Add flights will increase tourism in Mekong Delta

Additional flights will increase tourism in Mekong Delta



Floating markets in Mekong delta attract foreign tourists (Photo: SGGP)

In the current context, if the government wants to boost tourism in the Mekong Delta, localities must coordinate to increase quality services and along with that more flights must be added to satisfy the increasing demand of holidaymakers.

Recently, the Mekong Delta Region has upgraded the international airport at Can Tho, Phu Quoc, and completed the CanTho Bridge, as well as tourist attractions and parks such as Ho Nam tourist area in Bac Lieu Province, Nine Dragon in Vinh Long Province and restaurants and hotels in Can Tho City. Besides this, the region is encouraging various enterprises to invest in the tourism industry.

The Mekong Delta Tourism Association has signed a cooperation agreement with Tourism Associations of Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hanoi to organize a series of seminars to discuss ways to promote tourism in the region.

Thanks to their concerted efforts, visitors to the region have increased year-on-year.

However, due to the present economic crisis, visitors to the region in the first four months of the year touched only 2.4 million, a decrease of 5.6 percent compared to the same period last year.

Benoit Perdu, director of TransMekong, said at a seminar that the government should open more flights on the Da Nang-Can Tho route as 30 percent of foreign tourists or around 200,000 people a year want to fly to that area. If more flights are added, then people will extend their stay in the Mekong Delta for longer periods and this region will then become one of the main tourist destinations of the country, he said.

In 2012, the region attracted more than 19.4 million visitors and earned revenue of upto VND4.3 trillion ($206,340,000) from tourism-related activities, an increase of 23.2 percent from the year before.

~News courtesy of SGGP~

Triem Tay Ecotourism Village opens in Quang Nam

Triem Tay Ecotourism Village opens in Quang Nam Province

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Quang Nam Province, the People's Committee of Dien Ban District, and the Hoi An Craft Village Conservation and Development Company jointly inaugurated the Triem Tay Ecotourism Village in Dien Phuong Commune in Dien Ban District on June 25.

Triem Tay Ecotourism Village was built in June 2009 over 13.447 square meters, preserving the village architecture of Quang Nam Province.

There are many ancient wooden houses there and boat services take visitors across the Thu Bon River.

In Triem West Village about 147 households and residents live mainly by farming and weaving mats and hence many will benefit through the Triem Tay Ecotourism Village.

~News courtesy of SGGP~

Simple truth: Vietnam just not ‘serious about tourism’

Simple truth: Vietnam just not ‘serious about tourism’



Dutch tourists visit a coffee shop in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. Photo by Gia Binh.

A recent article in Tuoi Tre, translated and reprinted in Vietweek and Thanh Nien News as “Why We Fail and Why They Succeed,” took a very reductive look at the reasons why Thailand is a hugely popular tourist destination and why Vietnam isn’t.

According to the article, Thailand is successful because it gives awards to tourism industry partners, and Vietnam is unsuccessful because it employs unsuitable tourism ambassadors.

Sadly it isn’t that simple, and the writer makes the all too common mistake of assuming that awards, tourism ambassadors and tourism promotions are relevant. They aren’t.

Tourists visiting either country are not aware of the “Friends of Thailand” awards or the existence of Ly Nha Ky, and even if they were, it is doubtful that either would have any influence on their travel choices.

Thailand’s tourism industry continues to amaze: 22 million visitors in 2012, over 24 million expected this year, a return rate of around 50 percent, Bangkok the most visited tourism destination in the world... and all this after the destructive political protests of 2010 and the floods of 2011.

Compare and contrast with Vietnam, with a mere 6 million visitors in 2012, numbers down in 2013, a return rate of around 5 percent, and widespread negative publicity about scams and rip-offs. So why the huge difference in numbers?

In Vietnam’s defense, one might cite the fact that Thailand has had a tourism industry since the 1960s, whereas Vietnam didn’t start opening up to foreign visitors until the mid-1990s. But that would be overly simplistic and would ignore the lack of development in Vietnam’s tourism industry in the last 20 years, during which time visitor numbers have increased, but service levels, infrastructure, promotion and awareness have developed at a snail’s pace.

Many expatriates have written to Vietweek concurring that despite the problems they face in Vietnam, it is simply not acceptable that people direct their anger and slurs at all Vietnamese. This forum, "Your two cents", opens the floor for you, the expats, to hold forth on the changes you see in Vietnam: what disappoints, what pleases and what you would like to see happen. Email your thoughts to editor@thanhniennews.com. We reserve the right to edit your submissions for reasons of space and clarity. It would also give the country an excuse to sit back and wait for another 30 years for things to improve, an excuse many in the industry would no doubt welcome.

Having lived in Vietnam from 2003 to late 2012, when I moved to Thailand, I have experienced tourism in both countries and the reason for such disparity has become very clear – culture.

You can market a tourism destination all you like, but if people go there and have a negative experience, they simply won’t go back. Thailand’s tourism culture is all about offering a warm welcome and providing an enjoyable experience, and this begins at Bangkok airport, where most tourists don’t need any kind of visa, where there are organized taxi queues, and where there is a fast, cheap and efficient network of trains and buses to get tourists into the city.

Compare this with the visa situation in Vietnam, where tourists have to apply in advance for an overpriced ($45!) tourist visa, where finding an honest airport taxi is like searching for a needle in a haystack, and where airport rail links are but a pipe dream. So many visitors to Vietnam have their initial impression formed by their negative airport experience, and never recover.

The Thais have realized the long-term benefits of providing a pleasant visitor experience, rather than milking tourists for all they have and then sending them on their way, never to return. Sure there are scams, but they’re the exception rather than the rule. The emphasis is on politeness, courtesy, and providing tourists with what they want, whether it is beach bars, nightlife, affordable and diverse shopping, or, most importantly, peace, quiet and relaxation. Thailand is, in short, a welcoming, comfortable and stress-free place to travel.

Vietnam should be able to compete. Whereas Thailand lacks a globally-famous marquee attraction, Vietnam has Ha Long Bay. Its cities have the old-school Asian bustle and street life that over-developed Bangkok has lost. It has spectacular mountain scenery and over 3,000km of coastline. It has stunning examples of colonial architecture (though this is gradually being destroyed, sadly). It has outgoing, friendly people who are still curious about meeting foreign visitors. And it has an edgy, raw Southeast Asian vibe that much of Thailand lacks. In theory, it should be competing with Thailand, but is struggling to even compete with Cambodia.

Why? Because tourists are not made to feel welcome and are treated as a one-off opportunity to make money.

Any country that charges tourists $45 for a visa and makes them apply for it in advance is not really serious about tourism. Any country that allows tourists to be scammed and hassled to the degree that happens in Vietnam, even at its airports, is not really serious about tourism. Any country that allows the building of large beachfront resorts without accompanying developments such as convenience stores, beach bars or restaurants (see Da Nang) is not really serious about tourism. And any country which does zero market research with tourism companies and resident expats to find out what visitors really want is most definitely not serious about tourism.

All the awards schemes, tourism ambassadors and tradeshow stands in the world cannot change this. When you make it difficult for people to get into your country and then provide an unsatisfactory experience for them when they arrive, your tourism industry will never be successful. But make them welcome, give them what they want, and go out of your way to make sure they have a great time, and they will do your promotion and marketing for you.

Thailand understands this. Even Cambodia understands this. Sadly, Vietnam still doesn’t, and its potential, and the knowledge and creativity of the many expats and locals working in its tourism industry, are going to waste.

~News courtesy of Thanh Nien News~

Lam Dong, Binh Thuan and HCMC joint for tourism

Lam Dong, Binh Thuan Provinces and HCMC join hands to develop tourism

On June 5, departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Lam Dong, Binh Thuan Provinces and Ho Chi Minh City signed an agreement to develop tourism jointly during the period 2013-2018.

Under the previous agreement from 2007- 2012, Lam Dong Province developed more than 100 tourism projects and Binh Thuan Province developed 227 tourism projects.

However, Lam Dong and Binh Thuan Provinces still have margin to develop further and attract more tourism.

La Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director of the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism stressed that localities also need to find solutions to make visitors feel more secure.

~News courtesy of SGGP~

Hai người cùng cảnh ngộ

Hai người cùng cảnh ngộ - Vĩnh Thuyên Kim - Phạm Thanh Thảo

Vietnam plans helicopter tourism

Vietnam plans helicopter tourism

The Northern Service Flight Company of Vietnam Helicopter Corporation under the Ministry of National Defense convened on June 6 to discuss use of helicopters as a means to exploit tourism.

With a view to better exploit the country’s tourism potential, participants at the meeting said that use of helicopters will add a new service in tourism and also attract high income earners and foreign holidaymakers. This new service will also offer diversity in tourism to meet a growing demand.

At the meeting, representatives from Hanoi and the northern province of Quang Ninh spoke of tourism potential in the two regions.

Air operators also introduced flights, such as the North Flight Service Company plans to launch 20 flights from Hanoi to famous tourist destinations like Ha Long Bay, Cat Bi, Cat Ba, Mong Cai, Lao Cai, Dien Dien, Hoa Binh, in the North; Thua Thien-Hue, Vinh, Da Nang in Central Vietnam and Vung Tau, Con Dao and Can Tho in the South.

At the meeting, tourist operators, embassies and five-star hotels had a chance to exchange information and sign contracts to introduce potential customers to various helicopter services.

~News courtesy of SGGP~

Seven new river tours in HCMC

Saigon Tourist opens seven new river tours in HCMC

Saigon Tourist Travel Company has just announced the opening of seven new river tours that will take tourists around Ho Chi Minh City via canals and rivers.

 
A jungle in Can Gio. Can Gio is one of destination of river cruise (Photo: B. Long)

Nguyen Thi Hong, Deputy Chairwoman of the People's Committee in Ho Chi Minh, said that opening these river tours on two main rivers in the City, namely Saigon River and Dong Nai River, will prove beneficial for tourism.

For years, the City ran river tours but these still were ineffective. Therefore, the City asked Saigon Tourist Company to promote and exploit more river tours in a bid to attract more local and international holidaymakers, said Hong.

The tours will depart daily from Bach Dang Pier and will serve food on board. From here, tourists can choose to travel to seven destinations including Dong Tay Highway, Binh Quoi, Cu Chi Tunnels, Can Gio, Vam Sat Tourism Center, orchards in Long Phuoc Ward in District 9, and Phu My Hung New Urban Area in District 7.

Tickets will range from VND295,000 to VND1.68 million per passenger. More information is available on website: http://www.saigon-tourist.com/

~News courtesy of SGGP~

Singapore and Vietnam laud strong bilateral relationship

Singapore and Vietnam laud strong bilateral relationship



Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung have lauded the strong and multi-faceted bilateral relationship between their two countries, which will be elevated to a Strategic Partnership in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of bilateral relations this year.

They noted the good progress on the Strategic Partnership Agreement negotiations and looked forward to the signing of the Agreement during Prime Minister Lee's official visit to Vietnam later this year.

On the economic front, both Prime Ministers noted the extensive bilateral economic ties, and agreed to strengthen bilateral trade and investment linkages.

Meeting in Singapore, both Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global issues.

They discussed recent developments in Southeast Asia and reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to promote ASEAN unity.

On the developments in the South China Sea, they noted the importance of the early commencement of discussions on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China.

The two leaders reiterated their commitment to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.

They noted that the TPP, when completed, would help to advance regional economic integration.

Prime Minister Dung called on and was hosted to lunch by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana on Friday afternoon.

Prime Minister Dung also called on President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Istana on Friday.

During the call, President Tan and Prime Minister Dung reaffirmed the excellent bilateral ties, in particular the robust economic and people-to-people linkages.

The two leaders agreed that both countries should continue to work closely on technical cooperation and promote more exchanges at all levels.

President Tan and Prime Minister Dung also had a good discussion on regional issues and international developments.

The Vietnamese leader is on a two-day visit to Singapore at the invitation of PM Lee.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~