Singapore to help Vietnam/Cruise ships

he Singapore Tourism Board and tourism entrepreneurs will make their second fact-finding trip to Vietnam this quarter for a survey to help the country build terminals for cruise ships considered vital for developing the cruise tourism industry, an official said.

Vietnam welcomed nearly 300,000 cruise passengers in 2002 but after since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 the number has fallen strongly to even under 100,000 passengers last year.

Vu The Binh, head of the travel department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said that Singapore consultants and entrepreneurs would survey a sea route from the central city of Danang to Nghe An to find suitable locations for cruise terminals. This survey follows a similar trip to other destinations in the country last year.

“Along with this assistance, Singapore will share experiences in operating cruise terminals as well as discuss cooperation between the two countries’ tourism companies to woo international cruise passengers,” he said.

Vietnam’s tourism officials in 2008 went to Singapore to work with the Singapore Tourism Board and a Singapore cruise company to learn ways how to develop the cruise industry. These activities are part of a cooperation agreement between the two sides to develop the cruise tourism industry for Vietnam as well as to set up a circle route from Hong Kong to Singapore and Vietnam.

Binh said that the plan to build terminals for cruise ships now enjoy good conditions as the Prime Minister has approved a master plan to build the seaport system for Vietnam, under which some cruise ports will be built in the years to come.

“The important thing is that we find the best locations for such terminals. That’s why we need to cooperate with Singapore to learn from their experiences,” Binh said.

He said the tourism sector would meet with the Ministry of Communications and Transport about such developments.

Cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam to develop cruise tourism in Southeast Asia was also mentioned during the Vietnam trip this month by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Tourism officials have proposed sea routes for cruise tourism from Singapore to Malaysia and on to Thailand and Vietnam before ending up in Hong Kong.

Vietnam has a huge potential to develop cruise tourism, as the country is situated between North and South Asia, and is in close proximity with two cruise hubs of the region namely Singapore and Hong Kong.

However, the cruise industry in the country is still underdeveloped. Vietnam welcomed nearly 300,000 cruise passengers in 2002 but after since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 the number has fallen strongly to even under 100,000 passengers last year.

There are no cruise terminals in the country for cruise ships, and international cruise ships have to drop anchor at cargo ports.

VietNamNet/SGT

Cruise line cuts single supplements-19 August, 2009

Costa Cruises is reducing its single supplement by up to 50% for bookings taken after December 1.

The single supplement comes down to as low as 30% as part of the initiative by the Italian cruise company to encourage more solo travellers.

The seven-night cruise-only price from Dubai in March 2010 for a single person with the trimmed supplement starts at £700.70 in a double inside cabin on new ship Costa Luminosa travelling to Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.
The company’s managing director Marco Costa said: “Cruising is the perfect holiday for those travelling alone because there is always something to do, particularly aboard Costa ships.

“We have excellent entertainment, fantastic dining experiences and a wide choice of shore excursions, perfect whether you want to enjoy some alone-time or meet like-minded people.”

Pirate attack on Amazon cruise ship-11 August, 2009

IMA - An Australian couple have told The Age in Melbourne about a terrifying encounter with pirates who robbed the luxury cruise ship on which they were travelling in the Amazon.

Christina Ibbotson and Keith Lawson had just started their month-long South American holiday when gunmen stormed their cruise ship on the Ucayali River in the Peruvian Amazon in a dawn raid.

There were 12 Australians among the 28 middle-aged passengers on board the MV Aqua, which had been attacked and ransacked by pirates only 10 days earlier.

Ms Ibbotson said she first became aware of the attack when she heard shots fired outside her cabin and saw a man armed with a machine-gun coming towards her.

''Your mind just doesn't register that pirates had boarded the ship and when I saw the bandit coming towards me, I just shut the door,'' she said.

The couple then endured a terrifying 25-minute wait in their cabin wondering if all the other passengers had been murdered or if the pirates planned to take them as hostages for ransom.

The bandits stormed the couple's cabin last and robbed them at gunpoint of all their cash, cameras and jewellery before forcing them into another cabin.

Most of the passengers - including four Britons, two Americans and four Spaniards - were in the ship's breakfast room when the pirates attacked and were robbed, then bound and forced to lie on the floor.

Ms Ibbotson said most of the passengers were angry they had not been warned of the first pirate attack and said they had not heard anything from the Peruvian company Aqua Expeditions since.

The Peruvian Minister for Tourism, Martin Perez, has reportedly vowed to provide Coast Guard and National Police escorts for cruises in the region, to step up patrols and to increase security officers on board vessels in a bid to salvage the area's tourism reputation.

''This incident is of national importance as tourism is a vital activity in the region,'' Perez said.

Aqua Expeditions has reportedly changed its itinerary to avoid the area of the latest raid.

Source: The Age

Discovering Vietnam in two weeks or more

Having a diverse natural environment, age-long traditions and a rich culture and long history, Vietnam could satisfy tourists for a wonderful vacation. To discover the country more thoroughly, tourists could book a two-to-three-week trans-Vietnam tour to well-known destinations recently offered by Ben Thanh Tourist.
Tourists cruise at Halong Bay.The first stop on the tour is the Mekong Delta, a land of endless green rice fields, tropical orchards and floating markets such as Cai Rang and Phong Dien in Can Tho City.
Sapa, the misty town in the northern province of Lao Cai, is a must-see destination listed in every itinerary. One reason is the famous Sapa Love Market and another is the trek to Ham Rong Mountain for a panoramic view of Sapa Town. Hikers will be dazzled by the poetic and splendid scenery of red-tiled roofs looming in the mist.
Despite its growing popularity Sapa has changed very little and much can be earned about the life and culture of ethnic groups from the locals.
Next stop is the UNESCO world heritage Ha Long Bay, in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Halong Bay resembles a geographic work of art with more than 1,500 spectacular islands and islets including the Sail, the Pair of Roosters and the Incense Burner, as well as grottoes and caves such as Thien Cung (Heaven Palace Grotto), Dau Go (Wooden Stake Grotto), Sung Sot (Surprise Grotto), and Tam Cung (Three Palace Grotto). When exploring the bay and observing the stalactites of many shapes and colors it is easy to get lost in the legendary world of the stone islands.
Another world heritage awaits the travelers: Hoi An Ancient Town in the central province of Quang Nam. The ancient town is famous for pagodas, wooden houses and architectural wonders such as the Japanese Bridge, Tan Ky House, Tu Duc King Temple and Thien Mu Pagoda, all standing as a testimony to the elegant and meticulous architecture and design of the past.
The grandiose complex of Bich Dong Pagoda and Tam Coc Grotto in Ninh Binh Province will excite even the most seasoned travelers with the pristine beauty of stalactites and stalagmites sparkling like gemstones in the caves and the serenity of the ancient pagoda.
The tour also includes a city tour in HCMC and Hanoi with visits to famous cultural and historical sites and cruises to coastal cities such as Nha Trang and Danang, as well as Mai Chau Valley, a beautiful green valley with stilt houses of ethnic groups in Hoa Binh Province.

A change in international relations can make for good business

A change in international relations can make for good business
Hundreds of Chinese tourists arrived in Taiwan on Monday on the first luxury cruise ship to sail directly to the island from China, boosting prospects for expanded economic and tourism ties between the rivals.

The Ocean Mystery arrived at Keelung port following a two-day cruise from Shanghai, with well-wishers setting off firecrackers and performing traditional dragon dances. The 1,600 passengers are the first of several large-scale tour groups Chinese officials have promised to send to Taiwan by ship or air.

After disembarking, many of the passengers were bused to an upscale shopping mall in nearby Taipei, where they inspected luxury goods at a local department store. Zhang Yonghong and Hsu Hongying, two female shoppers from Shandong province, told reporters they planned to spend up to USD 1,460 at the store.

Since taking office last year, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has eased long-strained relations with China by promoting closer economic ties. Last December, the two sides lifted a ban on direct transportation links imposed when they split amid civil war in 1949.

Taiwanese officials hope a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists could help shore up the island's economy. It contracted 8.36 per cent in the final quarter last year amid the global economic downturn.

Mekong cruise launches in Luang Prabang-17 February, 2009

LUANG PRABANG - Villa Maly has launched Nava Mekong, a dinner cruise along the river in Luang Prabong..

The cruise embarks daily at 5:30 pm, motors downstream to moor near a traditional village for dinner and music, and returns at 9 pm.

The traditional Lao river boat also embarks at 10:30 am for a four-hour lunch cruise that takes in the Pak Ou Caves.

During the afternoon cruise, the Nava stops at the Pak Ou Caves where 5,000 sacred Buddhist statues and images are scattered among two limestone grottoes.

On the evening cruise, traditional Lao dancers from nearby villages perform age-old sets.

Through April, the Nava charges US$30 for dinner and $35 for lunch.

Stay two nights at the Villa Maly and the cruise is complimentary.

Villa Maly, the former residence of a Lao prince and princess, opened in October with 28 superior rooms and five deluxe rooms.

Chopper hopper to Halong Bay

HANOI - Trails of Indochina has improved access to Halong Bay from Hanoi with the release of a luxury junk cruise module that includes return helicopter transfers.

The use of helicopters between the Vietnamese capital and the UNESCO World Heritage site means travel time between the two points, a three-hour journey by road, has been cut down to less than one hour.

This positions the cruise option as a pre or post conference add-on module.

The cruise component is operated by Trails of Indochina’s Halong Bay specialist Cruise Halong with groups staying on board traditionally built luxury junks.

These include the Halong Jasmin, which can accommodate up to 48 passengers, and the smaller 10-cabin Halong Ginger.

Both vessels include restaurants, lounge bars, libraries, gyms and massage rooms.

Highlights of the one to three day cruise itineraries include visits to floating villages and local schools, traditional temple ceremonies, trekking, cycling and exploration of Cat Ba Island and its national park by kayak.

Vietnam suffers drop of 30% in int’l cruise passengers

Vietnam's target of welcoming 300,000 international cruise passengers this year, as once seen in the golden year of 2002, has been far beyond reach as actual arrivals will likely fall 30% year on year to only 150,000, an official said.


The sharp fall is attributed to a drop of up to 50% in the number of cruise passengers from China, as visitors from this market last year surged to 150,000 compared to the total number of 224,000.

The sharp fall is attributed to a drop of up to 50% in the number of cruise passengers from China, as visitors from this market last year surged to 150,000 compared to the total number of 224,000, according to the Travel Department of the National Administration of Tourism. In this year, just nearly 70,000 Chinese travelers are expected.

Vu The Binh, head of the department, told the Daily on Wednesday that most Chinese cruise passengers visited the country via the sea route in the northern region, especially via Quang Ninh Province. The sharp fall therefore hit northern travel firms hard, he said.

The travel department, however, still pins high hopes on arrivals from China, and will seek to lure guests from many other cities in the neighboring country, including Hainan Island, Fuchien and Shanghai, Binh said.

"We and some travel companies made a working trip to Hainan Island last month for developing the route between the island and Halong and opening other new routes to the country," he said.

Officials of the national tourism department last month also came to Singapore to meet the Singapore Tourism Board and a Singapore cruise company. During the trip, the Singapore partners pledged to help Vietnam develop the industry by sharing experiences in operating cruise terminals.

Pham Quang Hung, director of the International Cooperation Department, told the Daily that no terminals in Vietnam were designed to cater to the needs of cruise ships although the country needs to prepare for the cruise development.

Hung said the Singaporean consultants would make a fact-finding trip to Vietnam in February or March.

"First, they will make a survey to find suitable locations for such terminals," he said and explained that after the trip the two sides could make a deal for developing the industry.

Hung said the national tourism department would work with those companies with the potential to build cruise terminals and submit the scheme to the Government.

"We think that the country's tourism needs terminals in Quang Ninh, Danang and HCMC," he said.

The idea to build major terminals for cruise ships has been suggested in many meetings but no further headway has been made.

Binh from the Travel Department, who also joined the Singapore trip, said that the two sides discussed cooperation to develop a circle route from Hong Kong to Singapore and Vietnam.

"The Singapore partner also wants cooperation because Vietnam is situated between North and South Asia, and near two cruise hubs of the region namely Singapore and Hong Kong," he said.

Vietnam welcomed nearly 300,000 cruise passengers in 2002 but after the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 the number has fallen strongly. Last year Vietnam welcomed around 224,400 passengers, just 1% more than in 2006.

(Source: SGT)

Culture ship to berth in HCM City

The Nippon Maru, a ship that set sail from Japan carrying 328 youth ambassadors from Japan and the 10 member nations of the ASEAN grouping at the end of October, will dock at HCM City's Sai Gon Port tomorrow.
The sailing trip spanning 11 countries takes place every year under a cultural exchange programme funded by the Japanese Government.The sailing trip spanning 11 countries takes place every year under a cultural exchange programme funded by the Japanese Government.
The programme aims at promoting friendship and mutual understanding among the youth of Japan and Southeast Asian countries, broadening their perspectives and acquainting them with the history and culture of each nation.
The programme is open to exceptional young people between 18 and 30 years of age who have been chosen from many hopeful candidates to represent their countries on the ship's annual voyage.
This year, Viet Nam has 29 representatives aboard the cultural exchange vessel.
Le Quoc Phong, deputy secretary of the municipal Communist Youth Union, says that after arriving HCM City, the young people will live with local families in the city to directly experience local culture and lifestyles.
Around 200 families from nine districts in the city will host the youth delegates.
Also tomorrow, the' youth will present cultural facets of their respective countries in a performance at the Youth Cultural House; and on Thursday, they visit the Dai Nam Tourist Cultural Historical Zone in Binh Duong Province.
Japan first launched the programme in conjunction with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in 1974. Viet Nam sent its first representatives in 1996, after joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Programme organisers hope it will foster in all of the participants a spirit of leadership they can take back to their respective countries.
The Nippon Maru will leave for Manila, the Philippines on Saturday.
(Source: Viet Nam News)

VietNamNet - TRAVEL IN BRIEF 21/11

\In October HCM City’s Grand Hotel received more than 500 cruise tourists from Japan and the US. Its management said the French-style architecture of the hotel, first built in 1930, is one of the attractions for European guests.
To better serve MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) and business tourists, last year Saigontourist Holdings Co, the hotel owner, spent US$20 million to turn Grand into a five-star hotel, one of the best in the city.
Vung Tau to hold cultural festival on daily life
The coastal resort town of Vung Tau will host the Culture-Tourism Festival of Ba Ria – Vung Tau 2009 from January 26 to February 4. It will focus on cultural, tourist, and mundane daily activities.
To be held at Loc An Wharf, the monument of "the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the sea" in Xuyen Moc District, and on Con Dao Island, the festival will feature many cultural, sporting, and tourist events, including beach volleyball, beach football, Chinese chess, folk games, art performances, and exhibitions of calligraphy and tourist photos.
Budget Car Rental launches short tours
Well-known car rental company Budget Car Rental has launched World-Class Drives, a collection of 15 short trips out of HCM City. The half and full-day trips include the Mekong Delta, the seaside resort town of Vung Tau, Binh Chau Hot Springs. Dan Cohen. Budget Viet Nam’s general manager said these short tours are targeted at war veterans, cooking buffs, families and golfers.
Provinces safeguard tourists against storm
Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan provinces on the south-central coast and Ba Ria-Vung Tau in the south took precautions to protect visiting tourists from the impact of tropical storm Noul, which was forecast to hit them earlier this week and has since blown over.
Resorts in Binh Thuan warned tourists to stay away from the sea and in safe places. Ba Ria-Vung Tau authorities issued an alert to protect tourists while Khanh Hoa cancelled all boat trips to bays and islets on Monday afternoon. The storm weakened into a tropical low shortly after it reached the central coastline on Monday night.
(Source: Viet Nam News)