Up in the air . . .

AFTER two years of construction, Van Don International Airport opened on December 29, in Quang Ninh province – home to the UNESCO world Heritage site Halong Bay – just 220 kilometres from the capital Hanoi.

This is the first ever international airport in #Vietnam to be developed by a private company, namely, Sun Group, as a new gateway for both domestic and international travellers coming to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, the airport will receive an estimated 2 to 2.5 million passengers annually for the next two years and five million per year by 2030.


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Boutique cruises in the Cat Ba Archipelago

ALREADY operating in Vietnam’s Nha Trang Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, under the five-star Emperor Cruises brand name, Heritage Cruises, a member of the Lux Group, will launch its first boutique cruise in the Cat Ba Archipelago in the Tonkin Gulf under the brand name of Heritage Cruises. 

The company announces the launching of its website and first cruise photos at www.heritagecruises.com and promotion through various travel trade shows and roads shows in Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America.

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A small country with a huge heart

A small country with a huge past, Cambodia, a popular holiday destination among travellers from the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK, has seen growth double through the years offering tour operators the opportunity to market their own specially crafted vacation packages. Vietnamese Private Tours offers its own tours and trip deals in 2019 taking advantage of the growing number of travellers to the region.

Its rich history is challenging, enchanting and ever present. Voted the world‘s friendliest nation, the Cambodian people smile their way throughout the day. Its blossoming art scene and funky bars and restaurants contrast nicely with its ancient temples and colonial decay plus its throbbing cities and island beaches are the perfect place to relax and play.

#Cambodia is warm to hot year round with a rainy season between June and October. Don’t be too put off by the term ‘rainy’ though. It’s actually a great time of the year to visit. The temperature is a little cooler and the land lush green. Most of the downpours are in the afternoon or at night and they only last for a couple hours or so making them easy to plan around.

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Hotel news from around the world

ZAZZ Hotels & Resorts, the vibrant upscale brand owned by Asia Prestige Management and managed by Unicorn Hotels & Resorts, is pleased to announce it will debut in Ho Chi Minh, #Vietnam.

Scheduled to open in Q1 2019, ZAZZ Urban Ho Chi Minh Hotel is located in District 5, Saigon’s historic Chinatown. The urban oasis-themed hotel offers 40 stylish guestrooms and suites, with in-room amenities including complimentary ultra-fast wireless Internet, a new generation flat-screen TV, entertainment system plus floor-to-ceiling windows with exquisite views of Ho Chi Minh City.


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Colonial chic river cruising

CRUISING is an attractive option to experience corners of exotic Southest Asia landscapes, mysterious World Heritages and colonial history - a leisurely relaxing trip on the tranquil waters of some most stunning rivers. The intimate cruises experience take deeply to the water on a relaxed voyage to explore far flung destinations from the river. 

Experience the sights and sounds of Burma’s Ayeyarwady River or the World Heritage Site of Vietnam’s Halong Bay on a elegance wooden yacht. Sail between Vietnam and Cambodia in a colonial style vessel. Ciao Travel offer amazing journeys for 2018 and 2019, either Cruises or experience land destinations around magical Southest Asia.

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Vietnam stars in Kong blockbuster

IN the blockbuster movie “Kong - Skull Island”, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Quang Binh in Vietnam have been selected for important scenes. This is the first Hollywood blockbuster movie licensed to film in #Vietnam taking two months of filming with the last spot Halong Bay.

With the spectacular scattering of islands, dotted with wind and wave eroded grottos and ethereal beauty, Halong bay is unsurprisingly northern Vietnam's number one tourism hub. Rising from the shallows of the Gulf of Tonkin are thousands of limestone islands widely known as Fighting Cock Island, Finger Island, Virgin Grotto, etc. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves or the abundance of lakes, other support floating villages of fishermen.

The procession of pinnacles, islets and islands continues all the way to the Chinese border with a seascape just as striking as that of famous Halong Bay. This is Bai Tu Long Bay, much less visited with fewer cruise trips so the karst views are not as often obscured by other boats.

Geologically an extension of Halong Bay, the limestone islets and towers of Lan Ha Bay can be easily accessed from Cat Ba Island. Cat Ba island has more to offer than a beautiful seascape. It is adventure capital – whether you want to climb it, bike it, hike it or kayak it. The Cat Ba national park is home to most of the world’s remaining golden-headed langur population. Moreover, this island’s cliffs have become one of Southeast Asia’s top learn-to-climb destinations.

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Taking it easy

E-BIKES have become popular with commuters in Europe and North America, but they are an attractive option for #cycling #holidays. Riders with less experience, lower fitness, recovering from injury, or with less confidence in their abilities can enjoy trips and destinations without worrying about being able to keep up. Even more experienced riders can benefit from riding an e-bike on a tour that is particularly challenging.

Sri Lanka e-bikes are SCOTT Cross-E Sub 20 bikes, while select Vietnam tours feature Giant Explore E+ bikes. The new e-bikes can be hired per tour, as an alternative to standard mountain, road, or carbon bike hire. Both models of e-bike use “pedal assist” technology, which engages the bike’s motor once the rider begins to pedal. The more the rider pedals, the more the motor is activated, making e-bikes great for tackling climbs or comfortably cruising at speed.

SpiceRoads Cycling are cycle touring specialists based in Bangkok, Thailand. Founded in 1995, SpiceRoads leads over 10,000 passengers per year on active cycling adventures in 32 destinations worldwide.SpiceRoads offer cycling tours to suit every type of cyclist, from road enthusiasts, to leisure cyclists, to day trippers, to mountain bikers.



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Hotel News from Around the World

OVERLOOKING the northern stretch of Vietnam's most compelling beach, Bai Dai, the opening of Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc heralds a new era for the Radisson Hotel Group. The group plans to launch Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh Bay early next year and is pursuing development opportunities in other Vietnamese destinations.

On #PhuQuoc, Radisson Blu will unveil 514 rooms, suites and villas, a restaurant, two bars, a VIP lounge, large swimming pool and kid's club on July 14. Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc is located just 27km from Phu Quoc International Airport. 

Guests will have direct access to an adjacent complex's collection of facilities including a spa, gym, convention centre, water park, shopping centre, restaurants and theatre. An amusement park, 18-hole golf course and safari conservation park are also on the resort's doorstep.

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Silversea offers saving for Australia to Asia sailings

ULTRA-LUXURY cruise line Silversea, is offering exceptional savings on a number of voyages to Asia in 2018 and 2019 with an All-Inclusive Package promotion now available on new bookings made before 31 July 2018. The savings program includes free economy roundtrip air or business-class air upgrade for AUD$999 each way for flights from select Australian gateways; free one-night pre-cruise hotel stay; free transfers between airport, hotel and ship; and at least one free shore excursion in every port.

Silversea’s shore experiences are carefully crafted to reveal the cultural, historical and natural treasures of Asia, from Vietnam’s surreal Ha Long Bay and the tropical paradise of Koh Samui to the golden temples of Myanmar. Nearly 20 new options have been added, totalling approximately 180 free shore excursions, complemented by additional shore options available for purchase.

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Up in the air . . .

VIETNAM'S new-age carrier Vietjet will officially launch a direct route connecting Hanoi with Osaka (Japan) on 8 November 2018, looking to further boost tourism and trade integration between the two countries and across the region.

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Hop on and hop off in Hanoi

THE first double-decker bus was put into service on May 30 with hop-on and hop-off at 13 stops, running through 25 streets and taking tourists to 30 attractions in the capital city of #Hanoi, Vietnam.

Each bus has 80 seats and is equipped with modern technology, including the GPS system, free Wifi, USB gates, refrigerator, a TV screen and safety cameras.

An automatic narration system in various languages such as English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean is also installed in the buses, giving visitors an overall insight of over 30 most typical tourist attractions of the city.

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Vietnamese government issue first casino license in 10 years

A casino within the beach-golf resort which is in close proximity to 3 UNESCO Heritage Sites provides a unique culture, sporting and entertainment destination experience that will further boost tourism for the Thua Thien Hue region and attract global travellers. Laguna Lăng Cô is part of a chain of integrated resorts created and managed by Banyan Tree under the Laguna brand, and includes Laguna Bintan in Indonesia and the flagship Laguna Phuket in Thailand.

This is the first casino license to be issued by the Vietnamese government in the past ten years. Laguna Lăng Cô welcomes worldclass casino operators and investment partners to join in the next exciting phase and growth of its integrated resort development in Central Vietnam.

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More reasons to tee off in Thailand

TWO of the biggest golf tour operators in the Asia Pacific region, Golfasian and Go Golfing, have announced they will expand their event portfolio to six annual tournaments in #Thailand and #Vietnam. These events will attract more than 1,700 golfers for an average stay of 10 nights. Now, that’s big business in the world of #golf tourism.

These industry trendsetters are breaking new ground with the launch of a Golf Week exclusively for singles and solo travellers in Pattaya in September. In October, Chiang Mai will host a ‘couples only’ tournament. And, they have parlayed the huge success of their Centara World Masters tournament in Hua Hin to launch another boutique event there in October.

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Celebrate the cultural heritage of Vietnam

HELD every other year since 2000, the Hue Festival is Vietnam's most ambitious cultural extravaganza. The festival celebrates the cultural heritage of Vietnam with ceremonies that illuminate the imperial splendors of #Vietnam, that trumpet the music of the country's most renowned pop musicians, that explore the charm of the country's traditional villages.

Artists from dozens of foreign countries will perform alongside traditional Vietnamese artists and include traditional musicians from Korea, lion dancers from Okinawa, folk dancers from Poland, contortionists from Mongolia, French rockers, Colombian drummers and a singer-songwriter from Israel among others.

About 250,000 visitors attended the 2016 Festival, increasing from the 192,500 who attended in 2014. Tickets range in price from 50,000 VND (US $2.50) to 2 million VND (US $100).





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Feast on the banks of Perfume River

HUE'S most luxurious hotel is kicking off its 6th edition Spring Foodfest right in its lush garden on the banks of the fabled Perfume River. The event takes place on 8th February, just one week before Vietnamese traditional Tet approaches.

The Spring Foodfest is going to showcase more than 40 delectable dishes of Vietnamese and Hue cuisine. Festival-goers will have a chance to experience Vietnamese festive activities and savour a hearty bowl of Bun Bo Hue or anything from traditional live cooking stations where they are advised to sit on a rustic bamboo stool as if they were at a streetside stall. There are also handicraft artists who display their legacy carried on throughout the centuries and folk games for revellers to participate in.

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Indians Seek Experiential Travel in 2018

THE Indian millennial traveler is willing to spend more for enriching trips. The year 2017 also saw an increase in Indians who want staycations, preferring the local interactions that such stays offer. More and more Indians are taking to experiential travel with a focus on offbeat destinations. Using Trippin Traveller’s data based on its customers, more Indian millennials are choosing experiences over packaged sightseeing tours.

The most popular destinations for 2017 included Cambodia and Vietnam internationally and Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Uttarakhand in #India. For 2018, upcoming travel interests include Laos, which has a vibrant backpacker scene, Israel, which has a fascinating combination of history and modernity, and Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland in India.

Among other interesting statistics, rural travel is fast gaining popularity with substantial development expected in rural tourism in 2018 and beyond. Trippin Traveller’s data found that Indians in the age group of 30-45 years were most likely to ask for and undertake rural travel to offbeat places in India.

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California Surf Museum Unveils New Vietnam Exhibit

OCEANSIDE'S California Surf Museum recently debuted its newest exhibit: “China Beach: Surfing During the Vietnam War and the Healing Power of Wave-riding.” The exhibit highlights the surfing experience during the conflict in Vietnam (such as at the famous China Beach), the perspective of surfers back home, and the veterans returning to the surf after their tour of duty. 

Along with honoring surfers who fought in Vietnam, the exhibit explores the many interesting topics related to surfing during the Vietnam War: how surfers got their boards to Vietnam, how Hollywood films depicted surfing during the conflict, and the waves of Vietnam themselves. The exhibit feature re-creations of the famous surf icons, including a life-size replica of the China Beach Surf Club building, a lifeguard tower, surfboards used during the era and a huge map of the surf spots. 

The exhibit is scheduled to run until February 2018.

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InterContinental opens Vietnam's Highest Hotel

ONE of the world’s leading hotel companies, InterContinental Hotels Group has announced the opening of InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 in Hanoi, #Vietnam.

Perched atop the towering Keangnam Landmark72 from the 62nd to 71st floors, InterContinental #Hanoi Landmark72 is now welcoming guests to enjoy one of the 359 sophisticated and luxurious rooms.

Situated close to some of Hanoi’s major landmarks and attractions such as Hanoi Museum, Vietnam National Convention Centre, Garden Shopping Centre and the headquarters of many Vietnamese multinational corporations. The hotel is less than 40 minutes from Noi Bai International Airport, promising guests a smooth transit when visiting the capital city.

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Vietjet connects Ho Chi Minh City with Phnom Penh

VIETJET has started selling tickets for the Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) – Phnom Penh (Cambodia) route with prices starting from only VND199,000 (USD8.8 excluding taxes and fees). 

The new route will be put into operations as of November 24, 2017, looking to meet the trading and traveling demands between the two famous economic and financial hubs of Vietnam and Cambodia.



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Solo travel top 5 destinations from Flash Pack

SOLO travel adventure holiday specialist Flash Pack was founded in 2014 by 30-somethings Radha Vyas and Lee Thompson, who were both frustrated by the lack of appealing group travel tour companies for single travellers their age.

Current bookings and recent search data show that certain destinations are top of the list for single travellers, who seek off the beaten track, small group adventures with like-minded travellers in their 30s and 40s.

1. Vietnam and Cambodia (60% female)

This 14-day adventure was one of the first tours launched in 2014 and continues to be the best seller. Each group has 14 people and a mix of Brits, Americans and Australians. Highlights of this tour include hiking the bamboo forests in Sapa, where few tour companies can go, a Hanoi street food tour, kayaking through limestone caves in Halong Bay, a Vietnamese cooking class and spending the night onboard a traditional junk boat.

2. Stunning Sri Lanka (80% female)

Rapidly catching up with Vietnam and Cambodia, is the popular Stunning Sri Lanka 11-day tour launched in 2015. It is a shorter trip and more appealing to people that haven’t travelled solo before. Flashpackers love the boutique hotels, visiting four UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Galle Fort, the Citadel of Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Sigiriya Rock Fortress), the wildlife safari in Yala National Park, bathing a local elephant in Amaya Lake, releasing baby turtles at a turtle-hatching project, and cycling through the ruins of Polonnaruwa by bike.

3. The Peak of Peru (50% male/50% female)

Since launching late 2016, each new date released of this 12-day tour is sold out within two weeks. The adventure level on his tour is higher as it includes challenges such as climbing the 5000m high Rainbow Mountain. Other highlights include exploring the capital city of Lima, boarding a traditional Amazonian boat into the jungle for a trek, cruising down the Madre de Dios River at night, strolling the charming streets of Cuzco, discovering Machu Pichu, cycling through the highlands of the Sacred Valley, and enjoy delicious Latin American cuisine washed down with potent Pisco sours.

4. Myanmar (40% male)

This unique 12-day tour attracts a different type of solo traveller to the other trips as it takes visitors completely off the beaten path to places where there are no other tourists. As an emerging destination, this tour is popular with well-travelled solo travellers. The best part is travelling down the Inle Lake toward Loikaw and meeting the Kayah’s Long Neck Karen tribe after a jungle picnic. Other highlights include a tour of Bagan’s temples by electric bike, a private cruise on the Ayeyarwady river, exploring Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset, trekking across Green Hill Valley and a visit to a Snake Temple.

5. Spain Vespa (50% male/50% female)

With so many ‘wow’ moments on this long weekend around the Segovia region of Spain, this is definitely the most instagrammed trip. Highlights including learning to ride an iconic vespa and feeling free whilst zooming through rural countryside with magnificent mountain views, visiting the stunning medieval villages of Riaza, Sepulveda and Pedraz, and enjoying local cuisines paired perfectly with local Spanish wines.

www.flashpack.com

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