Tourism Indochina: Cambodia and Vietnam Visa Exemption

Cambodia and Vietnam Visa Exemption has been into effected from 04th December 2008 onwards

First Let Read: Cambodia and Vietnam renew its visa exemption agreement

(By Aseanaffairs: November 9, 2008):

Cambodia, Vietnam sign visa agreement
Cambodia has signed a visa exemption agreement with Vietnam for ordinary passport holders during an official visit led by Prime Minister Hun Sen to Hanoi this week, Kyodo news agency quoted a senior government official as saying Saturday.

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters Cambodia has similar agreements with Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Laos.

Following his official visit to Vietnam on Tuesday and Wednesday, Hun Sen also participated in regional meetings among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam on economic cooperation.

Among those meetings was the 3rd ACMECS Summit where the five neighbouring countries discussed implementation of Single Visa Scheme on Friday to facilitate entry into five southeastern Asian countries including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

ACMECS is short for Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy. Ayeyawady, Chao Phraya and Mekong are three mother rivers that culturally and historically unify these five countries in heart of Southeast Asia.

Those talks ended late Friday.

....

Cambodia and Vietnam Visa Exemption has been into effected from 04th December 2008 onwards

(By TourismIndochina.com:Date : 2008-12-05):

Cambodia & Vietnam Visa Exemption has been into effected from 04th December 2008 onwards Bayon Heritage Travel & Tours wish to inform that the agreement between Cambodia and Vietnam regarding toVisa Exemption will be went into effect on 04th December 2008, reference Reaksmey Kampuchea newspaper No.475,Dated:25th Nov 08. For Cambodian, Cambodian gets Visa Exemption to Malaysia, Singapore, Phillipine and Lao PDR. And Vietnam is the 5th country of Visa Exemption agreement with Cambodia.

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Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Airlines to open direct flight to the US

Tourism Indochina: Vietnam Airlines to open direct flight to the US

(Tourism Indochina:Date : 2009-02-18):

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced a new plan to open direct flights to the U.S in 2010 if conditions are right, three years later than its earlier plan which was delayed for three years.

Vietnam Airlines confirmed that it would open direct flights to the U.S once the carrier is again economical strong enough.

At the moment, the airlines is preparing the market and planes to reach the goal of direct flights to the US by 2010.

According to the Vietnam Aviation Department, the US is a difficult market, and that aviation authorities in the country impose many conditions on airlines wanting to open direct flights to the country.

Besides making the airlines follow the US’ tight security and safety regulations, US aviation authorities also require airlines to supply a passenger list with personal information on all passengers on-board the planes four hours before take-off. This is an unprecedented condition, not require by most other countries. However, the US remains the number one aviation market, so most airlines in the world want enter it. That is why Vietnam Airlines is trying to open direct flights to the country, even in this time of worldwide economic crisis.

Like other airlines around the world, Vietnam Airlines’ number of passengers and cargo flights are decreasing.

In the first quarter of 2009, the number of international passengers traveling with the airline fell 5%, and the airline has set a target to carry only around 9.4 million passengers in this challenging year of 2009.

Last year, Vietnam Airlines carried nine million passengers.

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Vietnam Airlines to open direct flight to the US in 2010

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced a new plan to open direct flights to the U.S in 2010 if conditions are right, three years later than its earlier plan which was delayed for three years.

Vietnam Airlines confirmed that it would open direct flights to the U.S once the carrier is again economical strong enough.

At the moment, the airlines is preparing the market and planes to reach the goal of direct flights to the US by 2010.

According to the Vietnam Aviation Department, the US is a difficult market, and that aviation authorities in the country impose many conditions on airlines wanting to open direct flights to the country.

Besides making the airlines follow the US’ tight security and safety regulations, US aviation authorities also require airlines to supply a passenger list with personal information on all passengers on-board the planes four hours before take-off. This is an unprecedented condition, not require by most other countries. However, the US remains the number one aviation market, so most airlines in the world want enter it. That is why Vietnam Airlines is trying to open direct flights to the country, even in this time of worldwide economic crisis.

Like other airlines around the world, Vietnam Airlines’ number of passengers and cargo flights are decreasing.

In the first quarter of 2009, the number of international passengers traveling with the airline fell 5%, and the airline has set a target to carry only around 9.4 million passengers in this challenging year of 2009.

Last year, Vietnam Airlines carried nine million passengers.

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Vietnam Tourism Remains Strong through Economic Crisis

There has been plenty of tourism news coming out of Vietnam recently, ranging from forum announcements to arrival figures, discounts and promotions to a new visa waiver, fuel surcharge cuts and a focus on Japanese arrivals.



ASEAN Tourism Forum



The 2009 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), considered the most important event in the ASEAN tourism co-operation framework, will be held in Ha Noi from January 5 to 12.

Around 1,500 delegates from around the world will participate in the eight-day forum, themed "Towards New Heights".



Ancient Hoi An Receives 450,000 Tourists



The ancient city of Hoi An received approximately 450,000 tourists, including 320,000 foreigners in 2008.

To attract tourists during the Christmas and New Year season, the Hoi An Culture, Sport and Tourism Centre is holding a number of traditional art performances, a street festival, an ethnic cultural fair and meetings with foreigners.

Visitors can enjoy a street festival on New Year’s Eve and a cultural fair showcasing each ethnic group.



Tour Operators Slash Prices as Economic Crisis Decreases Demand



Many Vietnamese tour companies are attempting to offset the damage of the global economic crisis by offering enticing discounts and other promotions.

Cholontourist Company said it has reduced the prices of some tours by US$50-60 and is considering further reducing profit margins in order to keep regular customers.

Vietnamese tour operators said the number of groups booking their services has dropped from an average of 25 a month to two or three.

Although December-February is usually the peak tourist season for the Asia-Pacific region, the outlook thus far is not looking good.

While Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific have been offering low-cost domestic fares in recent months, international tickets to Vietnam remain high.



Vietnam Waives Visas for Russians Tourists Next Month



Russian visitors with valid passports will no longer require visas to come to Vietnam as of January 1, 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

Vietnam will be the third Southeast Asian country after Thailand and Laos to waive visas for Russian citizens visiting for tourism purposes.

For a visa waiver for stays of 15 days or less, Russian visitors must have a valid passport and a return or onward ticket.



Cathay Pacific Airways Cuts Fuel Surcharges for Long-Haul Services



Cathay Pacific Airways will significantly cut passenger fuel surcharges from US$25.1 to $13.8 for short-haul flights and from $106.7 to $64 for long-haul services in Northeast and Southeast Asia including those in Vietnam.



Viet Nam Remains Popular with Japanese tourists



Vietnam will be listed among the key destinations in Japan’s tourism promotion programme in the near future, according to the Japanese Association of Travel Agents.

Despite being in the throes of the global economic downturn, 400,000 Japanese have visited Vietnam YTD.

Vietnam Airlines said that the co-operation of Japanese travel agents and official agencies to hold cultural and tourism events will prove vital in attracting Japanese tourists to Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines operates six direct flights from Ha Noi and HCM City to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka.

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Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
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Read more...

Vietnam Tourism Remains Strong through Economic Crisis

There has been plenty of tourism news coming out of Vietnam recently, ranging from forum announcements to arrival figures, discounts and promotions to a new visa waiver, fuel surcharge cuts and a focus on Japanese arrivals.



ASEAN Tourism Forum



The 2009 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), considered the most important event in the ASEAN tourism co-operation framework, will be held in Ha Noi from January 5 to 12.

Around 1,500 delegates from around the world will participate in the eight-day forum, themed "Towards New Heights".



Ancient Hoi An Receives 450,000 Tourists



The ancient city of Hoi An received approximately 450,000 tourists, including 320,000 foreigners in 2008.

To attract tourists during the Christmas and New Year season, the Hoi An Culture, Sport and Tourism Centre is holding a number of traditional art performances, a street festival, an ethnic cultural fair and meetings with foreigners.

Visitors can enjoy a street festival on New Year’s Eve and a cultural fair showcasing each ethnic group.



Tour Operators Slash Prices as Economic Crisis Decreases Demand



Many Vietnamese tour companies are attempting to offset the damage of the global economic crisis by offering enticing discounts and other promotions.

Cholontourist Company said it has reduced the prices of some tours by US$50-60 and is considering further reducing profit margins in order to keep regular customers.

Vietnamese tour operators said the number of groups booking their services has dropped from an average of 25 a month to two or three.

Although December-February is usually the peak tourist season for the Asia-Pacific region, the outlook thus far is not looking good.

While Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific have been offering low-cost domestic fares in recent months, international tickets to Vietnam remain high.



Vietnam Waives Visas for Russians Tourists Next Month



Russian visitors with valid passports will no longer require visas to come to Vietnam as of January 1, 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

Vietnam will be the third Southeast Asian country after Thailand and Laos to waive visas for Russian citizens visiting for tourism purposes.

For a visa waiver for stays of 15 days or less, Russian visitors must have a valid passport and a return or onward ticket.



Cathay Pacific Airways Cuts Fuel Surcharges for Long-Haul Services



Cathay Pacific Airways will significantly cut passenger fuel surcharges from US$25.1 to $13.8 for short-haul flights and from $106.7 to $64 for long-haul services in Northeast and Southeast Asia including those in Vietnam.



Viet Nam Remains Popular with Japanese tourists



Vietnam will be listed among the key destinations in Japan’s tourism promotion programme in the near future, according to the Japanese Association of Travel Agents.

Despite being in the throes of the global economic downturn, 400,000 Japanese have visited Vietnam YTD.

Vietnam Airlines said that the co-operation of Japanese travel agents and official agencies to hold cultural and tourism events will prove vital in attracting Japanese tourists to Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines operates six direct flights from Ha Noi and HCM City to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka.

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Vietnam Hanoi welcomes over 1 million foreign visitors

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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The five leading countries posting great number of foreigners to visit Vietnam

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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Vietnam hotel industry records growth

Record growth in visitor arrivals, hotel occupancy and room rates and an increase in interest from major hotel groups all occurred in 2006, according to a new survey conducted by financial and accounting firm Grant Thornton Vietnam. Five-star hotels in Hanoi and HCMC recorded significant increases in average room rates and occupancy rates last year, the survey said.

Northern Vietnam remained the market leader in terms of occupancy with over 70% in 2006, according to Grant Thornton’s annual Vietnam Hotel Survey 2007. Grant Thornton surveyed 29 hotels with 3,946 rooms in different cities in three main regions of the country during 2005 and 2006. This third survey by the firm serves as an overview of hotel industry market and reports how Vietnamese hotels are performing. The survey showed a price increase in the average room rate of 7.7%, from US$55.78 in 2005 to $60.06 per room night in 2006. Average prices saw an increase of 21.1% in the North and 15.7% in the central region while the South saw no change. In 2006, average occupancy and price of five-star hotels were 73.1% and $69.06 per room night, respectively. Net income as a percentage of revenue of four - and five-star hotels was 21.1% and 39.7%, respectively, much higher than the 0.4% of three-star hotels. Room sales made up more than 60% of total revenues in both 2005 and 2006. Reservations via the internet, travel agents and tour operators increased, from 44.76% in 2005 to 57.35% in 2006 (as a percentage of room sales). A significant decrease occurred in direct reservations, from 41.21% to 29.80%. Favourite destination Survey results indicate that Vietnam is becoming a more appealing destination for Asians and Europeans. An important trend was the strong 6% increase (from 77% in 2005 to 81.6% in 2006) in international arrivals reported by hotels participating in the survey. Foreign visitor arrivals in 2006 reached 3.6million, of these, 22.7% were business travelers, and 59.9%, tourists. East Asia remained the largest international market segment for Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality industry, accounting for 38% of total international arrivals. Of the 18million Vietnamese tourists who traveled within the country in 2006, many stayed at luxury hotels, the survey discovered. Domestic tourists in 2006 generated $2.25billion in tourism revenue. Grant Thornton said the lack of new hotel development since the Asian financial crisis had finally caught up with demand, resulting in a lack of rooms at certain peak times in both Hanoi and HCMC and particularly around the APEC summit meeting in November of 2006. This shortage still exists, the firm said. The survey shows that hotel developers and operators are now showing renewed interest in the market in the five-star hotel, resort and spa sectors. Such groups include Kingdom Hotels with the Raffles, 4 Seasons and Movenpick brands, Banyan Tree, Colony Resorts and Intercontinental. With the huge volume of money being channeled into investment funds focused on real estate investment in Vietnam, a number of sales of interest in major hotel properties that took place in the last two years included the Hilton, Sofitel Metropole and Guoman in Hanoi, the Duxton and Omni in HCMC, and the Furama in Danang. The group Accor Hotels continues to dominate the scene as the group has the largest number of city hotels and with the Six Senses/Evason spas/resorts under its management.

VinaLand is the largest hotel investor in the foreign-invested sector, according to Grant Thornton. Hotels participating in the survey are located in the cities of Hanoi, HCMC, Halong, Danang, Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, Vung Tau and Dalat.

( Source : Vietnam News )


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