Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Travel firms impatient for 2010 Tourism Year scheme

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Travel firms impatient for 2010 Tourism Year scheme

Tourism companies are impatiently waiting for the tourism administration’s scheme for the National Tourism Year 2010, hosted by Hanoi, which will be combined with the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi. They have just six months left to prepare for this great event.

Van Mieu - an attractive destination in Hanoi.

Travelling and discovering history

There are around 500 days left from now to the great celebration of the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi as Vietnam’s capital. However, travel firms have only six months to prepare for the Hanoi National Tourism Year, which explains why they are anxious.

All tourism companies in Vietnam are urgently developing tours and advertising plans to attract visitors to Hanoi. Discovering the city’s 1,000 years of history is the focus of almost all tours.

“Hanoi will be the foremost destination on tours for local and foreign visitors coming to the north. Tours in 2010 will be connected to historic events, such as King Ly Cong Uan and the Edict on the Transfer of the Capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh province at present) to Dai La (Hanoi at present), the Ly, Tran, Le dynasties, Phat Tich Pagoda (Bac Ninh), and combined with tours to Yen Tu and Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh,” said Hanoi Redtours Deputy Director Nguyen Cong Hoan.

“Cultural, historical and folk game tours will encourage visitors to take initiative in discovering the culture and people of Hanoi,” added historian Le Van Lan.

Anxious for event scripts

Foreign visitors discover Hanoi's cuisines.

Many travel firms say that they are confused and cannot begin compiling their tours for next year because the plans for the Hanoi – National Tourism Year and for the 1,000^th great anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi are not available.

Hanoi Redtours’ Nguyen Cong Hoan said his company needs information about events and festivals in 2010 to prepare its plan. Travel firms also want the culture-tourism administration to hold training courses on the history and culture of Hanoi for tour guides.

Saigontourist’s Pham Duc Hoa said Hanoi should inform tourist firms at least one year before it organises such a massive event so travel firms have time to prepare and to inform their foreign partners.

The National Tourism Year, an initiative of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, made its debut in 2003. Each year a province or city is chosen to host the programme promoting the tourism potential of a specific region to international visitors.

Ha Yen

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.