The 37 issues of Vietnam travel weekly magazine

8/8/2019 The 37 issues of Vietnam travel weekly magazine

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1000 YEARS OF

THANG LONG - HANOI

www.travelweekly.com.vn www.travelweekly.com.vn

International Travel Expo 2010 was biggest ever

Hanoi Ancient Citadel Relic Complex

Important ITB Asia 2010

Media Information

O f f i c i a l M e d i a P a r t n e r f o
http://www.travelweekly.com.vn/


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1000 YEARS OFTHANG LONG - HANOI

0 7 O c t

, 2 0 1 0

www.travelweekly.com.vn www.travelweekly.com.vn

InternationalTravel Expo2010 wasbigge st ever

HanoiAncient CitadelRelic Complex

Important ITBAsia 2010MediaI nformation

O f f i c i a l M e d i a P a r t n e r f o r :

Dear Travel Weekly readers!

Welcome to the 37 Issues of Travel Weekly!

First of all, on behalf of all the members at Travel Weekly Magazine I would liketo say thank you very much for supporting and sharing with us your ideas sincethe early days of our magazine.

Born to bring our readers useful and up-to-date information about Travel Busi-ness in Vietnam and around the world to your desktop every Thursday, today,Travel Weekly becomes a part of your daily works for all travel executive as

well as travel lovers those who cares about the tourism industry.

We understand that saving a tree is the responsibility for everyone who inter-ested in the environmental disaster as what the Business Travel operators callResponsible Travel, therefore, towards the eco-friendly environment, Travel

Weekly call our each issue is Eco-Friendly Magazine because we design andprint and/or publish our magazine in PDF format which allows us to send

you immediately via e-mail as well as distribute our magazine to global read-ers. Moreover, at our website, there is even a better way to read our magazine

without download which let you choose the first read and then deciding to keepit on your computer for store or further review.

We do hope that everything we do is just to give you everything in travel newsfor your works and your care. We are looking forward to receive your supportsand share with us in the coming time.Thank you for travelling with us!

Editor-in-chief Anh. Nguyen HoangM: +84 904 230 230E: [email protected]

NewsHang. Bui DucM: +84 979 051 210E: [email protected]

AdvertisingQuyen. Nguyen TuM: +84 987 622 113E: [email protected]

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Website: www.travelweekly.com.vn

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Contact us

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09. Elegant Villa FB introduces modernine dining through October offers

04. Hilton manages second property inVietnam

VIETNAM NEWS

06 - 07. Major sailing event coming toNha Trang

05. Director recognises Ha Long Bayspotential

10 - 11. Countries of CLMV join hands forourism development

Hanoi Ancient CitadelRelic Complex22 - 23

The relic complex of Hanoi ancient citadel is regarded as the most significant historical and cultural relic inVietnam and has been officially added to UNESCOsworld heritage list. It has brought honour and pride toevery Vietnamese citizen as part of the nations cultural

history.

International TravelExpo 2010 was biggest

ever

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Thursday 07.10.2010

The Trade Show for the Asian market will take placeWednesday, 20 October to Friday, 22 October 2010 at

Suntec, Singapore. ITB Asia will feature hundreds of exhibiting companies from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe,the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, covering not

only the leisure market, but also corporate and MICE travel.

Important ITB Asia 2010

Media Information

16 - 21

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14. Ana Mandara Hue to open its doorsn Hue

24. Thua Thien Hue hosts photographyexhibition to celebrate capitals 1,000 th birthday

25. Arts in spotlight as youth markmillennium

1,000 YEARS OFTHANG LONG - HANOI

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

30. Dubai talks over tourism solutions

31. ITB Asia attracts nearly half newbuyers

32. Malaysia to be host the World TourismConference 2010

34. WTM Thursday Programme TacklesBiggest Headaches Facing Industry

40 - 41. Yen Island

DESTINATIONS

International Travel Expo 2010, the largest tourism event in Vietnam, opened its doors on September 30 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center. The Exhibi-tion, was organised by the Vietnam National Administra-tion of Tourism; HCMC Department of Culture, Sports

and Tourism; VINEXAD; and IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd, is bigger and better than before.

SPECIAL

36. SIA to offer Full in-flight connectivity

AVIATION NEWS

38. American Airlines traffic climbs inSeptember

39. Qatar Airways expands Flights toBangkok and Vietnam


4/43Thursday 07.10.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

VIETNAM NEWS

Vietnamtourism, Saigontourist, Viet-nam Airlines, and many other tour-ism companies like La Palanche,Bai Tho Junks, and Vietventurestook part in the 32nd InternationalFrench Travel Market Top Resatourism exhibition held in Paris fromSeptember 21 to 24. The event at-tracted 600 companies from aroundthe world operating in tourism,

transport, and hospitality.

The Hanoi Municipal PeoplesCommittee and Moscow authorities

will jointly hold Moscow Days inHanoi from 8-10 October to cel-ebrate Hanois millennial anniver-sary, and its as part of the activitiesto strengthen Hanoi-Moscow coop-eration. During the event there willbe a variety of activities includinga photo exhibition, a book exhibi-tion, and an art performance by the

world-famous Pyatnitsky RussianFolk Chorus.

Vietnam firms attendFrench tourism expo

Moscow Days to beheld in Hanoi

New luxury hotellaunched in Hanoi

The southern province of BinhThuan will host the internationalsailing festival from 8-11 December.This event is to mark the NationalTourism Year in the Southern Cen-tral Coast Phu Yen 2011 and the15th anniversary of the establish-ment of the Binh Thuan tourismindustry, aiming to develop a world-class sailing industry and promote

tourism in the province, seek toshowcase the attraction of travellingby sea to Vietnam and Binh Thuanto local and foreign visitors.

The five-star Grand Plaza hotel hasopened in Hanoi. The property,

which is owned by South KoreasCharmvit Group, will feature 620rooms in the citys Cau Giay dis-trict. The hotel is part of the GrandPlaza Hanoi mixed-use develop-ment, which also includes a depart-ment store and office space.

Binh Thuan to host sail-ing festival

The famous Bat Trang pottery village in Hanois Gia Lam Districtis marking the capitals millennium anniversary by producingand showcasing 1,000 stoneware items.The stoneware will be exhibited from 5-10 October at the village.The exhibition aims to celebrate Bat Trang Potterys culturaland artistic values and its talented potters, said Gia Lam Dis-tricts Culture and Information Department head Do Van Thinh.Themed Bat Trang Pottery Traditional and Contemporary, theexhibition brings together antiques and commercial items, whichaccount for 30 and 70 per cent of the pieces, respectively.The crafts are dragons from the Ly dynasty, which establishedHanoi as the capital; a carved portrait of King Ly Thai Tos histor-ical edict to relocate the capital to Hanoi; and a 3.15m-tall vase.

Hilton International Manage LLC and its partner Bach Dang Ho-

tel Complex Trading Service Co announced a deal on manage-ment of a hotel in the Bach Dang project in the central coast cityof Danang.The U.S.-based hotel management firm will run the five-starHilton Danang Hotel, a second property in Vietnams hospitalitymarket under Hiltons management after the one in Hanoi.Than Ha Nhat Thong, board chairman of Bach Dang HotelComplex Trading Service Co, told a news briefing in HCMC on

Wednesday that the company had worked with various interna-tional hotel management firms over the past three years, andfinally picked Hilton.Thong said the company, a 70:30 venture between 508 CompanyLimited and Bach Dang Guest House under the Command of Military Zone 5, had invested some VND750 billion to develop

the project on 7,000 square meters along Bach Dang Street in HaiChau District in Danang.The Bach Dang Complex Project has a 25-story hotel with 226rooms, a 17-storey building with 15,600 square meters of officespace and serviced apartment, and 10,500 square meters of retail podium.Guy Phillips, vice president development of Hilton Worldwidefor Asia Pacific region, told the Daily that Hilton was lookingfor a property in HCMC for management in the coming time toexpand its presence in the country.He said Hilton wanted to bring to the country other hotel brandsamong its ten to cater to different needs in the coming years.Thong said the project was scheduled for completion by the lastquarter of 2012.

Hilton manages secondproperty in Vietnam

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Famousstoneware showcased

Hilton Hanoi Opera House



VIETNAM NEWS 5

The Director of New7Wonders Founda-tion, Jean-Paul De La Fuente, has called on Vietnam to launch a national campaign topromote Ha Long Bays image and attemptto gain the title of a New7Wonders attrac-tion.

Jean-Paul made the statement in an interview with The Thao & Van Hoa (Sports &Culture) newspaper after concluding a

working session with the Ministry of Cul-ture, Sports and Tourism on October 4.

He said the publicity campaign was neces-sary in the final rounds of the competitionto increase public awareness of the elec-tion, which should involve the Government. Brazils President took part in voting for itskey natural attraction as it was part of thenational pride and honour, said the chief of the world body evaluating new world

wonders.

He said he understood that at this point, all Vietnamese considered Ha Long bay asthe biggest wonder of the nation, which hesaid needs massive promotion and electioncampaigns to promote its image.

Jean-Paul advised Vietnam to avoid

routines in campaigning while creatingspecial initiatives to attract public attention,especially the young generation, to vote.

He said pictures of the site were not con- vincing enough as his body had receivednumerous beautiful pictures from 28 candi-dates around the world.

These pictures should be accompanied with strong messages, he emphasised.

Colourful figures should be invited topose in the scene and take part in votingand messages on Ha Long Bay should beconveyed to international tourists, Pauladvised.

The voting in the final round will be ex-panded to telephone calls and messaging,in addition to the internet.

He said he expected the Vietnamesepeople would bring their national spirit,

which he saw with his own eyes in theThang Long-Hanoi millennium anniversary,to the Ha Long Bay campaign.

The competition will not be decided by agroup of people but by a majority in the

world, Jean-Paul emphasised.

Director recognisesHa Long Bays potential



VIETNAM NEWS6

Some of the worlds mostskilled yachtsmen will set acourse for Nha Trang nextmonth, when the fifth Vina-Capital Hong Kong to Viet-nam Race terminates on theshores of this seaside city.

Organized by the Royal Hong Kong YachtClub (RHKYC) and supported by SheratonNha Trang Hotel & Spa and SaigontouristTravel Services, the four-day sailing eventbegins Oct. 20 and covers 656 nauticalmiles, making it the longest Category Onerace in Asia.

I cant think of a better place for such agruelling offshore activity to end than inone of the worlds most beautiful bays,said Scott Hodgetts, general manager of he Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa, the

events official hotel and site of the awardscelebration. Add Nha Trangs nauticalheritage to the equation and youve got the

perfect finish line.

Of course, Hodgetts is both biased andprivileged. The 30-story Sheraton, openedless than six months ago, stands astride thebay and Nha Trang skyline like a glimmer-ing titan. Guests and race officials perchedon any of the hotels 284 room balconies

will have first sighting of the winning boat,scheduled to come into view from aroundHon Tre Island on Oct. 23.

The VinaCapital Hong Kong to VietnamRace forms part of the renowned ChinaCoast Race Week and is an officially ap-proved and sanctioned qualifying com-petition for the Rolex Sydney to Hobart,an iconic Australian sporting event thattakes place every December and is widelyconsidered one of the most difficult yachtraces in the world.

This years edition of the VinaCapital HongKong to Vietnam Race which debuted

in 1996 and was resurrected in 2004, whenthe biennial format was established alsocoincides with the full moon, which willadd to the atmosphere as the boats racealong at 20 knots during the hours of dark-ness.

Nha Trang has developed into a real tour-ist destination, with accommodation andbars in reasonable supply, and ample an-chorage and shelter for the boats, saidLindsay Lyons, the races promotions man-ager. Plus, of all the destinations to which

we run races, Nha Trang is definitely themost family-friendly, attracting partnersand kids to travel down from Hong Kong tomake a holiday of it.

Only boats at least 10 meters in length andcrews with documented proof of sufficientoffshore training are eligible to participatein the VinaCapital Hong Kong to VietnamRace.

Major sailing eventcoming to Nha Trang



VIETNAM NEWS 7

For more information about the VinaCapi-al Hong Kong to Vietnam Race, visit www.

rhkyc.org.hk/hkvietnamrace.htm . To bookaccommodation at Sheraton Nha TrangHotel & Spa, go to www.sheraton.com /nhatrang or call +84 58 388 0000.

About Sheraton Hotels & ResortsHelping guests make connections at morehan 400 hotels in 75 countries aroundhe world, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is inhe final stages of a $6 billion worldwide,

multi-year revitalization program. Thiseffort includes a $4 billion investmentn North America, with over $2 billion in

new hotels, $1.5 billion in renovations and$400 million in signature brand initiativesaround the Sheraton brand.

Sheraton is owned by and is the largestand most global brand of Starwood Hotels& Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of theeading hotel and leisure companies inhe world with over 980 properties in more

than 100 countries and 145,000 employ-ees at its owned and managed proper-ties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integratedowner, operator and franchisor of hotels,resorts and residences with the follow-ing internationally renowned brands: St.Regis, The Luxury Collection, W,

Westin, Le Mridien, Sheraton, FourPoints by Sheraton, and the recentlylaunched Aloft, and Element SM. Star-

wood Hotels also owns Starwood Vaca-tion Ownership, Inc., one of the premierdevelopers and operators of high quality

vacation interval ownership resorts. Formore information, please visit www.star-

woodhotels.com .

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts World- wide, Inc.Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide,Inc. is one of the leading hotel and lei-sure companies in the world with 1000properties in nearly 100 countries andterritories with 145,000 employees at its

owned and managed properties. Star- wood Hotels is a fully integrated owner,operator and franchisor of hotels, resortsand residences with the following inter-nationally renowned brands: St. Regis,The Luxury Collection, W, Westin,Le Mridien, Sheraton, Four Pointsby Sheraton, and the recently launched

Aloft, and Element SM. Starwood Hotelsalso owns Starwood Vacation Ownership,Inc., one of the premier developers andoperators of high quality vacation intervalownership resorts. For more information,please visit www.starwoodhotels.com .


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http://www.sofitel.com/gb/home/index.shtml



VIETNAM NEWS 9

V illa FB, an elegant restaurant which combines old-world charmfrom the restored 1930s Frenchcolonial villa with contemporaryouches from its monochrome dcor, isntroducing modern fine dining throughts special October promotions, including

Weekend barbeque dinners and CanadianThanksgiving set menu.

With these first ever Weekend barbequedinners , foodies could tuck into the mostuscious spread of as much delicacies as

anyone could possibly manage. Takingplace every Saturday and Sunday from6pm to 10pm, Villa FBs tropical gardenbeguiles on balmy evenings, completewith the tantalising smell of chargrilledmixed seafood skewers or succulent pep-pered steaks wafting in the air. The entic-ng terrace beckons diners to sit down

under the starry sky for an alfresco mealwith a glass of vino or four, reminiscent of aid-back summer nights in Europe and

North America. Or you could choose tosit indoor, by the white shutters lookingout to the yard, to appreciate the interiorof one of the top 5 most beautiful restau-

rants in town, while others may want tobe seated in the glass room, where youfeel like dining in the middle of an exoticrain forest with the water running down onglass walls as one gourmet visiting VillaFB has aptly put it. This palatable all youcan eat deal costs $30 per person, and is

valid from now until 31 October 2010.

In addition, Villa FB presents an exqui-site Canadian Thanksgiving set menu ,featuring meticulously presented dishesincluding cream of pumpkin soup withseared Alaska scallop and green oilas entre. Main course features deepfried scampi with passion fruit sauce,mashed yam and seafood ravioli, or forthe traditional-minded gourmets: roastedturkey breast with onion puree, crushedpotato and cranberry jus. Canadians ornot, everyone would love the dessertof maple syrup upside down cake with

vanilla ice cream. This set menu, costingUS$30 per person and runs on Monday, 11October 2010, is real haute cuisine, a workof art itself on elegantly laid table, and is atestament to the skills of the chef.

We are very proud of our well-earnedreputation as a top-notch restaurant, creat-ing scrumptious dishes using only thefreshest local produce with an interna-tional flourish, Mr. Nguyen Vy Minh,

Villa FBs owner, said These two specialevents of Weekend barbeque dinners andCanadian Thanksgiving set menu will notonly appeal to nostalgic expats, but alsoto local food connoisseurs. Every dish wepresent, from five-spice barbequed porkskewers to seared foie gras with berrycompote and toasted brioche, is inspiredby classic cuisines but created with amodern flair.

With these tempting offers, October is thetime to dine at Villa FB, to enjoy modernfine dining at its best.

For further information, please contact: Villa FB79 Suong Nguyet Anh Street, District 1, HoChi Minh CityTel: +84-8-6290 6571Email: [email protected]

Website: www.villafb.com

Elegant Villa FB introduces modern

fine dining through October offers

Canadian Thanksgiving set menu


10/43

H igh-ranking tourism officials of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, often referred to as CLMV,announced in HCMC that they had agreedo join hands in many activities to developourism in the four countries.

The four Tourism Ministers agreed on thecooperation in a meeting as part of thesixth International Travel Expo in HCMC,which kicked off in HCMC September 30.

Tran Chien Thang, Vietnamese DeputyMinister of Culture, Sports and Tourism,said that the four sides would join hands inmarketing activities, in organizing tourismnvestment forums, and developing human

resources.

The four ministers also agreed on con-certed efforts to make transport easier forcitizens and international tourists to travelo and from the countries, and would seekways to links tours between the four des-inations. Efforts would also be made to

open air routes linking the regions worldheritage sites.

The four ministers also agreed to organizehe ministerial meeting in every two yearso further discussions about the coopera-ion.

We want to use the tourism industry as aever to reduce poverty, said Somphong

Mongkhonvilay, tourism minister of Laos.

Tourism cooperation among the threecountries of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnamwas formally initiated in 2007, when thehree tourism ministers signed an agree-

ment to this effect. The cooperation is nowfurther widened with the participation of Myanmar this year.

The Laos minister said that the three coun-ries were doing well in joint promotion

activities, in organizing caravan tours, and

making transport easier for citizens and in-ternational tourists.

The number of flights between the threedestinations is increasing. Overland trans-portation is easier. We are talking with theGovernments to open more border gatesfor tourists to travel through, he said.

Tourism officials said transportation is veryimportant to help develop the tourism in-dustry.

Making transport easier is very impor-tant especially for visitors from outside the

region. We should help them get visas ininternational border gates. We are talking

with Governments to build more highwaysfor better transportation, said Thong Khon,Cambodias tourism minister.

The tourism ministers of Laos and Cam-bodia said that international tourists to thetwo countries can make visa proceduresat international gates. Meanwhile, for Viet-nam, tourists can get visa at the embassyor at international gates, but in the second

way local travel firms must be there to as-sist such visitors.

The travel expo kicked off on Thursday atthe Saigon Convention and Exhibition Cen-ter in District 7. Along with the exhibition,buyers and sellers are continuing businessmeetings there.Countries of CLMV

join hands fortourism development


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VIETNAM NEWS

Hanoi has held its inauguration ceremonyfor the citys ceramic mosaic mural and re-ceived a Certificate for the largest Ceram-c mosaic by the Guinness Book of World

Records, on October 5.

The mosaic mural came from an idea byNguyen Thi Thu Thuy, a journalist and

painter who works for the Hanoimoi news-paper. She was then given full support bythe city authorities.

The work of art was made from 2007-2010,involving 20 Vietnamese and 15 foreignartists, and 500 children from across thecountry and around the world plus 100

artists from traditional ceramic villages, in-cluding Phu Lang, Bat Trang, Chu Dau andBinh Duong.

At the ceremony, the Guinness Book of World Records Representative, BeatrizFernandez, presented the certificate andconfirmed that the similar record, held byChina, covers 1,494.4 m 2, has been bro-ken.

Now, with its one section alone from AnDuong Terminal to Tan Ap Terminal on YenPhu Street, covering 1,570,2m2, the Hanoimural has set a new Guinness World Re-cord.

Hoa Anh Dao Tourist JSC held a groundbreaking ceremony for a tourism complexproject in the southern coast province of BaRia-Vung Tau over the weekend, adding tothe provinces growing list of resorts underconstruction.

The developer said it invested some VND1,150 billion to develop the OceanamiResort & Luxury Home project in Phuoc HaiTown in Dat Do District, near historic MinhDam mountain, where the Vietnamese mili-tary base used to be.

The project, covering 21 hectares on nearlyone kilometre of beach, is designed with afive-star hotel with 200 guest rooms, 28 bun-galows, two blocks of five-story buildings

with 100 apartments and some 180 luxury vil-

las. The plans include a convention centre,restaurant, spa, swimming pool and marina.

Speaking at the event, Ho Van Nien, vicechairman of the province, elaborated on BaRia-Vung Taus plan, saying the province hasdone everything possible to exploit its 100kmcoastline.

Nien said the investment environment hasimproved with a lot on offer to attract interna-tional investors to the province. There about100 tourism property projects underway inthe province, including the Oceanami Resort& Luxury Home.

The project is scheduled for completion by2012, with villas priced between US$364,000to US$1.3 million per unit.

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Hanoi ceramic mosaicsets Guinness World Record

Work starts on tourism property project in Vung Tau
mailto:%[email protected]


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http://chenla-resort.com/en-us/http://www.la-residence-hue.com/



VIETNAM NEWS

A Vietnam Premier Resort extends its brand to the Ancient City of Hue. This coming October will see the inauguration of the exclusive

Ana Mandara Hue, located directly on Thuan An Beach just a scenic20-minute drive from central Hue. The quiet sounds and vistas of thesea will welcome guests to this establishment, distinguished as theonly beach resort with pool villas in the area.

With an extension of 2.8 hectares and 400 metres of beachfront, AnaMandara Hue offers an open sensation of space, with the largest vil-as and rooms in the area. The property has a total of 78 keys, includ-ng beach pool villas, beach villas, duplex rooms and deluxe roomsn a wide range of styles and dcor designed with the most complete

and modern facilities. Unique experiences available include privaterice paddy dinners, beach BBQs and cruises through the local fishfarms.

Located in a recondite enclave, Ana Mandara Hue offers a uniquespa area, a piece of paradise that offers a wide selection of pleasingherapies, including facial and body massages, exotic body exfolia-ion, aromatherapy and the recognised Ayurveda therapy. Inspired in

Asiatic rituals, these treatments help recuperate energies as well asrelax mind and spirit in one of Hues most original spas.

Guests will also enjoy the close proximity to Hue City where a dy-nastic citadel still stands untouched. The old imperial city along theegendary Perfume River contains the tombs of the Nguyen kings,

recognised by Unesco Heritage of Humanity.

This is the first project managed by Hotel Collection Indochine, anew hotel management company in Vietnam which strives towardsdelivering the latest in hospitality concepts. The company plans tonaugurate its second resort in January 2011, Ana Mandara Ninh Binh,ocated south of Hanoi, and it also has other projects planned in dif-

ferent locations along the country.

Ana Mandara Hueto open its doors in Hue

Ana Mandara Hueto open its doors in Hue

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Ana Mandara Da Lat



VIETNAM NEWS

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung has

approved the Ministry of Culture, Sports andTourisms suggestion to grant visa exemptions toforeign tourists from October 1 to the end of the

year.

It is hoped this will attract more foreign visitorsto Vietnam, and ensure the stable development of the countrys tourism industry, especially in viewof the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The normal cost of a tourist visa to enter Vietnam was US$25 per person. Last year, the Governmentallowed visa exemptions for tourists joining theImpressive Vietnam programme from mid-Mayto the end of 2009.

The program consists of seven campaigns, in-cluding the Impressive grand sale 2010 in Ha-noi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City; Friendly VietNam welcomes you; and the Back to the originfor overseas Vietnamese in Australia, France, theUK and the US.

The above campaigns have helped to rev up thenumber of foreign arrivals to the country by 34.2%in 9 months against the same period last year, orsome 3.73 million arrivals.

Besides, Vietnamese tourist firms have alsolaunched a series of impressive promotion cam-paigns on the occasion of the 1000th birthday an-niversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Foreigntourists

granted visaexemption

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AWORLD - CAMBODIA


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InternationalTravel Expo2010

wasbiggestever


18/43l Weeklys Partner: Defenit Journey Co., Ltd.


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Travel Weekly & Ms. Tue Trinh - Sales & Marketing Managerof Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa

Vietnam Airlines Pavilion


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am Crafts Village Pavilion


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I

nternational Travel Expo 2010, the largest tourism event in Vietnam, opened its doors onSeptember 30 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center. The Exhibition was orga-nized by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism; HCMC Department of Culture,Sports and Tourism; VINEXAD; and IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd. This years ITE HCMC wasspread across 4,500 square meters at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in HoChi Min City. A total of more than 180 exhibiting companies from 14 countries and regionsparticipated at this years show.

Said Mr. La Quoc Khanh, vice director at the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism,I am very pleased with the performance of this years exhibition, which has grown 5 percent fromlast year despite the challenging environment.

This year marked the 6th edition of ITE HCMC. The exhibition is respected as the platform for theGreater Mekong sub-region to showcase its newest tourism and travel products and services, as

well as to network with fellow peers. Thailand was the guest country for this years ITE HCMC.However, the groundbreaking news of at the exhibition was the inception of Myanmar, which joinsCambodia, Lao, and Vietnam to form the new 4 Countries One Destination Bloc. The agreementbetween all four countries was inked at the ITE HCMC ministerial press conference, which washeld just after the opening ceremony. The tourism bloc is aimed at promoting the countries of Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, and Vietnam as a singular tourist destination.

In total, ITE HCMC 2010 had 5 country pavilions and 11 provincial pavilions. The country pavil-ions included Cambodia, Lao, China-Macau, Malaysia, and Thailand, while provincial pavilionsincluded An Giang, Baria-Vungtau, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa, LamDong, Quang Nam, Quang Ninh, and Tien Giang. Major exhibitors for ITE HCMC 2010 included

Vietnam Airlines, Saigon Tourist, VNAT, Ministry of Tourism Cambodia, Nagaworld, Tourism Au-thority of Thailand, Tourism Malaysia, Turkish Airlines, Macau Government Tourist Office and theDepartment of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Thuan, Baria-Vungtau, and Dong Nai amongothers.

Among the other notable features of the exhibition were the hosted buyers program consisting of a select group of more than 120 internationally-renowned tour operators, and the hosted mediaprogram, whereby the different trade publications around the world were invited to publicize Viet-nams largest tourism event through their respective media channels. These special visitors of ITEHCMC had the opportunity to go to their respective pre- and post-show tours, whereby they wereable to see the special sights, sounds, and unique cultural influences of Vietnam.

ITE HCMC 2010 concluded on October 2 in Ho Chi Minh City at the Saigon Exhibition and Con- vention Center.

Exotissimo Pavilion


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days to come 1,000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi

Thursday 07.10.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

Hanoi Ancient Citadel Relic Complex TheTrace from Time Immemorial

Now that Thang Long Citadel has been officially added toUNESCOs world heritage list, experts hope the site will get thenecessary backing to turn it into a well-preserved tourist site

When an announcement was made at 8.30pm on July 31 inBrasilia, the capital city of Brazil, people in Hanoi were jumpingfor joy. It would have been sometime after 6.30 in the morning

when people officially heard that the Thang Long Imperial Cita-dels central complex site had been inscribed on UNESCOs

World Heritage List as the worlds 900th heritage.This is a great honour and pride for all Vietnamese people.There is a big potential for Hanoi to develop the site and will

help raise the prestige of the city in particular and of Vietnam ingeneral, said historian Le Van Lan. This is also a big tributeto our ancestors who established and constructed the soul andbody of Thang Long- Hanoi, he said.The site was recognised for its long-lasting cultural and histori-cal values, its continuity as the countrys power centre and itsmulti-layered foundations, which offer insights into the many dif-ferent dynasties that ruled in feudal times. Located at 18 HoangDieu, a substantial part of the Thang Long Royal Citadel wasaccidentally discovered in December 2002 during the initialphases of construction on the new National Assembly building.


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Voices of the pastThe excavations have uncovered acomplex of foundations for palaces,pavilions, water wells and drainagesystems and several million artefactssuch as ceramic, porcelain and metalwares and human bones, some of which date back to 1,300 years ago,when Vietnam was known as An Namand under the rule of the ChineseTang dynasty.All the overlapping architectures fromhe ensuing periods were built withhe most high-end materials of theimes. It is estimated that the site usedo be home to 36 palaces and 49 pa-

vilions in the Ly dynasty (1010 - 1225),22 palaces and 13 pavilions in the Trandynasty (1225 1400) and six palacesand 32 pavilions in the Le dynasty(1533 - 1789).

The artefacts reflect the long his-ory of Thang Long-Hanoi betweenhe seventh and 18 th centuries, says

Nguyen Van Son, director of the CoLoa Hanoi ancient citadel preserva-ion centre. The finds also show thathe past palaces and pavilions had

sophisticated decorations. Assortediles, ceramics, porcelains and stoneswere used. The construction skills

were very high.By the late 19 th century, Vietnam wasalready under French rule, and partsof Hanoi citadel were destroyed to

enlarge Hanois streets. Now, only thefoundation of Thang Long citadelsKinh Thien Palace and Doan Mon(main gate) and the Hanoi citadelsBac Mon (north gate) and Ky Dai (flagower) can be seen.

All the artefacts have proved thatThang Long Hanoi has been consis-ently a political, cultural and econom-c centre of Vietnam for 13 centuries,with very special cultural and histori-cal values, Lan said.

The old Hanoi Citadel areaAfter bulldozing many parts of the oldcitadel complex, the French used the138,657sqm area as a military com-pound. In 1886 they razed the KinhThien Palace, which was the most im-portant and sacred palace of the kingso build a two-storey artillery com-

mand post.Between 1954-2004, the area served ashe Vietnamese Armys central head-

quarters. The most important build-

ings were the two storeys DragonHouse, the D67 House and the T78A House. The first two houses were usedby the Politburo, General Vo NguyenGiap and General Van Tien Dung, dur-ing Vietnams decades-long strugglefor independence. Here historic de-cisions were made, marking brilliantmilestones of Vietnams revolutionaryhistory, strategising the 1968 GeneralTet Offensive, the 1972 General Of-fensive and the April 30, 1975 Ho ChiMinh Campaign, which led to reunifi-cation of Vietnam.

Preservation issuesHowever, preserving and protectingthe Thang Long royal citadel is a bigchallenge. Seven years after beingdiscovered, the excavation pits areprotected only by makeshift roofs,

while some of findings are temporar-ily stored.But, Son says that the solutions are justtemporary, because scientists have

yet to decide on a preservation planand the citadel is now still being exca-

vated and studied. A permanent planto preserve the relics and a masterplan to preserve the whole citadel willbe made. We hope that UNESCO willhelp us to preserve the relics, Sonsays.He says that the relics are being af-fected by the environment, because

they have been underground for cen-turies and now are exposed to lightand air.Moreover the finds are made fromdifferent materials, each of which re-quires different methods of preserva-tion. Regardless, the citadel complex

will be open to visitors during thecelebration of 1,000 years of ThangLong Hanoi.


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Thua Thien-Hue hosts photography exhibition tocelebrate capitals 1,000 th birthday

The Thua Thien-Hue municipal Peoples

Committee organised a photographyexhibition on 4 October to celebratehe 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-

Hanoi.The exhibition aims to show the closesolidarity between Hanoi, Hue andSaigon.On display were 100 black-and-whiteand colour photos, including 70 of ThangLong-Hanoi and 30 of Thua Thien-Hue.The exhibition will last until October 15.


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Arts in spotlight as youth mark millennium

Young people will hold many activities from art performanc-es to exhibitions and street festivals across the country onOct. 8 to celebrate the 1,000 th birthday of Hanoi.

At a press briefing in Hanoi on Oct.5, the Ho Chi Minh Com-munist Youth Union Central Committee said celebrationsstart in Hanoi with an incense offering ceremony at the KingLy Thai To statue in Hanoi and an art performance of 3,500children and young people of Hanoi and 65 young foreignersaround the Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.

The programme continue with a performance of drums andclarinets as well as singing and dancing at the same time inHanoi, the central city of Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Also in the morning of the day 1,000 children drew paintingsfollowing the theme I love Hanoi around the Hoan KiemLake, while performances of songs and dances took place atuniversities, colleges and senior high-schools nationwide.

As part of the programme, an exhibition of photos and ob-jects held around Thien Quang Lake in Hanoi. Over 600photos, documents and objects displayed under the themeof Vietnamese Youth proud of 1,000 years of Thang Long-Hanoi and National Construction.

A three-day festival of young people of ASEAN+3 (ASEANcountries and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) heldfrom Oct. 6. Participants of the festival plan to take this occa-sion to boost exchanges and establish cooperation in manyfields.

Young people from the northern province of Bac Ninh bringa collage painting, the largest of its kind in Vietnam, to thefestival.

In the evening of Oct. 8, a street festival will be held withsinging, dancing and a parade around the centre of Hanoi.

An exhibition of Bat Trang ceramic craft village of Hanoiopened from 5-10 October to celebrate Hanoi birthday. Also

on display at the exhibition are products from other tradi-ional ceramic craft villages in the country.

In the same vein, an artistic photo festival of 15 northernmountainous provinces also opened on Oct. 5 in Dien BienPhu city, Dien Bien province.

Exhibits are 205 photos selected from 1,219 entries to thefestival, capturing the beauty of nature, the people and theirdaily lives. Of these photos, 24 were awarded with prizes.

Also, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the northern prov-nce of Thai Binh jointly opened an exhibition of 120 photos

of Hanoi and Thai Binh.


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A major exhibition of calligraphy takes place at the Temple of Literaturein Hanoi to celebrate the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long Hanoifrom 4-14 October.Two hundred and fifty calligraphic pictures on paper, pottery and bamboowill be shown.

The exhibition also displays a 217-kilogram book which is 1.6 meters long,1.1 meter wide and a bronze work Chieu doi do (Proclamation on movingcapital) which is three meters long.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to watch artists perform calligraphy;isten to legends and historical stories about calligraphy.

Many famous Vietnamese calligraphers will participate in the exhibition.

Calligraphy exhibition to open in Hanoi


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V i e t n a m e s e i n G e r m a n y C e l e b r a t e H a n o i s m i l l e n n i u m Gatherings have been held by many

overseas Vietnamese associations inGermany to mark the 1000 th anniversaryof Thang Long-Hanoi.On October 3, the capitals 1000th birth-day was celebrated at the Dong XuanTrade Centre in Berlin, with represen-tatives from the Vietnamese Embassyin Germany, the Association of FellowCountrymen, the Business Associationand the Vietnamese Servicemens As-sociation attending the event along withhundreds of members from the Hanoians

Association. After the salute to the flag, the partici-pants observed a minute of silence tocommemorate their predecessors whohad laid down their lives to build Hanoi-Thang Long over the past 1000 years.In his speech, Vice Chairman of the Ha-noians Association in Germany, Nham

Huu Phuong, highlighted important land-marks in the 1000-year-old history of Thang Long Hanoi since King Ly Thai Totransferred the capital to Dai La Citadel,opening up new opportunities for nation-al construction and development.Counselor and Head of the Committeefor Community-based Activities, Phan Y Nhi, praised the Hanoians Associationfor launching a variety of activities tocelebrate the capitals millennium whichbear all the hallmarks of Hanoians.Earlier the same day, a fourth get-togeth-er was held by the Kinh Bac Associationof Fellow Countrymen in Germany tomark the anniversary, in the presence of the Vietnamese Ambassador to Germa-ny, Do Hoa Binh, and his wife.During the meeting, participants enjoyedfolk songs and performances of Vietnam-ese arts recognised by UNESCO as partof humankinds intangible culture.


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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT) conducted its first ever Medi-cal Health & Wellness Road Showin Muscat. The event, hosted at theMajan Continental Hotel, was thefirst of seminars & presentations theTAT plans to hold in GCC countriesfrom 4-11 October to promote Thai-lands medical tourism products.The Oman edition of the roadshowincluded discussions with leadingOmani specialists, medical tourism-focused operators. Similar events

will now be held in Doha, Bahrainand Abu Dhabi, before participatesin the 3 days Kuwait Medical Tour-ism Conference & Exhibition.

Bali Museum is in line for a IDR3billion (US$330,000) renovationproject. According to the Antaranews agency, the 100 year-old facil-ity in Denpasar will undergo repairsto its three main buildings, whilenew audio-visual exhibits will alsobe created to enhance the visitorexperience. Toilets will also be up-graded to international standards,the report added.

Dubai government is using the power of debate to boost the

tourism sector following the launch of The Dubai Partnership Agenda (DPA).The DPA launched by the Executive Council of Dubai is anopen platform to encourage interaction between the privateand public sectors to ultimately produce policy recommen-dations to support the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, KhaleejTimes reported.Crowned Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Execu-tive Council Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum said he is in complete support of the project and isproud to launch the platform and receive useful and con-structive responses.We are looking forward to the first outcomes of the DPA onthe tourism industry, he said.We will review and initiate action on appropriate recom-mendations.General Secretariat Secretary General Abdulla Al Shaibanisaid the two groups now have a forum to work together toreach one shared goal.The DPA will foster collaborative interaction, encourage

out-of-the-box thinking, and build consensus by exchange of knowledge and expertise, he said.However Mr Shaibani said the communication efforts willnot just go without purpose, hoping the feedback from bothsectors would generate concrete recommendation for ourleadership to review and facilitate action.

Centara Hotels & Resorts latest property in Phuket will openits doors at Karon Beach on 15 October. Centara GrandBeach Resort Phuket features 262 rooms and villas all offer-ing views across the Andaman Sea.The family resort features 90 Deluxe Ocean-Facing rooms

which can accommodate a family of two adults and twochildren, while the Deluxe Pool Suite The Club offers aprivate pool and space for a family of four. For larger groups,the One-Bedroom Pool Villa can accommodate up to fivepeople, while the Two-Bedroom Pool Villa can accommodateup to seven. The newly-built resort also offers a tennis court,fitness centre and a 10-treatment room SPA Cenvaree.

The Shanghai Metro system car-ried more than 7 million people onSunday - a record for the 15 yearoldunderground transport network.The number exceeded the 6.96million passengers carried on 21September, the previous peak day.

A major new tourism developmenthas broken ground on the southcoast of Cambodia. The US$5 bil-lion project in Koh Kong, being un-dertaken by the Chinese Union De-

velopment Group Co, covers 36,000hectares of land in Botum Sakor andKiri Sakor districts, and will includean airport, seaport, golf course,

eco-tourism site, hotels, restaurantsand retail stores. The company hasallowed up to 25 years to completethe development.

TAT starts Middle Eastmedical tourism road-

show

Upgrades planned forBali Museum

Dubai talks overtourism solutions

New passenger recordfor Shanghai Metro

Work starts on majorCambodian tourismproject

30

Centara Grand Beach ResortPhuket to open this monthCentara Grand Beach ResortPhuket to open this month



INTERNATIONAL NEWS

M esse Berlin (Singapore) has an-nounced that 47% of hosted buyersat ITB Asia 2010 will be new buyers. Themajority of them have been recommendedby exhibitors.Some 62% of all hosted buyers scheduledo attend will represent travel markets in

Asia Pacific. ITB Asia organizer, MesseBerlin (Singapore), expects Europe willsupply 26%, up from 16% last year. Some7% of buyers will come from the MiddleEast, 4% from the United States and 1%from Africa.A full 43% of buyers will represent theMICE sector, up from 32% last year. Some47% of all buyers will represent leisureravel companies and 10% are primarilynterested in corporate travel.

We listened to our exhibitors, said NinoGruettke, Executive Director of ITB Asia(left). They told us they wanted moreMICE buyers and more buyers from Eu-rope this year.Gruettke said that MICE buyer repre-sentation had spiked this year due to ITBAsias Association Day, 20-21 October.The specialist event will focus on bestpractise, the latest operational realitiesand new opportunities in the associationevent sector. Association Day attendees

from four continents, representing over17 countries are expected to attend ITB

Asia, which takes place in Singapore inOctober.Messe Berlin (Singapore) this yearemphasized the importance of qualitybuyers. In addition, the diversity of buyersand sellers at ITB Asia and the insightsthey bring will create ideas and strategiesfor new business.At ITB Asia we plan to get updated ontrends which will help us provide strate-gic direction for our future, said CharlesTee, CEO of T3E Global Singapore.

Another new buyer, Beverley Pridmore,Regional Product & Contracts Managerfor TUI UK, highlighted the importance of

Asia as a driver for global travel growth.We are seeing a big upsurge in traveldemand from consumers in Asia. I believeITB Asia has an important role in show-ing the latest world travel products to the

Asian travel market, she said. Asian buying power and the new productsin the region were a key factor in attract-ing Asia Escape Holidays from Australia toITB Asia for the first time.

31

ITB Asia attractsnearly half new buyers



INTERNATIONAL NEWS32

The World Tourism Conference 2010 (WTC2010) will

be hosted by Malaysia after its record breaking suc-cess in 2007, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen

Yen said.

She said hosting the international event again provedthat the United Nations World Tourism Organisation(UNWTO) a United Nations agency had great con-fidence in the country.

It is indeed an important event for our country tobe hosting an international conference. It provides aplatform where world leaders can share with us theirsuccessful tourism stories, she said.

We believe that by sharing the experiences with over43 countries, it will help increase total world tourism.It is about creating opportunity, she added.

Ng said the WTC2010 entitled Tourism SuccessStories and Rising Stars would bring together a widerange of world leaders from the tourism industry,high-level policymakers, specialists and experts toput forward ideas and provide guidance for futuretourism development.

The conference aims to uncover the secrets of tour-isms leaders, learning from those destinations andorganisations which have succeeded in tourism plan-ning, development and marketing, Ng told reportersat PWTC yesterday.

WTC2010 is organised by the Tourism Ministry, theGovernment of Sabah and UNWTO from Oct 4 to 6 atMagellan Sutera, Sutera Harbour, in Kota Kinabalu,Sabah.

Ng added that Sabah was chosen as the venue as it isan established eco-tourism state.

The conference will be graced by Deputy Prime Min-ister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin.

WTC was held for the first time in Manila, the Philip-pines, in 1980, followed by Acapulco, Mexico, in 1982.

After an absence of 25 years, the WTC returned forthe third time in Kuala Lumpur in 2007.

Malaysia to be hostthe World TourismConference 2010



INTERNATIONAL NEWS 33

The Trade Show for the Asian mar-ket will take place Wednesday,20 October to Friday, 22 October2010 at Suntec, Singapore. Theshow is being organised by

Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd, and issupported by the Singapore Exhibition &Convention Bureau. ITB Asia will featurehundreds of exhibiting companies from theAsia-Pacific region, Europe, the Americas,Africa and the Middle East, covering notonly the leisure market, but also corporateand MICE travel.WIT - Web In Travel 2010 will be held inpartnership with ITB Asia in Suntec. Lead-ers in the travel distribution, marketing andechnology sectors will gather to discuss theatest trends and debate the hottest top-cs that are driving change in this dynamic

environment.This years WIT will comprise the WIT Con-ference (19-22 October) and the WIT IdeasLab (8.30-11a.m., 21 & 22 October) and theWIT Clinics (3-5p.m., 21 & 22 October).In a first in Asia, more than 25 speakers willaddress Association Day (20-21 October).The specialist event is dedicated to under-standing and growing the association meet-ng sector in Asia.

Journalists attending ITB Asia can alsoattend Association Day and WIT free of charge.

RegistrationPre-registration onlineLegitimate travel and business journalistsare welcome to enjoy free access to ITB

Asia, all official ITB Asia social functions,the Convention, WIT and ACTE events.Please register before 8 October to enableus to prepare your press badge and to avoidqueuing onsite at Suntec. Your media regis-tration form is available at www.itb-asia.com/press under Accreditation.Press registration onsite at SuntecPress registration is open onsite at Suntecfrom Tuesday 19 October until Friday 22October. Members of the press may registerat the media registration counter on level1 (ground floor) at the main entrance of Suntec. You will need to present a Presspass or a business card, or an appropriateletter of authority from an editor or publisher.

Your registration is not transferable and is valid only when presented together withthe holders ID. Press passes are strictly for

journalists and not for advertising or publish-ing representatives.Media CentreThe media centre of ITB Asia is located onlevel 2 of Suntec in room 209, and is opento editorial representatives. Journalists canuse the available computers and receive thelatest ITB Asia Press releases, photos, cata-logues and exhibitor news here. Opening

hours are: Tuesday 19 to Friday 22 Octoberfrom 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Your contacts for all information, photo mate-rial and interview requests are Astrid Ehring,Press Officer ITB Asia, and her team.Press Conferences

A series of Press conferences will take placein the Press conference room (room 208)adjacent to the media centre. Full details

will be sent to media soon. Event organizerMesse Berlin (Singapore) and the host city,Singapore Tourism Board, are among the or-ganisations that will hold Press conferences.Important dates for the Press20 October 20108.30 a.m. Access to Suntec Singapore,level 2Ribbon Cutting and Guided show tour:10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m., starts in front of themain exhibition hall entrance, level 6.Opening Press Conference11.00 a.m. on level 2 in the press conferenceroom (room 208).Updated Press informationThe latest Press material, such as Pressreleases with coverage of the ITB Asia Con-

vention and photos are also available onlineat www.itb-asia.com under Press Serviceand Press Releases & News and Photos.Please visit the ITB Asia online media centrefor latest information ( www.itb-asia.com )

Important ITB Asia 2010Media InformationImportant ITB Asia 2010Media Information



INTERNATIONAL NEWS34

crisis have all proven that the directive is simply not working. It has become a nightmare of non-stopconfusion, a complete muddle that is causing con-siderable hardship and heartache to both consumersand the industry.The EU says that more than half of all people whobuy flights, hotel rooms and hire cars online riskbeing left without compensation if companies failunder outdated law. A total of 56% of travellers areestimated to use the Internet, rather than high streettravel agents to organise their own trips, but protec-tion safeguards have not been put into place to deal

with the digital age. ABTA director John De Vial is chairing the debateand confronting the difficulties are law professor,David Grant, Nikki White, ABTAs Head of DestinationStrategy and Services, insurer, Alan Lumsden andSue Hurdle, Chief Executive of The Travel Founda-tion.The session Sustainable Excursions is at ExCeLLondon NG Room 4/5 at 11.00 am on 11 November.

Although the WTM World Responsible Tourism Daykeynote events will take place on the actual day,

Wednesday 10 November, an expanded Thursdayprogramme will also challenge and examine some of the problems facing responsible tourism.The question of how the industry can be sure thatthe economic benefits of travel and tourism go tothe communities that most need them will be dealt

with in Poverty Private Sector, Beyond Trickledown(12.30, NG Room 6/7, Thursday 11 November).Chaired by Prof. Harold Goodwin, speakers are;

Adam Stewart, CEO, Sandals Resorts International;Richard Hearn, Village Ways; Gavin Bate, founder of

Adventure & Alternative and the Moving Mountains

Trust; and Amy Carter-James, of Galudo.Later in the day, the WTM World Responsible Tour-ism Thursday Programme will delve into an equallycontroversial subject which, unlike the EU Directive,has received little publicity.Tourism to Sacred SitesTourism to sacred sites is a fast growing sector, oftenrelated to ancient places of worship. Sacred destina-tions and places of pilgrimage associated with themainstream faiths such as Christianity, Islam, Hindu-ism, Buddhism, Judaism and Sikhism will be exam-ined in this important and intriguing session, chairedby Dr. Simon Woodward, International Centre forResponsible Tourism (Travel to Sacred Sites,14.00 ,

NG Room 8, Thursday 11 November). Joining him will be The Very Reverend MichaelSadgrove , The Dean of Durham Cathedral and anoted theological author, talking about the cathe-dral and surrounding World Heritage Site; Nayef AlFayez , Managing Director, Jordan Tourist Board onthe Baptism Site in the Jordan Valley; Ozgul Ozkan

Yavus , Director for Tourism & Promotion, Istanbul2010 on the principal mosques in Istanbul; and FleurBurrows , Consumer Marketing Manager, TourismNorthern Territories, Australia, who will speak aboutUluru, the ancient Aboriginal site, better known as

Ayers Rock.For more information or to apply for a WTM WorldResponsible Tourism 2010 logo, log on to www.wtm-

wrtd.com . Alternatively contact the WTM WRTD co-coordinator Araminta Sugden on the WRTD hotlinetelephone +44 (0) 1892 535943.

As evidence mounts about the failure of the EU Package Travel Directive, WTMWorld Responsible Tourism Days Thursday programme is to try to unravel theproblems causing what is described as a nightmare of non-stop confusion, a com-plete muddle.A pile of evidence has been collated by the EU on the issue with countless submis-sions by industry associations.World Travel Market hopes that by highlighting it at the event, attended by morehan 100 tourism ministers, the session will help play a part in its resolution.

Time and again consumers are coming unstuck about what are their rights, whileat the same time, the industry is not even sure who should be paying refunds whenravel companies go bust, said Fiona Jeffery, chairman of World Travel Market.

The failure of struggling companies, the ever present threat of holidaymakers whogo online to buy several travel products and incidents such as the volcanic ash

WTM Thursday Programme

Tackles Biggest HeadachesFacing Industry


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Add: 130 Pho Duc Chinh - Ba Dinh DistrictHanoi - VietnamTel: +84-4 37153538

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AVIATION NEWS

Customers travelling on Singapore Airlines flights

will soon be able to stay connected at all times,

even at 35,000 feet.The multi-million-dollar collaboration with inflight connec-ivity provider OnAir includes a full suite of onboard com-

munication offerings, providing the Airlines customers withaccess to Wi-Fi Internet and mobile telephony services. Themobile telephony services will enable customers to sendand receive SMS text messages with their GSM-compatiblemobile phones, send and receive email messages easily onsmartphones and Blackberry devices, and make and receivevoice calls.With plans to roll out the services from as early as the firsthalf of 2011, Singapore Airlines will be the first major airlinen Asia to launch a full suite of inflight connectivity services.

These will be introduced progressively on flights operated

by the Airlines Airbus A380, Airbus A340-500 and Boeing777-300ER aircraft.Singapore Airlines was in fact one of the pioneers to intro-duce Internet connectivity on board its Boeing 747-400 air-craft in 2005. Today, with the increasing importance of re-maining connected, and the more affordable charges madepossible by the higher usage and more advanced technol-ogy, we are now fitting all our long-range aircraft with the fullsuite of telephony and Internet features so that our customerscan stay connected. Unlike the earlier trial introduction of anInternet service, this suite of features is for full implemen-ation and we are pleased to offer this as an added choiceo our inflight programme, said Singapore Airlines Senior

Vice President Product & Services, Mr Yap Kim Wah.The environment that our customers have gotten used to onhe ground can soon be replicated in the air, when they flywith Singapore Airlines on aircraft fitted with this new con-nectivity platform. Travelling on business or pleasure, theyare just a click or an SMS away, with access to live informa-ion, social networking and news updates, as well as inflight

shopping.?????Singapore Airlines connectivity partner OnAir is jointlyowned by Airbus and SITA, the worlds leading provider of global IT and telecommunication solutions for the air trans-port industry, offering global satellite coverage including forhe Asian region. One of the most established companies inhe field of onboard connectivity, OnAir has roaming agree-

ments with about 200 telecommunications companies glob-ally.We are absolutely delighted to have come to an agree-ment today with an airline of the stature and reputation of Singapore Airlines. The agreement is extremely significant.It sends a strong signal to the industry that inflight passengercommunications has come of age - and is a must-have forairlines looking to remain competitive in the future, said IanDawkins, CEO of OnAir.Customers who use the mobile telephony services will seeheir usage reflected in the monthly bills from their telecom-

munications provider where international GSM roamingrates apply. For Internet access, customers can sign up foran access package upon logging in to the system. Details of

he charges will be announced closer to the launch.

36



AVIATION NEWS

Visa application made virtual with Etihad Airways

Air France to resume direct HCMCflights in November

Forget long lines in council waiting rooms Etihad Airwaysand TT Services have developed a new online visa process-ng system for passengers flying with Etihad from India tohe United Arab Emirates.

Indian travellers are able to research the range of visas us-ng the family computer, submit applications online and pay

for the submission via PAYPAL.

The service is useful for both business and pleasure trav-el with a selection of visas ranging from 90 days to hourlyrips.

Our passengers can now benefit from the new visa servicewhich will greatly simplify travel and access when travellingwith Etihad Airways, Etihad Airways General Manager of India Neerja Bhatia said.

Air France has announced plans to relaunch direct flightsfrom Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to Ho Chi Minh City(HCMC) on 2 November, six years after pulling out of theroute. According to the VNAT, the French national carrier willoffer three weekly flights on the route, operated by Boeing747-400 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The new services

will be in addition to the two weekly flights operated on theroute in a codeshare agreement with Vietnam Airlines.

37



AVIATION NEWS

American Airlines traffic climbs in September

American Airlines has reported its performance results forSeptember 2010, with passenger traffic rising 5.6% year-on-year on a 4.8% rise in capacity. This pushed load factor up0.6 points to 80.1%. The performance was driven by inter-national traffic, which surged 12.2% year-on-year on a 10.1%rise in capacity. Year-to-date, Americans systemwide trafficclimbed 1.2%, while capacity grew 0.3%, leading to a 1.5 risen load factor, which averaged an impressive 82.0%.

The International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA) hasaunched its own Facebook page. The page will provide

a central information source for the cruise industry, withregular news postings from the organisation and its mem-bers. ICCA has also established a members only page,which will allow it to communicate directly with members.To follow ICCA, go to Facebook and search for InternationalCruise Council Australasia.

38



AVIATION NEWS

Qatar Airways expands Flightsto Bangkok and Vietnam

Myanmar Airways to launchBangkok-Singapore flights

Direct air route betweenHCM City and Istanbullaunched

Qatar Airways is to launch ahird daily flight to Bangkok,

effective 1 November 2010.The increase in capacitycomes just three weeks afterhe airline launches sched-

uled flights to the popularThai resort of Phuket.The Bangkok service willfacilitate increasing de-mand from many parts of he world, particularly Eu-

ropean and North and SouthAmerican customers for

ravel to Thailand.

The additional Bangkokservice will continue toVietnam with four of the

flights heading onwards tohe capital Hanoi and three

onto Ho Chi Minh City.Passengers originating inThailand or Vietnam canalso purchase tickets to fly

between Bangkok and bothHanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

on Qatar Airways.Beginning 12 October 2010, Qatar Airways introducessix-flights-a-week to Phuket

via Kuala Lumpur. With theBangkok flights, the airlinesThai operations will step upfrom 21 to 27 flights a weekacross two destinations.By 2013, Qatar Airwaysplans to serve 120 keybusiness and leisure des-tinations worldwide with a

modern fleet of 120 aircraft.Today, the airlines fleetstands at 88 aircraft, flyingto 92 destinations acrossEurope, Asia, Middle East,

Africa, Asia Pacific, Northand South America.

Myanmar Airways International (MAI) will launch daily flights be-ween Bangkok and Singapore from 31 October 2010, Xinhua re-

ported airline sources as saying on Saturday. Operated by an Air-

bus A320 aircraft, the Singapore flights will mark an extension toMAIs Yangon-Bangkok flights. The airline also plans to start ser-vices to Guangzhou at the end of November, the report added.

Turkish Airlines has announced that it will launch a direct airroute from Istanbul in Turkey to HCM City with four flights de-parting every week.The airline said that passengers can connect Eastern and West-ern Europe, West Europe, the East, Africa and the US.The flights will depart at 20:55 on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturdayand Sunday and transit at Bangkok in Thailand.

39


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From the central coast city of QuyNhon, the towering cliffs of Yen Is-land look like a giant dinosaur de-fending the city from storms andheavy seas.

The picturesque island, which is also calledPhuong Mai Peninsula, is famous for its cliffsand caves where birds build the nests usedin the much-prized health-giving birds nestsoup. To visit the island in Nhon Ly Com-mune, Quy Nhon City take a two hour boatfrom the wharf on Tan Islet in Hai Cang Ward.The long journey will be rewarded when yousee the caves, ten thousands of years old andstone cliffs rising vertically from the waves.The floors of the caves are large but strewn

with rocks making it the perfect place forswallows to make their nests.


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Once inside the caves you will be overawedby their size of the interior. The bird nestsare everywhere, strung about in chains. Themothers feed their hungry young and fanthem with their wings, while the little ones

chirp loudly. The sounds of the birds, the dripping of waterand the waves below are amazing.here are 30 caves on Yen Island, mainly located in two vil-ages of Nhon Hai and Nhon Ly. In small caves such as Rung

Cao, Doi, Ba Nghe, Can and Ham Xe, every year, people col-ect from 100 to 300 bird nests. For the large caves such as

Ca, Doi Trong, Doi Ngoai, Luong and Kho, especially, thecaves whose mouths open toward the East or Southeast, thatare cool and airy and have fresh water dripping from the ceil-ng, locals can collect 14,000 to 15,000 bird nests per year.

In spring when the weather becomes warmer, visitors can see flocks of birds fill-ng the sky. To take the nests from the walls of the cliff and from the cave ceilings,

people build bamboo scaffolds often using them like bridges. Some caves are veryhigh so that people use up to 300 lengths of bamboo to make each scaffold that maybe five lengths of bamboo tall to reach the ceiling. The way to take the nest is verymeticulous. For a nest that is out of reach, people use a stick with a nail on the top fora hook. In the dry weather, before taking the nests, the locals inject water into it tosoften it and avoid it breaking.The harvest season starts from April in the lunar calendar as the breeding season

s lunar January and February. In lunar April they take the first harvest. The secondharvest starts when the nestlings become strong enough to fly. People can collect afew nests in the third harvest stage which has the best quality nests.



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