Highway 1 in Vietnam reached top 10 world's most beautiful roads for cycling

(Vietnamfittour.com) According to the popular website lonelyplanet.com, Highway 1 in Vietnam is the only way of Asia in the top 10 world's most beautiful roads for cycling tourists when travel in Vietnam.
 
Lonelyplanet.com travel website of BBC Worldwide, the UK has announced the 10 world's most beautiful roads for cycling tourists Vietnam travel. Accordingly, a national highway (National Highway 1) of Vietnam is the sole agent in Asia made the list.



This page describes: "The road running through the icons small country from north to south. This is one exciting journey for visitors to ride a bicycle in Vietnam. The road also runs along part of Vietnam's most beautiful coastline. On the way there are many steep mountain pass, especially going through the famous Hai Van Pass (Pass is 496m high) on the one hand in the mountains West and soothing sea in the east.

Take time to admire the lush rice paddies along the road, stretches of the valley or dive deep beneath the turquoise sea water and drop into the beautiful space in rural areas. "

In addition to Vietnam's National Highway 1,9 different path in the top 10 world's best way for visitors to ride a bicycle under UK, France, Italy, Canada, Australia, Cuba, Ireland, USA and New Zealand.

Tags: Vietnam tour, Vietnam hotel, hotel in Vietnam, travel in Vietnam, Vietnam travel

Vietnam tourism sector kept positive growth in the first 6 months of 2013

According to the MoCST’s report, in the first 6 months, in spite of global economic recession, the tourism sector still gained positive growth. Total international travel in Vietnam arrivals in 6 months reached 3,540,403 representing a 2.6% growth over the same period of 2012; total revenue achieved 105 trillion VND, up 23.5%.

The number of international tourists to the South of Viet Nam also increased. Top destinations included Ho Chi Minh City with 1.9 million arrivals, Ba Ria – Vung Tau with 248,095 arrivals…, Acting Director of MoCST’s Representative Agency in Ho Chi Minh City Le Van Hung said.



Speaking at the conference, Director General of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan affirmed the positive result of tourism sector. Especially, TripAdvisor, a world-class travel website, listed four cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Ha Long) in Top 25 destinations in Asia and three museums (The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and the Vietnam Women's Museum in Hanoi) in the 25 most attractive museums in Asia, reinforcing reputation of Viet Nam tourism on international arena.

In addition, investment in tourist accommodation systems has been fostered with big projects as Ho Tram Strip Resort (Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province) with 542 rooms, and establist some new Vietnam hotel as Havana Hotel Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa Province) with 1,200 rooms, Mariot Hotel Hanoi with 500 rooms, Novotel Hotel Danang with 500 rooms, Languna Lang Co Resort (Thua Thien Hue Province) with 325 rooms…

Addressing at the conference, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh directed, in the coming time, tourism sector needs to focus on proposing amendment of Law of Tourism, completing master zoning plans for regional tourism development, improving tourism environment, fostering inspection of destinations, tour operators and hotel in vietnam…

Green Globe Certification for Movenpick’s Vietnam hotels

The Movenpick Hotel Hanoi and the Movenpick Hotel Saigon, owned by Movenpick Hotels and Resorts, have become the first hotel in Vietnam to receive Green Globe certification recognising their significant environmental, social, and cultural preservation efforts.

The two hotels were audited according to 337 criteria spanning customer satisfaction, water consumption, waste management, energy use, community commitment, and internal training.



“The hospitality industry is a large consumer of energy and other resources. The Movenpick Hanoi aims to reduce its consumption through the use of basic measures such as energy efficient lighting, water consumption reduction, and a better management of waste and chemicals,” said Movenpick Hotel Hanoi General Manager Philip Jones.

He promised the hotel’s management board will set specific objectives and monitor progress as part of its efforts to fulfill the “Green Globe” programme.
The Green Globe Certification is internationally renowned as an indicator of sustainable tourism. It affirms Movenpick Hotels and Resorts’ commitment to operating in an economically, environmentally, and socially responsible manner.

Movenpick Hotel Saigon General Manager Craig Smith stressed the chain’s initiatives are designed to foster a social conscience beyond its staff. It asks “our customers, partners, suppliers, and the community to join hands with us to make a better world”. For good information, the travel tourist to have peace of mind when travel in Vietnam.

Tags: Vietnam tour, Vietnam hotel, hotel in Vietnam, travel in Vietnam, Vietnam travel

Travel Company Taps Halal Holiday Market

Hanoi, Vietnam: Asia’s economy is still healthy and intra-ASEAN travel is growing significantly. Visitor from Malaysia and Indonesia travel in Vietnam have rebounded significantly in the past nine months thanks to more direct flights, and Luxury Travel Ltd. is reaching out to court Muslim tourists from these markets.

Fiditour Ltd. has a high end halal holiday concept, this is a unique online brand, offering truly great holiday experiences with an Islamic ethos. The company’s aim is to provide a holiday experience that is in harmony with Islam from Vietnam travel. The featured hotels and resorts do not serve alcohol in rooms upon request, and have segregated swimming pools, leisure areas and spa facilities for men and women. Further, on some chartered cruises on Halong cruises, all food on board is sea food or halal food.



“The Muslim population within Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia shows immense potential. Demand from this segment is picking up and is expected to increase, thanks to direct flights between Southeast Asian countries, including the newest flight to HCM City from Jakarta four times per week. Also, no visa is needed for most citizens traveling between ASEAN countries,” CEO of Fiditour Ltd.

“In order to capitalise on these potential markets, we have launched a website, created special tours for Muslim travelers, worked with reputable halal food restaurants, searched out mosque locations and trained our staff in order to better serve Muslim travelers, concurrently to upgrade some hotel in Vietnam. We attend various travel trade shows in individual markets such as TTC Indonesia and Selangor Matta Islamic Travel Fair in Malaysia. We also plan to target India, Turkey, and the Middle East in the long run. And with nearly 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, the potential market is huge,” added him

The company will launch a Vietnam guidebook for discerning travelers and focus on Muslim visitors. Plans are also in place to open a representative office in Jakarta, to act as a point of contact and information for Indonesian travel consultants and consumers. Fiditour is positioning itself as the first luxury halal tour and holiday operator in Indochina.

According to VNAT, during the first three months of 2013, the number of visitors from Malaysia to Vietnam was 210,805, an increase of 125.4 per cent from the previous period.

The tourism industry is looking to 6.5 million international arrivals, 32 million domestic travelers and revenue of VND150 trillion in 2012. The already approved tourism development strategy envisions that the number of international arrivals will soon be 7-7.5 million, that domestic travelers will approach 36-37 million, that revenue will hitUS$10-11 billion by 2015, and that the tourism sector will contribute 5.5-6% of the country’s GDP by that year.

Tags: Vietnam tour, Vietnam hotel, hotel in Vietnam, travel in Vietnam, Vietnam travel

Vietnam among Top 5 places in the world for women to travel solo

There are many places in the world that I’d recommend such a journey; however, women should still keep some basic safety practices in mind and Vietnam is considered one of the best places for women to travel solo in the world.

Travel in Vietnam, year round women are seeking trips to venture out on their own, away from daily life and the demands of work, family and friends. They want to forget about wearing make-up, truly be themselves and enjoy the experience of a lifetime. While there are travelers who want the support of a small group, some prefer to go it completely alone.

There are many places in the world that I’d recommend such a journey; however, women should still keep some basic safety practices in mind. I always recommend storing your valuables in different places (hotel safe, your pocket, wallet), keeping a copy of your passport in case it’s lost or stolen and using a money belt instead of a purse. Plus, simply appearing confident instead of unsure can go a long way in avoiding danger.

I also suggest when women first arrive at their destination that they take a guided walking tour to get acclimated, to learn where things are and to get a feel for the culture. It’s also important to dress appropriately for the country; conservative is always better and ensures you can gain admittance to attractions that may require a standard of dress.

One of them is Vietnam country where you can freely explore culture, people and scenery by yourself at Vietnam travel.



I absolutely love Vietnam and have been there many times. Saigon and Hanoi are both fabulous cities that are safe. Choose a hotel in Vietnam - one of these major hubs and then venture out by day on a bike tour, on a daytrip to see temples, or to visit local museums. You can also take a cooking class, rock climb and try some unusual Vietnam delicacies if you dare!

Other places are Alaska, Iceland, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Panama.

The first Viet Nam – ASEAN UNESCO Heritage Festival

(TITC) - The first Viet Nam – ASEAN UNESCO Heritage Festival will take place from 27th to 31st December 2013 in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, coincide with the 120th anniversary ceremony of Da Lat City (1893 – 2013) and the 5th Da Lat Flower Festival.

This event aims to honor and promote Viet Nam’s heritage which have been recognized by UNESCO and submitted UNESCO documents; foster sharing experience among Viet Nam, ASEAN countries and partner’s countries in conservation and promotion of heritage values; at the same time contribute to strengthening closer ties and friendship among Viet Nam, ASEAN countries and partner’s countries; introduce the potentials and strengths of Da Lat – Lam Dong and Central Highlands provinces to domestic and international friends travel in Vietnam.

The festival will attract the participation of ASEAN countries and ASEAN’s partners such as India, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea; Viet Nam’s cities, provinces which have heritage sites recognized by UNESCO, including 5 provinces in Central Highlands, 4 ones in Central Region and 8 ones in Northern Region. Besides, the first Viet Nam – ASEAN UNESCO Heritage Festival also receives the positive response of cities, provinces, which have heritage sites submitted documents to UNESCO. 

The first Viet Nam – ASEAN UNESCO Heritage Festival will have many special activities such as: international seminar “UNESCO heritage network in Southeast Asia region: Conservation associated with sustainable development”, discussion “Da Lat flowers and tourism”; exhibition of Da Lat flowers and ornamental plants; performance exchange of Viet Nam – ASEAN UNESCO intangible cultural heritage; carnival of ASEAN UNESCO heritage – Da Lat flower; performance of arrange art reappearing famous cultural works, particularly of 10 ASEAN countries... 

In the framework of the festival, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and People’s Committee of Lam Dong Province will launch National Tourism Year 2014 – Central Highlands – Da Lat. 

ASEAN consists of 10 countries with diverse forms of heritage containing unique and distinct cultural – historical values, of which many heritage sites have been recognized as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Particularly in Viet Nam, with long-standing history and specific cultural tradition of 54 ethnic groups, Viet Nam has 7 heritage sites, 7 forms of intangible heritage and 3 documentary items recognized by UNESCO. The heritage has contributed to developing tourism, fostering economic, society in the localities, where preserve the heritage and also in Viet Nam. 

As 1 in 5 provinces containing the heritage of the Space of Gong culture in Central Highlands, Lam Dong is honored to host the first Viet Nam – ASEAN UNESCO Heritage Festival. It is expected that the festival will be held alternately among the countries in the ASEAN region in the coming years.

Scenic resort town gears up for cultural fest

Travel in Vietnam from The northern mountainous Sapa town charms visitors with its landscape and peoples.

The charming northern resort town of Sapa will lure tourists with a cultural week to be held over the public holidays, from July 30 to August 3, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The town hopes to attract tourists, with a wide range of events that highlight the rich and distinctive nature of Sapa’s diverse ethnic cultures.

Visitors will be welcomed to try Muong cuisine and take part in the various traditional festivities celebrated by local ethnic peoples, their cultural lifestyles and sports.

Sapa’s famous lovers’ market will also be open to singles. Traditionally, with few places to meet people, the downtown market opened on Saturday night, attracting villagers from around the town, as a central place for young, single Muong, Dao, Tay and Ray ethnic minorities to strut, be amorous and find their future loves.

In the evening, the lovers’ market would fill with bewitching music from the romantic leaf-horn, and young people dressed in their finest eye-catching clothes.

Lovers’ markets are a traditional event throughout the mountainous region, with many only being held once a year. As such, the big, not-to-missed event is also a lively social occasion for the married, too.

The mountainous Sapa, in Lao Cai Province, is regarded as one of Vietnam’s top destinations, sought out by both locals and foreigners. The area has a large number of ethnic minorities and, with its stunning scenery, offers numerous trekking possibilities.

In 2008, it welcomed more than 285,000 tourists.

Local officials said they expect at least 10,000 tourists during the events, with many hotels reporting large numbers of bookings.

From Vietnam travel

Two Viet Nam hotel spas ranked among world's top five

HA NOI (VNS)– Two spas hotel in Viet Nam have been ranked among the top ten in the world by readers of US Travel&Leisure magazine, one of the leading travel guides and information websites.

Nam Hai Hotel in Hoi An and the Sofitel Legend Metropole Ha Noi rank fourth and fifth respectively in the prestigious list, with Toronto's Ritz-Carlton coming out on top.

In addition, the Nam Hai Hotel also ranks 12th among the Best Resorts in Asia. The Metropole is also named in two other categories, coming fifth among the Best City Hotels in Asia and 52nd in the Top 100 Hotels in the world. Also in the category of the Best City Hotels in Asia, the Park Hyatt Sai Gon in HCM City is listed in 17th place.

The spa rankings are based on readers' ratings for ambiance, treatment packages, service, facilities and value for money, while hotel rankings are based on ratings for rooms/facilities, location, service, value for money and restaurants/food.

The honours form part of the 2013 World's Best Awards, the 18th annual event by Travel &Leisure, which remains one of the most-read magazines in the world. – Vietnam travel

Cashed-up Aussies eye Vietnam as a destination

Discounted tours offered by Vietnamese tour operators have made the country an attractive destination for Australians, who are set to receive a cash bonus from the Australian government next month, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Australian citizens will receive up to A$900 ($727) on April 1 as part of the Australian government’s A$42 billion ($29.3 billion) economic stimulus package.



Many Australian travel agencies are promoting package tours of less than A$1,000 (US$695) for those who plan to spend their cash bonus on travel.
Australian media has reported many Australian students consider the assistance a gift from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and are planning budget overseas holidays.
Destinations such as Vietnam, Bali and Fiji are among likely destinations for the newly cashed-up Australian students.

But Vietnam may have an advantage over other potential destination for cashed-up Australians, with local tour operators offering discounts of up to 40 percent on package tours in Vietnam.

The discounts are part of the Vietnamese government’s tourism stimulus campaign, the “Impressive Vietnam” promotion, which was introduced to Australians at a roadshow in Melbourne last month.

The campaign, launched in January, offers discounts of up to 50 percent on package tours and other services for domestic and international tourists.
Australia is considered a promising emerging inbound tourism market for Vietnam. Last year, the country received more than 234,000 visitor travel in Vietnam from Australia, a year-on-year increase of 104 percent. In comparison, 650,100 Chinese and 417,200 American tourists visited Vietnam in 2008.

Tag: Vietnam tour, Vietnam hotel, hotel in Vietnam

Additional 1 mln EUR for developing tourism workforce

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has been allowed to add 1 million EUR as non-refundable aid from the Government of Luxembourg to continue implementing a project to strengthen human resources in the hospitality and travel in Vietnam.



The project has been jointly conducted by the MCST and the Luxembourg Agency for Development Cooperation since 2010 to advance the capacity of four hotel schools in Hanoi , Hue , Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau. It also aims to propagate best practices in newer hotel schools in Hai Phong, Da Nang, Da Lat, Nha Trang and Can Tho.

In 2013, the project will support the Hue Tourism College in operating the Villa Hue and provide equipment for practice to the Da Nang Vocational Tourism College. The project will end by late 2014.

Besides, UNESCO helps preserve vocal arts, according to, The project, backed by UNESCO as intangible heritage, will receive VND65 billion (US$3.2 million) from the provincial budget over the next seven years. The main aim of the project will be to teach quan ho and ca tru and popularising them in the community – and restoring pagodas and temples, where the arts were performed in the past.

Three Vietnamese Museums become top attractive Museums in Asia

(TITC)-TripAdvisor-the world’s largest tourism website has announced Travelers’ Choice 2013.

Accordingly, when travel in Vietnam, visitor can discovery 3 museums of Viet Nam have been listed in top 25 attractive museums in Asia including the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City (ranked 5^th), the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology in Ha Noi (ranked 6^th) and the Viet Nam Women’s Museum in Ha Noi (ranked 11^th).

Located on Vo Van Tan str., District 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, the War Remnants Museum displays documents, photos and artifacts denouncing the crimes and highlighting the devastating consequences of the war of aggression. It is considered one of the most attractive cultural tourist destinations for domestic and int’l tourists to the city.

Opened to public in November 1997, the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology (Nguyen Van Huyen str., Cau Giay Dist., Ha Noi) is a preservation centre of tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Vietnamese ethnic groups with 29,000 artifacts including 25,000 artifacts of Viet Nam, more than 2,000 artifacts of Southeast Asian countries and nearly 900 artifacts of other countries. In 2012, the Museum of Ethnology Viet Nam was certificated "Excellence" by TripAdvisor.

The Viet Nam Women’s Museum in Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem Dist., Ha Noi is dedicated to the role of Vietnamese women during the past struggles for national independence as well as in the current national construction and development. In Oct, 2012 the Museum was chosen by TripAdvisor as "the most attractive tourist destination in 2012" in Ha Noi.

“TripAdvisor- the world’s largest tourism website honors the most attractive destinations based on the valuable feedback of millions of tourists around the world. The destinations to be honored will bring to tourists interesting, rich and diverse experiences in all ages”, Barbara Messing, Chief Marketing Officer of TripAdvisor said.