Saturday, June 27, 2009

TRAVEL IN BRIEF 27/6

City tour operators come out on top

HCM City had the largest number of top hotels and tour operators last year followed by Ha Noi, according to an annual honours list put out by the Viet Nam Tourism Association.

Saigontourist Travel Service Co, Exotissimo-Cesais JV Co, Viet Nam-Ha Noi Joint stock Co, Hanoitourist, and An Giang Tourism Co led the top 10 international tour operators list.

The top 10 five-star hotels were Sofitel Plaza and Melia in Ha Noi, Rex, Renaissance Riverside Sai Gon, and Majestic in HCM City, Nikko in Ha Noi, Evason Ana Mandara, Sun-rise Beach, and Vinpearl Resort&Spa in Nha Trang, and Furama Resort in Da Nang.

Television series helps Viet Nam

The first episode of the travel series "Discovery: An itinerary", which showcases Viet Nam’s natural beauty, has been broadcast on several television channels since June 21.

The programme, produced by Long An TV and the Uniad Joint stock Co., brings to viewers the scenic landscapes and the cultures of Viet Nam’s 64 provinces. It also offers much information about the traditional lifestyles of the ethnic groups.

Departing from the Mekong province of Ca Mau, the 52-episode series takes viewers north. In every episode, two guides and four travellers will arrive at a new place and discover life there.

Viewers aged 18 to 30 can win free trips by logging on to hanhtrinhkhampha.uniad.com.vn or calling hotline 80111878.

The programme is being broadcast on Long An TV, Ca Mau TV, Kien Giang TV, Ba Ria-Vung Tau TV and Binh Thuan TV.

Vintage cars, bikes on display

Many vintage cars and scooters are being displayed at the Sai Gon Vintage Vehicles Club at HCM City’s District 9.

The club, formerly the Suoi Mo eco-tourism park, has scooters, mopeds and motorbikes besides cars like the Volkswagen Beetle and Citroen DS, many of them manufactured in the 1940s.

Many of the vehicles are not only on display but also for sale. An antique Citroen, for instance, is currently offered at US$5,600.

TV documentary on national park

A German television crew from Medien Kontor will arrive next month to make a documentary on the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh.

The park’s director, Luu Minh Thanh, said the film, to be directed by Therese Engels, would be about the Park’s flora and fauna, world-renowned caves, and some wildlife conservation projects Germany has funded in Viet Nam.

It will also feature tourist destinations like Tien Son caves, the Eight Maidens cave, and Moc Spring eco-tourism park.

PV

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