The HCM City Tourism Association (HTA) and Vietnam Airlines have reached an agreement to cut tour prices.

The carrier has offered a 40 per cent discount for groups of passengers flying from HCM City to Ha Noi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and Da Lat between April and December this year. But for this, the travel firms have to slash their tour fees by at least 30 per cent.

They have obliged. Vietrantour, for instance, has launched 10 tours designed specifically for this summer of which the highest priced is VND7.59 million.

Ton That Hoa, secretary general of the HTA, said many travel firms were still negotiating with local partners to reduce their fees.

After they reach agreement, the firms would join hands with the HTA to inform the public.

But some firms have said that a 30 per cent price cut was beyond their capacity.

The He Tre travel agency deputy director Tran The Dung said it was unreasonable to expect a 30 per cent cut because it would leave travel firms with no profits. — VNS