The campaign to collect votes for Ha Long Bay to be recognised as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in November is entering the final stages, according to Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism International Co-operation Department.
The department has come up with a plan, which includes a photography contest, a painting competition for children, and an art performance to promote the image of Ha Long Bay, which is among the 28 finalists.
The department will also organise activities to collect votes at major schools, tourist sites and through the internet.
The head of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Nguyen Van Tuan, said VNAT would also launch its own campaign to vote for the bay. One can visit the website www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/vote to vote for Ha Long Bay.
27 firms to serve Lao, Thai tourists
The Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism has announced a list of 27 travel operators mostly based in Da Nang, Quang Tri, Nghe An and Thua Thien-Hue, authorised to offer services to visitors from Thailand and Laos.
The VNAT has said only members of a club affiliated with these operators can arrange tours for Lao and Thai tourists at the border checkpoints of Nam Can, Cau Treo, Cha Lo, and Lao Bao. Any other travel firms wanting to serve Thai and Lao tourists can do so only in cooperation with club members.
The club has announced minimum prices ranging from US$105 to $170 per person for three popular overland tours for Thai and Lao travellers. Last year 200,000 tourists came by road from these countries.
Da Nang promotes fireworks fest
The central city of Da Nang hosted the Sparkling Han River Gala Dinner in HCM City last week to promote the Da Nang International Fireworks Competition that will take place in Da Nang on April 29 - 30.
According to the city's Tourism Promotion Centre, five teams comprising Jubilee Fireworks of England, Hanwha of South Korea, Parente Fireworks A&C SNC of Italy, Panda Fireworks of China and a team from Da Nang will participate in the annual competition.
Tickets cost VND200,000 (US$10) and visitors can buy tickets in HCM City, Ha Noi and Da Nang. The organising committee expects to sell 16,000 tickets.
Cruise ships arrive at Ha Long Bay
Three five-star cruise ships arrived at Ha Long Bay on February 28 and March 1 with thousands of international tourists. Arcadia, which departed from Britain and travelled through many countries before coming to Viet Nam, is the biggest of the three ships that landed at the bay, with 1,600 passengers on board. On Feb 28, the tourists divided into two groups and 800 went to Ha Noi and 800 to HCM City.
On March 1, the five-star cruise ship Seaborne Sojourne landed at Cai Lan Port, carrying more than 400 tourists after a two-day journey from Hong Kong.
On the morning of March 1, Ha Long Bay welcomed cruise ship Coasta Classica with 1,500 visitors on board.
Russian tourists opt for luxury
More Russian tourists are coming to Viet Nam and using luxury services.
Hoang Huu Loc from Saigontourist said many Russian tourists preferred to go to resorts and were willing to pay for upscale services.
Russian tourists want luxury accommodations, food and vehicles. Their spending is much higher than tourists from other countries.
Andrey Matveev, director of Top Tour, one of the top 10 travel firms in Russia, said that with high economic growth in Russia in recent years, many Russians have very high incomes and are willing to pay for luxury services during their overseas tours. —VNS