Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: sea festival

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Vietnam travel agencies join Cambodia Sea Festival

Posted: 14 Dec 2014 02:18 AM PST

An art performance at the festival (Photo: VNA)
Vietnamese tourist companies joined foreign partners at the third Sea Festival held in Cambodia on December 12-14.
The festival took place in the coastal city of Koh Kong , about 250km southwest of the capital Phnom Penh, with the aim of developing the local marine tourism
Tens of thousands of visitors were drawn to the event which covered a food expo, a trade fair, a workshop on climate change, art performances, and sports events.
The first Sea Festival was held in the port city of Sihanoukville in 2011 and the second in Kep city last year.
The three cities are home to beaches listed among the most beautiful coasts in the world.
Tourism is one of the economic spearheads of Cambodia with the stable growth of 15-20 percent, making great contributions to the domestic gross production.
In January-October, Cambodia welcomed 3.6 million foreign tourists, a year-on-year rise of 6 percent. Vietnam topped the list with about 630,000 arrivals.
Last year, the country greeted 4.2 million overseas visitors and earned 2.6 billion USD in revenue.-VNA

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Vietnam Sea Festival to open in France - Vietnam Sea Festival to open in France

The 2009 Vietnam Sea Festival will be held in Paris, France on April 28-29 to promote advertising programmes and attract foreign visitors to tourist sites in Vietnam.
The festival is organised by the national flagship, Vietnam Airlines, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnamese Embassy in France.
The event is expected to showcase 30 top-rated tourist sites and areas in Vietnam, which have maritime tourism potential, and hundreds of travel agencies in France, Europe and Vietnam.
The 2009 Vietnam Sea Festival is an opportunity for businesses to exchange information, seek business opportunities and advertise Vietnam’s tourism image.
Also on the occasion, Vietnam Airlines coordinated with tourist companies from France and Vietnam to create two special promotional programmes for French tourists visiting Vietnam from April 21 to June 19, and from August 21 to October 20, offering them a 25-percent reduction in prices.

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.