàu is more interesting for its extensive beaches. Tourists often prefer swimming at Back Beach (Bãi Sau) but sightseeing in Front Beach (Bãi Trước). Back Beach is well-known for its over 10 km of fine sand. As Vũng Tàu is only 130 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, it is a favourite resort destination for those wishing to get away from the city. In recent times, the number of foreign tourists visiting Vũng Tàu's beaches increased.[citation needed]. Vũng Tàu also allows access to nearby less visited beaches like Long Hai, Ho Tram and Ho Coc.

Vũng Tàu is also home to one of Vietnam's most well-known golf courses located at Paradise Vũng Tàu Golf Resort.

A big resort project has just been licensed by the Vietnamese government, the Saigon Atlantis. Upon competition, this entertainment project worth US$300 million in capital investment will include resorts, shopping, sailing. The investor of this project is proposing to raise the investment capital to US$4 billion.

Two other noteworthy entertainment projects awaiting licensing are Vũng Tàu Aquarium, which will cost USD 250 million, and Bau Trung, a Disneyland-like entertainment park which will cost US$250 million. This project includes Landmark Tower, a 88-story skyscraper proposed to be built and completed by 2010 in Vũng Tàu by a USA-based company, Good Choice Import – Export Investment Inc, once built will likely be the highest building in Vietnam. The project is under consideration for approval by the local provincial government.

International tourism fair kicks off in Vung Tau City:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-20):

The Vung Tau international tourism fair 2007, opened in Vung Tau City, southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province on October 19. The five-day fair attracted local businesses and those from 12 foreign countries and territories, including Australia, Canada, China, India and the Republic of Korea. On display at 250 booths are high-tech products applied in banking, information technology, telecommunications, transportation and handicraft items. During the fair, series of cultural activities, such as food and art shows and a workshop on how to attract foreign visitors to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province will be held. (Source: VNA)

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Monday, November 28, 2011

Tourism Indochina: Halong Bay World Cultural Heritage Site in Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: Halong Bay World Cultural Heritage Site in Vietnam

Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Administratively, the bay belongs to Hạ Long City, Cẩm Phả town, and part of Van Don district. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bái Tử Long bay to the northeast, and Cát Bà islands to the southwest. These larger zones share similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters.

Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2, including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 with a high density of 775 islets. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate. The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity, including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem. Ha Long Bay is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species.

Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistorical human beings in this area tens of thousands years ago. The successive ancient cultures are the Soi Nhụ culture around 18,000–7000 BC, the Cái Bèo culture 7000–5000 BC and the Hạ Long culture 5,000–3,500 years ago. Hạ Long Bay also marked important events in the history of Vietnam with many artifacts found in Bài Thơ Mout, Đầu Gỗ Cave, Bãi Cháy.

500 years ago, Nguyen Trai praised the beauty of Hạ Long Bay in his verse Lộ nhập Vân Đồn, in which he called it "rock wonder in the sky". In 1962, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam listed Hạ Long Bay in the National Relics and Landscapes publication. In 1994, the core zone of Hạ Long Bay was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site according to criterion vii, and listed for a second time according to criterion viii.

Star Cruises resumes tours to Halong Bay Vietnam:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-21):

The Star Cruises group will cooperate with the Saigon Tourist Corporation (Saigontourist) to resume weekly tours to Halong Bay in northern Quang Ninh Province as from December, 2007. The group, which operating 20 cruise liners, plans to use the Super Star Libra and Super Star Virgo ships to carry tourists to the UNESCO-recognised world heritage site. As scheduled, the two ships will leave Hong Kong, China, for Halong every seven days with around 1,000-2,200 tourists aboard. Previously, the Star Cruises group used to offer Halong Bay tours on its Super Star Leo and Super Star Gemini ships, carrying 80,000 tourists every year on average to Halong Bay. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: Free Hanoi-Bangkok Flight

Tourism Indochina: Free Hanoi-Bangkok Flight

Air Asia, AirAsia Berhad is a Malaysian-based low-cost airline. AirAsia is Asia's largest low-fare, no-frills airline and a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia. AirAsia group operates scheduled domestic and international flights to over 400 destinations spanning 25 countries. Its main hub is the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Its affiliate airlines Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia have hubs in Suvarnabhumi Airport and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport respectively. AirAsia's registered office is in Petaling Jaya, Selangor while its head office is located in Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Air Asia plans to open ASEAN regional headquarters in Jakarta by August or September 2011. The airline itself will maintain its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for the time being.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as (New) Bangkok International Airport, is an international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September. The airport is currently the main hub for Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Orient Thai Airlines, and Thai AirAsia. It also serves as regional gateway and connecting point for various foreign carriers.
The airport is located in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of downtown Bangkok. The name Suvarnabhumi was chosen by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and refers to the golden kingdom hypothesised to have been located somewhere in Southeast Asia.

Tourism Indochina: Free Hanoi-Bangkok Flight: Air Asia offers 20000 seats for promotion Bangkok to Hanoi

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-23):

Air Asia’s new promotion offers free Hanoi-Bangkok flight. Air Asia is also offering free flights between Bangkok and cities of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani in the North eastern of the country. Seats must be booked between October 4 to 31, 2007, and travel must be made between October 15, 2007 and January 31, 2008. Only 20,000 seats are available for the promotion. The free flight includes one-way airfare only and excludes fuel surcharges, taxes and applicable fees. Seats may be purchased online at www.airasia.com and from Air Asia’s sales office in Hanoi at 30 Le Thai To Street, Hanoi. The sales office is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 6. p.m. Thai Air Asia is the only low fares airline operating both international and domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. (Source: CPV)

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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Tourism Indochina: Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Site in Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Site in Vietnam

Hội An is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants. It is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The city possessed the largest harbour in Southeast Asia in the 1st century and was known as Lâm Ấp Phố (Champa City). Between the seventh and 10th centuries, the Cham (people of Champa) controlled the strategic spice trade and with this came tremendous wealth. The boats still used today in Hoi An probably have the same hull shape as those used by the Champas for ocean voyages.

The former harbour town of the Cham at the estuary of the Thu Bồn River was an important Vietnamese trading centre in the 16th and 17th centuries, where Chinese from various provinces as well as Japanese, Dutch and Indians settled. During this period of the China trade, the town was called Hai Pho (Seaside Town) in Vietnamese. Originally, Hai Pho was a divided town with the Japanese settlement across the "Japanese Bridge" (16th-17th century). The bridge (Chùa cầu) is a unique covered structure built by the Japanese, the only known covered bridge with a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side.

Hoi An clocks in high numbers of Thai tourists:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-23):

Visitors from Thailand to the old town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam have seen a sharp increase with more than 4,000 booking tours to the world heritage site. Hoi An welcomed nearly 2,000 Thai tourists on October 22 and over 1,600 the previous day. The town was recognised by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a world cultural heritage site in 1999...

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Thursday, November 24, 2011

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Gives Tourists a Glimpse of Life in Rural Areas

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Gives Tourists a Glimpse of Life in Rural Areas

A bike tour through the western and northern sections of Vietnam gives tourists a glimpse of life in rural areas including the ethnic people in the Central Highlands. That's an ideal cycling route avoids crowded highways and intense climbs and sticks to peaceful village roads shaded by trees, green fields and orchards. While crossing the Cu Mong or Hai Van passes, tourists are able to stop roadside to contemplate the sunrise or sunset and admire the beautiful view on one side lies giant mountains, while on the other are picturesque beaches.

Tour participants are not required to bike for the entire trip; participants ride a maximum of 50 kilometres a day. Cars, canoes, and boats cover the distance not traveled on bike. To ensure the health and safety of riders, professional medics often accompany the tour. Of Saigontourist’s bike tours, its trip to the western portion of Southern Vietnam is its most popular. The tour departs from Ho Chi Minh City and stops first in Long An Province. Tourists then travel by car to Tan An District to visit the Cao Dai Holy See. Following the religious site, the tour rides 20 kilometres. along the Bao Dinh Canal to My Tho. On the way to My Tho, tourists stop by orchards to enjoy fresh coconut juice and fruit. Next, tourists visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, which was built in the early 19th century and houses a collection of bronze statues carved in the Mekong Delta. The tour then travels to the port to visit Thoi Son Islet in Tien Giang Province by canoe. On the second day of the journey, the tour heads to Ben Tre Province. The group travels leisurely through village roads to view the landscape, get fresh air roadside and speak with locals. Tourists can visit the village market and green fields to see firsthand the cultivation technique of the farmers and life in the country. On the third day, tourists visit Cai Mon District to see a number of activities of the local people including fishing, cooking, leisure and sport. Tourists take part in a home-stay at the home of a Cai Mon resident and eat ca loc nuong trui dish (grilled snakehead fish), taste local rice wine and listen to don ca tai tu (amateur southern folk music). The following day, tourists travel by ferry to visit the center of Vinh Long Province and continue to ride through Long Ho village for 20 kilometres. to Ba Can to visit the village of the Khmer people and a market specializing in tofu.

The journey continues to Can Tho Province for tourists to visit the floating markets of Phong Dien and Cai Rang. Tourists then ride for 20 kilometres. to Bang Lang Park. The tour concludes with a car ride back to Ho Chi Minh City the following day. (Source: SGT)

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Tourism Indochina: AirAsia Tries to Pursue Venture with Vinashin

AirAsia Berhad (MYX: 5099) is a Malaysian-based low-cost airline. AirAsia is Asia's largest low-fare, no-frills airline and a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia. AirAsia group operates scheduled domestic and international flights to over 400 destinations spanning 25 countries. Its main hub is the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Its affiliate airlines Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia have hubs in Suvarnabhumi Airport and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport respectively. AirAsia's registered office is in Petaling Jaya, Selangor while its head office is located in Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Air Asia plans to open ASEAN regional headquarters in Jakarta by August or September 2011. The airline itself will maintain its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for the time being.

Vinashin is a state-owned shipbuilding firm in Vietnam. Vinashin was one of Vietnam's leading industrial concerns, and entered into a partnership with Damen, Kongsberg, and Hyundai. Vinashin was heavily indebted, and executives have been arrested for mismanagement. but it has been claimed that further restructuring would allow debts to be repaid within a year. Vinashin folded under a debt burden of $4.5 billion in 2010;as of March 2011, it was being restructured.\

Tourism Indochina: AirAsia Tries to Pursue Venture with Vinashin

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-10-28):

The Government Office issued a statement on October 16 rejecting Vinashin's proposal for expansion to the air transport market, which was submitted following the signing in Malaysia on August 31 of a letter of intent with AirAsia.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung witnessed the signing ceremony while he was in Malaysia. An AirAsia executive, who asked not to be named, told the Daily on Wednesday that the Malaysian airline was pursuing the plan to make VinaAirAsia Vietnam's second budget carrier after Pacific Airlines. AirAsia will give Vinashin full support to go ahead with the establishment of VinaAirAsia with some US$30mil in registered capital, the executive said. The planned airline will be 30% owned by AirAsia. Late last month, Chin Nyok San, head of business development at AirAsia, told the Daily that preparation was underway and that VinaAirAsia could begin service in six months' time. However, the Government has not approved the shipbuilder's proposal to expand its operations to civil aviation, meaning that the joint venture has virtually come to a dead end. The Government's refusal of Vinashin's proposal came as domestic carriers, especially Pacific, have expressed concern that VinaAirAsia could fuel a competition which they do not want. Pacific holds only 15% of Vietnam's aviation market and the rest by Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Air Services Co. (VASCO), also under the umbrella of the national flag air carrier. Airlines and travel agencies have estimated that six million Vietnamese travel by air in Vietnam a year, and the demand would jump 20-30% this year. Civil aviation service is a conditional business though Vietnam's law allows foreign investors to own up to 49% of a joint-stock air carrier. Qantas Airways is a good example as this Australian group earlier this year acquired a 30% stake worth US$50mil in Pacific. Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon said the Australian group needed more time to restructure Pacific during his visit to Vietnam earlier this month, and this might be seen as one of the reasons for Pacific to oppose the VinaAirAsia plan. Pacific CEO Luong Hoai Nam told the Daily on Wednesday that Pacific had expressed outcry over Vinashin's planned venture with AirAsia, which earlier intended to invest in Pacific but no deal was struck. Nam explained 30% of the capital AirAsia planned for Pacific comprised tangible and intangible parts while it was difficult to evaluate the intangible assets. If the intangible assets were not included, the AirAsia investment planned to pay for Pacific's stake was much lower the offer by other investors, including Qantas. Local media quoted Lai Xuan Thanh, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV), as saying that the authority had not received an application for VinaAirAsia. However, he noted Vietnam would license two or three airlines between now and 2010, with priority given to new locally-owned airlines rather than foreign-invested ones. The AirAsia executive said AirAsia and Vinashin had not officially proposed setting up VinaAirAsia. AirAsia operates the daily flights from Thailand's Bangkok and Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi and vice versa, with average seat occupancy of 80% for this year.

AirAsia has increased the number of its daily flights to and from Vietnam to 10 although it entered this market only in October 2005. It plans to launch services to HCMC some time this year. (Source: SGT)

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Tourism Indochina: Vietnam One Among the Most 10 Attractive Tourism Destinations For Chinese

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam One Among the Most 10 Attractive Tourism Destinations For Chinese

Firstly, why we can say that?

Well, Most travelers to Vietnam are attracted by the country’s wonderful natural beauty: From the green rice fields in the north to the fascinating bustle of the Mekong Delta in the south. Vietnam however is also a country with a long history and ancient traditions. It has many historic attractions and old temples. The most amazing tourist attractions in Vietnam like Nha Trang, Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong River (Mekong Delta), Mui Ne, Sa Pa Terraces, Phu Quoc, Hoi An, Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi), Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue), and Ha Long Bay...

Another reason is that, Vietnam is also shares its border with China, so Chinese people can come to visit Vietnam easily.

Vietnam is among ten attractive tourism sites for Chinese:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-01):

Vietnam is one among the most ten attractive tourism destinations for Chinese travelers, according to the China National Tourism Administration. Other nine top destinations of Chinese tourists are Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, Thailand, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia, the United States, Singapore and Malaysia. China remains Asia 's largest source of outbound tourists, Zhu Shanzhong, a tourism promotion official with the China National Tourism Administration told Xinhua news agency. Nearly 30 million Chinese travelled abroad in the first nine months of the year, up 17% as against the same period of last year, according to the administration’s statistics. Last year, about 34 million Chinese people travelled abroad. (Source: VNA)

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Tourism Indochina: Caravan Promoting Tourism Field and Exhibition Marketing

Tourism Indochina: Caravan Promoting Tourism Field and Exhibition Marketing

Well, Do you know Caravan?

A travel trailer or caravan is towed behind a road vehicle to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable and protected than a tent (although there are fold-down trailer tents). It provides the means for people to have their own home on a journey or a vacation, without relying on a motel or hotel, and enables them to stay in places where none is available. However, in some countries campers are restricted to designated sites for which fees are payable.

Travel trailers and caravans vary from basic models which may be little more than a tent on wheels to those containing several rooms with all the furniture and furnishings and equipment of a home. They are used principally in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand and are rare elsewhere...

In the United States and Canada, the history of travel trailers can be traced back to the early 1920s, when those who enjoyed their use were often referred to as 'tin can tourists'. As time progressed, trailers became more livable and earned a new name in the 1930s and 1940s, which was the house trailer. In the 1950s and 1960s, the industry seemed to split, creating the two types that we see today, that of the recreational vehicle (RV) industry and mobile home industry. Today travel trailers are classified as a type of RV along with motorhomes, fifth wheel trailers, pop-up trailers, and truck campers.

News related to Caravan:

Vietnam China caravan roadshow ends

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-01):

The Vietnam-China Caravan Roadshow 2007, which aimed to promote Vietnam’s image and products in the Chinese market, ended its tour on October 31. Starting from October 27, the roadshow joined cultural activities with local people in China’s Guangxi Province and featured Vietnam’s image through a photo exhibition. The success of the roadshow, the first of its kind, is expected to open an opportunity for Vietnam to organise similar roadshows to ASEAN member countries. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: Night Market (Phsar Reatrey) in Cambodia

Tourism Indochina: Night Market (Phsar Reatrey) in Cambodia

A new Phnom Penh night Market (Phsar Reatrey) is located on the river front and aimed squarely at visitores and tourists, offering a wide and varied selection of the Cambodian handicrafts silk, art curios and souvenirs.

Moreover, visitors will have an atmosphere offers a much relaxing retail experience than as a typical local market.With a festive vibe and items to please young and old, foreigner and local, the night market appears to be a promising addition to the city’s shopping scene.

the night market will show you with the local products and post the interesting and want to buy, and you will get what are the hand made and fruit by natural grow, and you will say these are good quality local products.

This night market is opening fron 5pm to midnight, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays only.

News related to the market starting:

Cambodia night market will be started on 09 Nov 2007...

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-06):

Cambodia night market will be started on 09 Nov 2007 In order to improve tourism development in Phnom Penh Cambodia to comply with management of poverty reduction and encouragement of Khmer production, particularly the process of one village one product, the City Hall will organize the Night Market locate along Preah Sisovath Blvd infront of Wat Onalom. All kind of seling products are the achievement of khmer artisan producer, craftman. The night market will be weekly opened on09th Nov 2007 from 18:00-24:00 from Friday to Saturday. Source (CATA)

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Tourism Indochina: Introduction to Vietnamese Handicraft Villages

Tourism Indochina: Introduction to Vietnamese Handicraft Villages

In the past, after harvest time, Vietnamese people made handicraft works to meet their own needs. Their products are very skillful and sophisticated, even though they are farmers and do not specialize in handicrafts. The techniques were kept secret, but taught to relatives or fellow villagers.

The village, therefore, became a very important institution in the handicraft industry. The village's name became the trademark of handicraft products made by its villagers. Đình làng- the village's temple became the place of worship and tổ nghề the man who first taught the villagers to do these handicraft works.

When urbanization came to Vietnam, many people came to towns/cities and professionalized in the handicraft works they had done in their old village. They did not compete with one another but gathered in phường/hội, the new form of handicraft village, to help others to improve.

The Vietnamese government has recognised about 1500 handicraft villages, of which about 300 are traditional handicraft villages. These villages maintain the country's handicraft heritage.

Vietnam Festival celebrates handicraft villages:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-13):

Festival celebrates handicraft villages

A festival honouring handicraft-making villages, which play an important part in Vietnamese culture, kicked off in Hanoi on November 14.
The festival showcases 200 prominent handicraft villages out of the 2,000 villages throughout the country that produce handiwork art and craft, from pottery to kites.

The Bat Trang pottery village, which lies about 15km from Hanoi, brings to the event simple but delicate products.

The Bat Trang pottery exhibit also includes a tea set that can serve up to 250 people, a feat considered the largest so far. The set can use up to five kilos of tea for one sitting.
The Doi Tam drum makers are also making some noise with their showcase of 60-drum set to be played by 60 girls for a 7-minute performance.

A competition of hand-made kites made by artisans nationwide will take place during the festival in which a 12m four-flute-carried kite made by Dong Anh District artisans is expected to fly. Apart from showcasing hand-made items, the festival will give visitors the chance to enjoy love song duets, songs of strolling blind musicians, water puppet and traditional children plays, and the art of calligraphy writing. Ten Japanese businesses are taking part in the festival. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: The Central Highlands in Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: The Central Highlands in Vietnam

Geographically, the Central Highlands of Vietnam is an area of stunning natural beauty which extends from the Cat Tien National Park in the south as far as Quang Nam in the north. For practical purposes most visitors to the region will travel between Dalat in the south and Kon Tum in the north.

This region is not visited by many tourists so the transport options of the coastal route are not available. We hired a vehicle with driver to travel from dalat to Hoi An over five days and these days were without doubt the highlight of our time in Vietnam.

Travelling through Vietnam via the magnificent Central Highlands is a fabulous alternative to the much trodden coastal route. To do so by public transport can prove quite challenging as local bus services are the only option. Also it is necessary for foreigners to carry permits in order to be allowed into parts of the Central Highlands.

We took this route as a 5 day private tour beginning in Dalat and ending in Hoi An. We travelled in a 9 seater Mercedes accompanied by a guide and driver. Each evening our guide, Phu, and driver, Tam, stayed at the same place as us and took us out to local restaurants that they knew and which would be impossible to go to without a local connection. This was a tremendous and most unexpected addition to what was the highlight of our time in Vietnam. If you're travelling from the north you head inland from Hoi An and follow the route described in this section in reverse.

Vietnam Exhibition features unique culture of Central Highlands:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-19):

Exhibition features unique culture of Central Highlands

An exhibition on space of gong culture, a UNESCO-recognised “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity,” opened in Central Highlands Dak Lak Province on November 19. The event is part of the Central Highlands Gong Festival scheduled for November 21-24 in an effort to uphold the unique culture heritage. Documents, objects and valuable images featuring cultural characteristics of each ethnic group in the region are displayed, attracting the attention of both local people and foreigners. It also provides visitors a good chance to have better understanding on gong culture. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: Hanoi The Attraction Place in Vietnam

Tourism Indochina: Hanoi The Attraction Place in Vietnam

Wikipedia: Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam. It was eclipsed by Huế during the Nguyen dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam. The city is located on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is located at 1,760 km (1,090 mi) north of Ho Chi Minh City. October 2010 officially marked 1000 years since the establishment of the city. On this occasion, Hanoi was named by Frommer's travel guide as one of the world's "Top Destinations 2010".

Hanoi features a warm humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) with plentiful precipitation. The city experiences the typical climate of northern Vietnam, where summers are hot and humid, and winters are, by national standards, relatively cool and dry. Summers, lasting from May to September, are hot and humid, receiving the majority of the annual 1,680 millimetres (66.1 in) of rainfall. The winters are short, relatively dry, and mild, while spring can bring light rains.

As the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years, Hanoi is considered one of the main cultural centres of Vietnam, where most Vietnamese dynasties have left their imprint. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike. Even when the nation's capital moved to Huế under the Nguyễn Dynasty in 1802, the city of Hanoi continued to flourish, especially after the French took control in 1888 and modeled the city's architecture to their tastes, lending an important aesthetic to the city's rich stylistic heritage. The city hosts more cultural sites than any city in Vietnam, and boasts more than 1,000 years of history, and that of the past few hundred years has been well preserved.

A city between the rivers, built from lowland, Hanoi has many scenic lakes and sometime is called "city of lakes". Among its lakes, the most famous are Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, Halais Lake (Hồ Thiền Quang in Vietnamese), and Bay Mau Lake. Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Sword Lake, is the historical and cultural center of Hanoi, and is linked to the legend of the magic sword. West Lake (Hồ Tây) is a popular place for people to spend time. It is the largest lake in Hanoi and there are many temples in the area. There are small boats for hire and a floating restaurant.

In 2007, Hanoi welcomed over 1 million foreign visitors:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-20):

Hanoi welcomes over 1 million foreign visitors

The number of foreign tourists to Hanoi in the first 11 months of this year is estimated at 1.15 million, equivalent to 95% of the city’s yearly plan and up 11.5% over the same period last year. Strong growths have been seen in the numbers of visitors from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, France and the US. The Hanoi Tourism Department has designed many new tours such as health treatment tours, helicopter sightseeing and visits to local celebrities.

The department is working on a file to propose that the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognise the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a world cultural heritage. (Source: VNA)

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Monday, November 21, 2011

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Gong Culture

UNESCO, The Space of Gong Culture: The cultural space of the gongs in the central highlands of Vietnam covers several provinces and seventeen Austro-Asian and Austronesian ethno-linguistic communities. Closely linked to daily life and the cycle of the seasons, their belief systems form a mystical world where the gongs produce a privileged language between men, divinities and the supernatural world. Behind every gong hides a god or goddess who is all the more powerful when the gong is older. Every family possesses at least one gong, which indicates the family’s wealth, authority and prestige, and also ensures its protection. While a range of brass instruments is used in the various ceremonies, the gong alone is present in all the rituals of community life and is the main ceremonial instrument.

The manner in which the gongs of Vietnam are played varies according to the village. Each instrumentalist carries a different gong measuring between 25 and 80 cm in diameter. From three to twelve gongs are played by the village ensembles, which are made up of men or women. Different arrangements and rhythms are adapted to the context of the ceremony, for example, the ritual sacrifice of the bullocks, the blessing of the rice or mourning rites. The gongs of this region are bought in neighbouring countries, and then tuned to the desired tone for their own use.

Economic and social transformations have drastically affected the traditional way of life of these communities and no longer provide the original context for the Gong culture. Transmission of this way of life, knowledge and know-how was severely disrupted during the decades of war during the last century.Today, this phenomenon is aggravated by the disappearance of old craftsmen and young people’s growing interest in Western culture. Stripped of their sacred significance, the gongs are sometimes sold for recycling or exchanged for other products.

Vietnam Gong Culture Festival kicks off:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-11-21):

The Central Highlands Gong Culture Festival 2007 opened at the Central Highlands Dak Lak provincial museum on November 21. Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan joined around 10,000 people at the opening ceremony of the festival. The four-day festival, the largest of its kind in the Central Highlands, will include performances by 25 domestic and foreign gong troupes and art troupes from Laos and the Republic of Korea.

Local street festivals, a photo exhibition on the cultural tradition of Vietnam’s gong and a gong casting demonstration will be held alongside an exhibition of gong cultural space.
An exhibition-cum-fair on the Central Highlands and a workshop on the history of the gong are also on the festival’s agenda.
The festival, titled “Old forest night”, promotes the cultural traditions of the Central Highlands gong, recognised as “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in November 2006.

During the festival Vice State President Doan also opened the Central Highlands Exhibition-cum-Fair 2007 with the participation of 136 businesses.
The Vice President attended the launch of a special set of stamps on the cultural tradition and history of the Central Highlands gongs. (Source: VNA)

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Tourism Indochina: Cambodia golf Top 10

ASIA Golf: Golf holidays in Cambodia are a new introduction, yet pioneerng golfers are finding it a fascinating country in which to play a few rounds. Golf is a relatively new pastime in Cambodia yet is developing fast. Until the mid 1990s golf was unheard of in the country, but with its entry in to ASEAN and top Cambodian officials meeting on a regular basis with their contemporaries in the more developed golfing Asian nations such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand it was only a matter of time until the popularity of golf grew. And what more could a nation ask for as a golfing ‘ambassador’ than the Prime Minister himself – yes Cambodia’s Premier Hun Sen, is an avid golf player with a handicap of 15.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia's laid back capital, has 2 full scale 18-hole golf courses on its western outskirts. However, the real golfing excitement is in Siem Reap, the home of the magnificent Angkor Wat temples. In early 2007 the Sofitel Phokeethra Country Club opened, and this was followed in early 2008 by the Nick Faldo designed Angkor Golf Resort - it is claimed this course could emerge as not only the finest in Cambodia, but one of the best in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2009 Siem Reap’s third PGA-rated course, the Siem Reap Lake Golf Resort, opened making Cambodia a true golfing vacation destination.

Cambodia golf Top 10 after third round in:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-12-02):

Siem Reap (Cambodia) Dec 1 - Despite error-filled stretches on the front nine and over par cards, India's Harmeet Kahlon and Arjun Singh stayed in the top-10 of the leaderboard at the end of the third round at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open Saturday. Both Kahlon (73) and Arjun Singh (74) slipped from overnight seventh and sixth places, while Australian Adam Groom (70) held on to a narrow one-stroke lead over American Bryan Saltus (71). Groom is 13-under 203. The six other Indians who made the cut were all way behind. Four of them, Gurbaaz Mann (75), Rahil Gangjee (73), Vikrant Chopra (73) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (73) were all tied 48th at three over 219. Amandeep Johl, who started with a birdie and an eagle shot had a score of 74 and Rahul Ganapathy brought in a card of 81. Johl was tied 56th at four-over, while Ganapathy was 70th and last at 10-over. Kahlon, struggling with his form this season, had two bogeys for a 38 on front nine but had two birdies against one bogey on back nine for a total of 73. Arjun also had a poor front nine with a bogey on first and double bogey on seventh. He had two birdies and one more bogey on back nine. Groom, currently ranked 47th on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, shot three birdies against just one bogey as he made his way to come closer to his maiden Asian Tour title. He is now 13-under-par 203. Saltus stayed in contention after a 71 with a similar performance by American Anthony Kang in the $300,000 Asian Tour event. Thai trio of Thaworn Wiratchant, Chapchai Nirat, and Prom Meesawat were four strokes behind the leader also in joint third spot having fired a 67, 68 and 69 respectively at the Phokeethra Country Club. England's Yasin Ali, who is ranked 70th on the money list, kept his hopes alive for a card next season when he blasted his second straight 68 to lie in lone seventh spot while Ted Oh of Korea posted a 69 for a 209 total in ninth place.

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Tourism Indochina: Finland to Cambodia Direct Flight

Tourism Indochina: Finland to Cambodia Direct Flight

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-12-08):

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - A direct commercial air route between Cambodia and Europe was opened for the first time Friday with the arrival of an Air Finland flight, officials said.

The Air Finland Boeing 757 landed with 215 passengers on board at the main airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, said Khek Norinda, a spokesman for the airport's operator, the French company Scoot Concessionaire Des A Roports. Khek Norinda said Air Finland plans to operate three charter flights to Cambodia each month using its 219-seat B-757. The plane's arrival Friday was the first by a European commercial airline, he said, saying he hoped the direct link would help increase the number of European visitors to Cambodia and reduce the country's dependence on neighboring countries' airports and carriers. "However, we need more time to assess accurately the effects of direct flights from European countries. We're just at the beginning," he said. Air travel to and from Cambodia is currently dominated by foreign-owned airlines. Last month, the government signed a joint venture agreement with two Indonesian companies to form a national airline to tap the country's growing tourism industry.

Cambodia received 1.4 million visitors between January and September this year, up nearly 19 percent from the same period in 2006, according to statistics by the Tourism Ministry. It has forecast that total tourist arrivals this year will exceed last year's 1.7 million. The ministry said South Korean, Japanese and U.S. nationals respectively lead the list of foreign arrivals in Cambodia.

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Sunday, November 20, 2011

Tourism Indochina: Introduction to Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA)

Tourism Indochina: Introduction to Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA)

Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA) was formed in the year 1996 with the main objective to bring together the strong bodies of tourist agencies under one umbrella. The main concern was to develop one magnificent force for the growing tourism industry to support it in the blooming travel market. CATA emphasizes on building up strong travel economy in coordination with major players like the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the APSARA Authority that oversees Angkor Wat including other private sector groups like airlines, civil aviation authorities, hotels and hospitality based associations.

CATA is the only dominating body in tourism industry in Cambodia and is representative of Cambodia Tourism Agents and Tourism Industry Associations. It is mainly focused on upraising the level of local tourism and affiliated tourism associations on global platform. The main criteria is to expand the standard of tourism, strategic tourism services, and national /international networking, which in turn will result in long-term benefit of Tourism and People.

Membership of CATA is available to all individuals who are involved in business related to Travel Tourism, Travel Transportation and Associated Professions. It is mandatory that all the memberships are approved by the Membership Sub Committee and the CATA BOARD. There are mainly three types of memberships provided by CATA:

Honorary Lifetime Membership: This membership is the most productive opportunity open to members with strong background. Lifetime membership may be appointed to such members by a majority vote of the membership.

Corporate Membership: Being the backbone of Organization, Corporate Membership is open to those companies or corporates who are involved in travel services and legally approved by Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia.

Associate Membership: This membership is mainly open to person or company who is held liable for directing the business conducted by following companies: Auto Rental, Bus, Certified Air Carrier, Charge Card, Credit Card, Cruise Line, Travel Related Automation Company, Travel Management Consulting Firms, Travel Management Companies and other travel professional services, firms or associations.

For proper regulation of business and consistent growth of association, CATA has a Board comprised of Members of Executive Committee, Chairman and Vice Chairman of Steering Committee & Disciplinary Committees, Head of Sub-Committee and Members of Advisory Team. The Board is responsible for framing all rules and regulations, policies and goals of the organization. Meetings are organized by the Board at least once in a month and presided over by the President.

For instance, a great activity of announcement, according to a website of Tourism Indochina posted on 21-02-2008: Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA) would like to announce that the Iron Bridge close to Banteay Srey has been damaged and can not be used since 09th Feb 2008. As the above mention, for all means of transportation from Siem Reap to Banteay Srey have been using the Detour at intersection road to Kulen mountain and to Banteay Srey to the north instead of the damaged bridge. The Detour is being temporarily used under the construction of Apsara authority management and it will be finished 10 days after the Notification issued.

Visit the website of Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA)>>>

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Tourism Indochina: Review The Water Festival in Cambodia 2007

The Cambodian Water Festival (variously spelled in the original Khmer as Bon Om Touk, or Bon Om Thook, or Bonn Om Teuk, or Bon Om Tuk) takes place once a year, on the full moon of the Buddhist month of Kadeuk (usually in November). It celebrates a major natural occurrence: the reversing flow between the Tonle Sap and the Mekong River.

For most of the year, the Tonle Sap empties into the Mekong River. However, when the rainy season arrives in June, the Mekong rises, reversing the flow to dump water into the lake, increasing its size ten-fold. When the rainy season ends in November, the Mekong drops once more, allowing the current to reverse again, emptying the excess waters of Tonle Sap back into the Mekong.

This natural occurrence is celebrated in Cambodia with three days of festivals, fluvial parades, boat races, fireworks, and general merriment.

The Water Festival in Cambodia 2007:

Tourist is welcomed to visit Water Festival in Cambodia ( 23 – 25 Nov 2007 )

On the occasion of the Water Festival to be held from 23-25 Nov 2007, Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, in collaboration with the National Committee for National and International Festivals, will organize the ASEAN-Cambodia Traditional Boat Race, to be participated by all ASEAN Member countries.

The above significant events would be a great opportunity for travelers to enjoy with the local national events, at night there will be people can see loo carton floating along the Basac River. There are variety of loo carton from different provinces, ministries, and companies. The Water Festival is also one part to strengthen the cooperation among all participating countries intern of culture, sport and tourism.

The complimentary seats will be available Free of Charge (FOC) for all foreign visitors, international guests and NGO delegates at the Ministry of Tourism's pavilion located at the north of the VIP pavilion. For this Free of Charge Seats will be provided to any CATA members who have foreign visitors, please kindly send the name list of participants (visitors) with Date and Time to our email either you visit our country individually or through other travel agent. All names list will be submitted to Minister of Ministry of Tourism (MOT). The Deadline for you will be made before 21Nov 2007.

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Tourism Indochina: Angkor Wat International Half Marathon

Tourism Indochina: Angkor Wat International Half Marathon

In 2007 Angkor International Half Marathon was celebrated on 2 December and other related events on a day before Angkor International Half Marathon. During that time, there were 2,157 participants from 39 countries and 1 region, that's more than ever before! This race has been taking place in one of the famous world heritage, considered as a world heritage site by UNESCO. This event composes of many types of race such Half Marathon Men/Woman, 21 km Wheel Chair, 10 km Men/Women, 5 km Women, 3 km Kids, Bike Race, and Bike Rally. The next celebration will be held on December 7th, 2008. Apart from Sightseeing in Siem Reap there are a lot of thing to do and enjoy in their festivals and events. Surely, it can be a good idea to get involve with the real festivals and events. The race is arranged to gather money for the physically challenged, able bodied run for this honest purpose. There is no age limit of the participants, eight to eighty everybody can run. Winning or loosing does not matter at all here; participating for such a grand reason is concerned as the most honorable fact. Participants come here to take part in the Bike Race and Half Marathon from almost every part of the world. The participants receive warm welcome and are provided comfortable accommodation. Angkor half Marathon in Siem Reap revives the spirit and bond of the Khmer people. If you are coming to Cambodia during this great opportunity, please do not miss the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon. Beside from enjoying Angkor half Marathon in Siem Reap, you can plan for the other Festivals and Events in Siem Reap which include Chaul Chnam (Khmer New Year) in Siem Reap and Angkor Photo Festival in Siem Reap. Rest assured that the wonderful city of Siem Reap won’t disappoint you!

16th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon:

On Dec 4, 2011, mark your calendars for the 16th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon. This is an annual event held at the Angkor Temple Complex, Siem Reap, Cambodia, with the purpose of helping landmine survivors, as well as saving the young Cambodians from HIV/AIDS, which is one of the major health-related problems in the country these days. Through the years, thousands of participants have been flocking to Siem Reap to join the event with the aim of bringing artificial limbs to landmine victims and advocating the fight against the global menace, HIV/AIDs.

This year year also marks the 6th the Angkor Wat Bike Race and Ride that will happen on Dec. 3, 2011. This is organized by Village Focus International through VF-Cambodia and mainly aims to support poor children and women at risk of human trafficking, drug abuse and other forms of exploitation. Proceeds of the event are used to provide health, education and protective services to hundreds of children and their families living in the slum areas.

Apsara Tours is very proud to be a part of promoting these events through our newly designed special edition package, purposely made to bring foreign runners and cyclists to Cambodia to support these causes and at the same time to showcase the country's tourism gems. Our 3D2N package starts from US $210 per person on twin sharing basis, which includes accommodation, some meals and Siem Reap city tour. Optional temple tours are also available for your choice, should you wish to explore the temple ruins and set your feet on the grounds where Miss Lara Croft was once on.

Visit website of Angkor Wat International Half Marathon Steering Committee...

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Saturday, November 19, 2011

Tourism Indochina: Why Spanish Queen Visited Cambodia

Queen Sofía of Spain (born 2 November 1938) is the wife of King Juan Carlos I of Spain. She has been working closely with Dr. Muhammed Yunus on his Grameen Bank (or "Village Bank"), which offers microcredits to women across the world. Sofía has travelled to Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador and Mexico to support the activities of the organization led by Yunus.

Queen Sofia of Spain has also been a strong supporter of Somaly Mam's efforts and that of the NGO she founded, AFESIP (Agir pour les Femmes en Situation Précaire), in combating child prostitution and slavery in Cambodia. In 1998, Somaly Mam was awarded the prestigious Prince of Asturias Awards for International Cooperation in the presence of Queen Sofia.

The Queen is an Honorary Member of the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts and of the Royal Academy of History. She has received Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Rosario (Bogotá), Valladolid, Cambridge, Oxford, Georgetown, Evora, St. Mary's University, Texas, and New York.

Spanish Queen Visited Cambodia:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-01-31):

Phnom Penh - Queen Sophia of Spain will pay an official visit Cambodia on February 8 and 9 at the invitation of Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

The ministry said the queen will and visit Spanish-funded projects and tour the famous Angkor Wat temple complex in the northern city of Siem Reap.

The ministry announced the visit the same day it announced Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Ray would pay a separate state visit to the king, on February 6 and 7.

Calmy-Ray will also meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen, her Foreign Minister counterpart Hor Namhong, inspect Swiss-assisted repairs to the famous Banteay Srei temple at Angkor Wat and visit a children's hospital run by Swiss philanthropist Beat Richner, according to the Foreign Ministry.

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Tourism Indochina: Direct Bus Hochiminh City Vietnam-Siem Reap Cambodia

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, listen), formerly named Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn) is the largest city in Vietnam. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochin-china and later of the independent state of South Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. In 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Định Province and was officially renamed Hồ Chí Minh City after Hồ Chí Minh (although the name Sài Gòn is still commonly used.) The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers (37 mi) from the South China Sea and 1,760 kilometers (1,090 mi) south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

Siem Reap (Khmer: ក្រុងសៀមរាប) is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and is the gateway to Angkor region. Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market. In the city, there are traditional Apsara dance performances, craft shops, silk farms, rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake.

Siem Reap today, being a popular tourist destination, has a large number of hotels and restaurants. Most smaller establishments are concentrated around the Old Market area, while more expensive hotels are located between Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport and the town along National Road 6. There are a variety of mid-range hotels and restaurants along Sivatha boulevard, and mid budget to mid-range hotels in the Phsar Leu area.

Direct Bus Hochiminh City Vietnam-Siem Reap Cambodia:

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-02-02): Saigon Passenger Transportation Company (Sapaco Tourist) said the bus, running two times per week would cross the international border gate of Moc Bai in Tay Ninh province to enter Cambodia. Sapaco Tourist which operates on the HCMC-Phnom Penh route also provides passengers with traveling guidance. With a distance of 550km between HCMC-Siem Reap, the trip would take 8 hours and cost US$20 per one-way ticket and $36 for a round one. Tickets are available at 197 or 309 Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1. Source: SGGP

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Tourism Indochina: Cruise ships bring in nearly 3000 tourists to Saigon

What is Cruise ship?

A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way. Transportation is not the prime purpose, as cruise ships operate mostly on routes that return passengers to their originating port, so the ports of call are usually in a specified region of a continent.
In contrast, dedicated transport oriented ocean liners do "line voyages" and typically transport passengers from one point to another, rather than on round trips. Traditionally, an ocean liner for the transoceanic trade will be built to a higher standard than a typical cruise ship, including high freeboard and stronger plating to withstand rough seas and adverse conditions encountered in the open ocean, such as the North Atlantic. Ocean liners also usually have larger capacities for fuel, victuals, and other stores for consumption on long voyages, compared to dedicated cruise ships.

Tourism Indochina: Cruise ships bring in nearly 3000 tourists to Saigon

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-12-03):

Cruise ships bring in nearly 3,000 tourists Five-star cruise liner Costa Allegra of Italy with nearly 1,200 tourists aboard anchored at the Sai Gon Port in Ho Chi Minh City on December 3.

The visitors, most of them are from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, are scheduled to tour the city and its Cu Chi war relic site before embarking on scenic tours to Mekong Delta provinces of Tien Giang and Ben Tre. Also on December 3, the Saigontourist Travel Service Company welcomed the cruise ship SuperStar Libra that docked at the Cai Lan Port in northeastern Quang Ninh Province on its first voyage to Vietnam. Some 1,700 holidaymakers aboard the SuperStar Libra will visit the UNESCO-recognised world natural heritage Halong Bay and the Bai Chay Resort and go shopping at the Hon Gai Market. Le Quang Thang, head of Saigontourist’s cruise travel department said that around 1,000-2,200 visitors from Hong Kong will travel to Halong Bay by the SuperStar Libra or SuperStar Virgo every week in the coming time.

The Saigontourist Travel Service Company has so far this year received 40,167 sea cruise tourists, representing a year-on-year increase of 159%. (Source: VNA)

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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Tourism Indochina: The Mekong River Discovery Trail Project Encourages Local Fishermen

Tourism Indochina: The Mekong River Discovery Trail Project Encourages Local Fishermen

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-12-04):

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Cambodia and the UN have launched a joint project aimed at saving endangered Irrawaddy dolphins from extinction, the international body's World Tourism Organization said Tuesday.

The Mekong River Discovery Trail Project encourages local fishermen to work in dolphin-watching tourism instead of fishing, the UN agency said in a statement. Fishing nets often cause the death of Irrawaddy dolphins. "Local authorities believe fishing is depleting the dolphins' food supply. Fishermen will be encouraged to take visitors to see the dolphins and sell food and drinks instead," it said. It did not give financial details. Conservationists estimate that fewer than 100 Irrawaddy dolphins exist in the wild, but the Cambodian government has said the number could be around around 130 and could rise to 170 within the next five years. Thousands of the Irrawaddy dolphins, which have blunt, round heads and are almost white in colour, once swam in the Mekong -- which flows from Tibet to the South China Sea and has tributaries in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The project, which begins this month, will teach fishermen about tourism activities, the UN agency said, adding it hopes to draw tens of thousands of visitors. The Cambodian government said it would help build hotels in a bid to draw visitors. "No dolphins means no tourism. No tourism means no development," Tourism Minister Thong Khon said in the statement.

Tourism is one of the few sources of foreign exchange for impoverished Cambodia, which is still recovering from decades of conflict.

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href="http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/">http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
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Tourism Indochina: The Tourism Industry Has Improved Markedly in Recent Years in Cambodia

Tourism Indochina: The Tourism Industry Has Improved Markedly in Recent Years in Cambodia

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2007-12-09):

The tourism industry has improved markedly in recent years in Cambodia, which is still trying to come to terms with the bloodshed inflicted by the Khmer Rouge regime. It was once dangerous to visit Angkor Wat and the other temples surrounding it. The area was within the reach of Khmer Rouge guerrillas who decamped to the wilds of northwest Cambodia after being driven from power in 1979. But today, the country is at peace, and its glorious temples are crowded with tourists.

A couple of miles to the south of Angkor, the dusty streets of deserted Siem Reap are full of tour buses and tuk tuks motorcycles. The city is abuzz with energy. The shopkeepers call prospective customers to come inside their shops. Along the road near the city’s international airport, hotels are going up quickly and they are doing good business. “We are having one of the best tourism seasons. All our rooms are already booked,” Chea Sokhon, sales executive of La Residence d’ Angkor hotel, told Asia News Network. The city of Angkor comprises over 70 temples, in various states of repair, spread across more than 30 sq km. The city was built between the 9th and 14th century at the height of Cambodia’s Khmer empire, which once governed much of modern day Thailand, Viet Nam, and Laos as well as parts of southern China and Burma. Today it is only the temples that survive the remnants of a metropolis that was the envy of the ancient Southeast Asian world. But it is Angkor Wat, which is the most popular tourist attraction. Certainly the temple itself is an architectural marvel of the ancient world, built in a perfect square more than a kilometre on each side and listed by the United Nations as a world heritage monument. “Angkor Wat is a treasure of Cambodia and of the world,”says Sermkhun Kunawong, Vice president of Bayon CM Organiser, which is organising the mega theatre performance US$1.5-million The Legend of Angkor Wat. Bayon CM Organiser is a joint venture between Cambodia’s Bayon Radio & TV, Kingdom of Cambodia and the Bangkok-based CM Organiser, an event and production company. Sermkhun Kunawong is a modest, quietly-spoken man — part of the generation that survived the Khmer Rouge and the ensuing years of civil war. He says whenever he looks at Angkor Wat, he is inspired to do something to spread the rich culture and history of Angkor Wat. His shifts of projected light, sound and special effects, colour, and silhouette embraced the architecture of the temple, bringing out unexpected aspects of its beauty. He has also used Apsara dances and contemporary Khmer performances to tell the historical story of Angkor Wat. The show, which will end on Jan 20, 2008, is believed to boost tourism in Cambodia. “The show will transport you back in history during a time when this ancient wonder of the world was once the centre of a powerful empire. I hope people will come to have an understanding of pre-Angkor times through this show,” says Sermkhun. The temples of Angkor still bear the scars of the brutal regime of Khmer Rouge during which an estimated two million people died. The regime destroyed anything they regarded as decadent or culturally impure, including many buildings and temples. But the temples are being reclaimed and efforts are being made to promote the Cambodian culture by individuals like Sermkhun Kunawong. “Angkor is our identity. It is our strength and hope for better future,” says Sermkhun. “We hope that more and more people visit the great temple and our rich culture and heritage spread all across the world.” In some ways things are changing. Foreign visitors are flooding in—1.7 million tourists visited Cambodia last year and the first seven months of this year (2007) have already brought 975,349 visitors. Siem Reap arrivals have increased with 615,445 visitors while Phnom Penh and other destinations had brought in a total of 359,903 visitors. And while there are no official figures on how much each tourist spends in Cambodia, the dizzying array of luxury hotels in Siem Reap—ranging from the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor to quirky boutiques like Hotel de la Paix—testifies to the emergence of a new generation of high-end travellers. With the tourists comes money—desperately needed in a country where people are still mired in grinding poverty. In Siem Reap’s old market, where tourists gather, so too do maimed land mine victims who have been reduced to beggary. On a visit to the old market in Pokambor, I met Chang, a roadside bookseller. Her husband, Chan Vanna, a former member of the Cambodia army, lost both legs in a landmine explosion in 1993. “After he lost his legs, we turned to begging as we had no other way to support our family. It was terrible, humiliating,” remembers Chang. “But now we have decided to work and never to beg. We just hope that more tourists come here so that we get more customers,” says Chnag. Perhaps if Cambodia has to come out from the decades of despair, it needs the kind of resilience Chang has. “Sometimes we need to be tough and strong. We need to fight back”, says Chang. Behind her the light creeps across Angkor Wat.

The great temple stood in the bright sun light as it has for hundreds of years as a symbol of hope and faith of the Cambodian people, who are still trying to come to terms with the turmoil and bloodshed inflicted by the Khmer Rouge regime. (By SYED NAZAKAT in Siem Reap/ Asia News Network)

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