Viet Nam has emerged as one of the top destinations for travellers from Thailand, Australia, Japan, and Singapore, a recent survey compiled by Visa and the Pacific Asia Travel Association found.
The survey polled 6,714 respondents in 13 countries and territories and found that among travellers most likely to visit Viet Nam in the next two years, 17 per cent are from Thailand, 16 per cent are from Australia, and 11 per cent are from Japan and Singapore.
Most of the potential tourists listed natural scenery, new places, and affordability as their main motivation for visiting Viet Nam.
They plan to budget more than US$1,200 for their next vacation and pay more for good food and opportunities to experience a new culture.
Food festival month arrives
Rice dishes from around the country and cuisines from around the world will feature at two food and culture festivals to be held in HCM City in December.
Hat Lua Que Toi (My Country's Rice Grain), to be held at the Binh Quoi Tourist Park in Binh Thanh District from December 10 to 12, will showcase some 100 rice dishes.
From December 27 to January 3, the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will host the Tastes of the World 2010 festival at the September 23 Park in District 1.
It will feature food from 20 countries.
Viet Nam promo in Egypt
Representatives from Egyptian travel agencies attended a seminar held by the Vietnamese embassy in Egypt to promote Vietnamese tourism on Monday.
Besides screening a short film on Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Sa Pa, Da Lat, and some beautiful beaches, the embassy also provided participants a full list of Vietnamese travel agencies and information about the country's economic potential.
Ambassador Pham Sy Tam told them that Viet Nam is a safe and ideal destination for tourists.
Air link from Da Nang to Japan
On December 15 Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang to Narita on the outskirts of the Japanese capital Tokyo.
Seven flights per week will fly the route which will go through HCM City to Japan, departing Da Nang at 2.55am and arriving in Narita at 1.20pm.
After March 31, Vietnam Airlines will begin flying directly between Da Nang and Narita.
The carrier also begins direct flights between the central city and Hong Kong today.
Binh Thuan delays yacht festival
The first international sailing festival in Binh Thuan Province, scheduled to be held from December 8 to 11, has been pushed back to January 15 – 18 due to bad weather.
Le Thi Thanh Lien, deputy director of the province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the organisers fear the weather will affect the yachts' performance.
Binh Thuan will host the race together with the Viet Nam National Administration for Tourism, Viet Nam Airlines, and XT AsiaINC.
It will feature around 200 yachts cruising from Mui Ne to Cape Ke Ga and Hoa Thang Beach. — VNS