The Lao Cai People’s Committee will organise the “Fansipan: Explore and Conquer” 2011 programme in the middle of December as part of a tourist programme named “Back to the origin – 2011”. The programme is expected to attract the participation of 60-80 professional climbers, together with some domestic and foreign tourists. During two days and one night, the tour will start from Tram Ton, Sapa, on the top of O Quy Ho Hill and finish [...]

The 2012 Flower Festival will be held in Hanoi from December 30, 2011 to January 2, 2012 to welcome the upcoming lunar New Year (the Year of Dragon). The event is part of activities to celebrate the 82nd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3). The flower festival will take place around the Hoan Kiem (Restored Sword) Lake in the centre of the capital city. In the framework of the festival, there [...]

Ho Chi Minh City’s urban planner has completed a study to introduce walking streets into the city’s downtown in an effort to restrict personal vehicle use, Tuoi Tre quoted an official as saying Tuesday. According to Huynh Xuan Thu, director of the HCMC Department of Planning and Architecture’s Center for Zoning Information, the popular “backpackers’ area” in District 1, where many expats and tourists gather, is among the three areas targeted by the study as [...]

The Consulate General of Japan, together with the municipal Youth Cultural House, organized the Vietnam-Japan festive day in HCM city on November 13. The annual event attracted more than 1,000 people including young people and students aiming to promote cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between Japan and Vietnam. Diverse traditional activities were held during the event including coloring Japanese paintings, introducing Japanese culinary arts and exploring study opportunities in Japan.

The Super Star Aquarius cruise ship, bringing 2,100 foreign tourists, from Hong Kong, China docked at Chan May port in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on November 14. While in Hue, visitors visited Ancient Hue relics complex and enjoyed Hue Royal Court Music. This was the first time they had taken a long tour of Vietnam from Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh to the central city of Da Nang.

The joy at Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay entering the temporary list of the seven new wonders of nature has been tempered by concerns the high profile could see an unmanageable spurt in tourism, damaging the world heritage site. The announcement that it is on the temporary list is based on first counting of global votes on Friday. It sparked celebrations all over the country. Local tourism firms said it would be a boost for the [...]

Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, announced the New7Wonders Foundation on November 12 after the first count of global voting ended a day earlier. In alphabetical order, the seven winners are the Amazon, Ha Long Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, Puerto Princesa Underground River and Table Mountain. The New7Wonders of Nature campaign have been carried out over the past four years, starting with more than 440 locations [...]

The Deck is one of the best restaurants in town for escaping from the noise and motorbikes of Ho Chi Minh City.It’s a place where patrons are welcome to take their time, and there are few spacious outdoor restaurants in the city with such breathtaking views of the river as this place. Just 20 minutes from the city center, The Deck transports us to the real Vietnamese countryside.

The first International Tea Festival will be held in the northern province of Thai Nguyen from November 11 to 15, organizers announced at a press conference Wednesday. The festival will feature a seminar on Vietnamese tea integrating into the international market, a parade, a tea culture festival, a cuisine and specialty market and other artistic activities. A new national record, the biggest tea pot in Vietnam, will be displayed at the festival.A tea night of [...]

Budget carrier Jetstar Pacific said it will suspend flights on two domestic routes from November 15 for scheduled maintenance work.The Hanoi-Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City-Hue services are expected to resume next summer, local media reported last week, citing airline officials.