VietnamDiscovery.com To Launch New Features For Online Booking Tours

Posted by admin on September 1, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info | Read the First Comment

VietnamDiscovery.com is the official online channel for tour booking of Vietnam Discovery Travel Jsc. The website is set up in an attempt to reach out to customers by presenting to them more than 10-year experience in Vietnam travel arrangements in just a few mouse clicks.

Tours In VietnamIn celebrating its 10th birthday, VietnamDiscovery.com proudly introduces many newly added features to enhance customers’ experience in booking Vietnam tours through the website. Tailored to users’ needs, the new features have been released recently and received positive feedbacks.

One of the new features is the interactive map with the outlined path for every tour on the site. The maps will mark all the destinations along the trips according to the detailed itineraries. Users will have a general idea about the trips they are considering.

A tour planning package is also added with several highly useful tools for tourists planning their trip in Vietnam. Users can fill out the query form answering their favorite itineraries and budget and choose from several tailor-made tours offered based on their answers. The package also includes currency converter, weather check and separate pages for sharing real-time Vietnam travel experiences and frequently asked questions about Vietnam.

With hundreds of different tours onsite, VietnamDiscovery.com also invented a new way of classification in which tours are classified into both tour styles and tour destinations. In each destination, new contents are updated such as detailed city travel guide, typical tours available for each city as well as cities’ highlights (attractions, restaurants, bars and useful travel pointers).

Users visiting the website now can also surf through updated Vietnam travel news, access photos gallery with pictures taken and uploaded by travelers, and check out the company other travel services such as Vietnam Visa, Vietnam Hotel or Transportation.

In reflecting to the website’s changes and innovations, CEO of Vietnam Discovery Travel, Mr. Nguyen, stated: “Having been working relentlessly for ten years in domestic and inbound tourism, Vietnam Discovery has built a reputation among fellow travelers with highly-qualified tour programs, outstanding travel consulting and responsible travel services. And, I am positive that we never stop striving to be better and do better!”

Wish to share your opinions on our new features?

We want to improve our website to perfection, to make it everything you want and need it to be. So we would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on the new features. You are welcome to be as honest as you like, please email any (constructive) comment to feedback@vietnamdiscovery.com and let us know what you think.

By Allison

Vietnam Discovery Travel Jsc.

Vietnam-visa.com To Launch Upgraded Website Version

Posted by admin on August 26, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Visa to Vietnam | Be the First to Comment

Vietnam-visa.com is among a few leading websites in Vietnam entrusted by thousands for providing foreign tourists and businessmen with Vietnam visa on arrival every year. With more than 10 year experience in visa service, the website http://Vietnam-visa.com has been a familiar name among travel community.

Vietnam Visa On ArrivalRecently, an upgraded version of Vietnam-visa.com has been released with more user-friendly interface and new features that are tailored to users’ needs. The launching of new version has received positive feedback from users.

On the celebration of the upgraded version going online, Mr. Nguyen, CEO of Vietnam-visa.com, stated: “The new version with updated content and featured tools promises to bring a new look to the website as well as to enhance its usability in providing customers with the best experiences possible while using Vietnam-visa.com. The changes and innovations represent our effort to reach out and fulfill expectations from internet users and our potential clients. Furthermore, it reflects our ambition in striving to be better and do better.”

The upgraded version of Vietnam-visa.com allows users to easily surf through important pages with updated information about Vietnam visa as well as other Vietnam travel issues. A new Q&A page was designed for customers to submit questions directly to the website. The questions will be displayed and answered by our support staff and any other website user who wishes to share their experiences. Along with the Q&A section is a page for Vietnam visa tips which covers all visa-related guides categorized for users from specific nationalities.

Aside from Vietnam visa application service, the new version also features other extra services including Vietnam visa extension service, Vietnam hotel booking service, Transportation service and Tour booking service. We are happy to include in the new version a tutorial video to guide customers through the visa application process and brand-new tools for checking visa processing status and calculating service fees.

In launching the upgraded version, Vietnam-visa.com also offers special discount programs including VIP Account and Corporate Account program. While VIP account is run as a special thank you to our frequent customers, Corporate Account is designed to best assist clients representing big companies or organizations. More information regarding these programs can be found at http://www.vietnam-visa.com/corporate.html.

Dying to tell us ways of improving it?

We want our new website version to be everything you want it to be and so would love to know your thoughts. You can be as honest as you like, so please email any (constructive) comments to support@vietnam-visa.com and let us know what you think.

By Allison | Vietnam-visa.com

United Nations helps Hoi An turn into ecological city

Posted by admin on August 20, 2011 under Vietnam Destinations, Vietnam Travel Info | Be the First to Comment

The United Nations and the UN Industrial Development Organisation will provide Hoi An city in central Quang Nam province with technical assistance to help turn the locality into an ecological one under a project that began on August 16.

Hoi An city, VietnamUnder the project, the Hoi An municipal People’s Committee will encourage green industrial activities at small and medium-sized enterprises, especially those operating in tourism, handicraft and relevant fields, while stepping up the provision of energy and environmental services based on the international “eco-city” model.

Outcomes and experiences of the project will be shared with other cities and provinces nationwide.

In the first seven months of this year, the world heritage site of Hoi An received more than 750,000 tourists, fulfilling 75 percent of its set target for the whole year.

The number of visitors choosing the city as a destination for their long stay also increases more than 20 percent compared with previous years.

The results are attributable to the close coordination between the city’s tourism sector and travel companies to welcome both domestic and foreign arrivals with best conditions.

(Source: VNA)

Hanoi’s iconic bridge could become art museum

Posted by admin on July 20, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info | Be the First to Comment

The Vietnam Urban Planning Association has proposed conversion of the century-old Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi into a contemporary art museum.

Long Bien Bridge

If the proposal is accepted, the bridge would no longer be used for rail traffic, and a new bridge would be built to replace it.

Long Bien would be raised by around 3 m to provide more clearance for vessels passing on the Red River below and cannons would be installed on its spans to celebrate the country’s martial history.

Speaking at a seminar on restoration of the bridge held in the capital last Friday, Nguyen Nga, a former town planner in the French capital Paris, said: “A wide-open space would be created to exhibit ancient steam locomotives and carriages that would be turned into cafes and restaurants. The bridge’s spans would be covered with glass.”

The rail tracks would provide space for cultural activities while streets on both sides of the bridge would become four-kilometre-long, green walking streets.

A highlight would be the conversion of the river’s alluvial soil floodplain area into a park featuring natural and artificial botanical gardens and resorts.

A contemporary art museum in the shape of a lotus, voted as Vietnam’s national flower, would be built on an area of 2.5 hectares on the right bank.

The work was expected to be finished by 2020 at a cost of VND4.68 trillion (USD227 million).

“The project aims to improve the habitat of local residents and increase green space in the capital,” she added.

The 2.5-km cantilever bridge was built in 1903 by French architects Daydé & Pillé when it was one of the longest in Asia.

(Source: Tuoitre)

Wedding season at hotels in Vietnam

Posted by admin on June 28, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam hotels | Be the First to Comment

Windsor Plaza Saigon hotel (18 An Duong Vuong Street, District 5, HCMC)

The Royal Wedding Fair at the Windsor Plaza Hotel will take place from July 8-10 with exhibitors that are available for free to the public. Every evening, a fashion show features stunning attire for brides, grooms and the entire wedding party with lucky draw prizes including diamond rings, wedding gowns and much more. Besides, hundreds of vouchers for various products and services will be given away to attendees. And

every guest who books their weddings there will enjoy 10% off.

New World Hotel Saigon (76 Le Lai Street, District 1, HCMC)

The fourth wedding fair that takes place on June 25 and 26 consists of a wedding exhibition in Ben Thanh Hall banquet room and the catwalk fashion show on June 26 in Mekong Ballroom. During the two-day wedding fair, the hotel offers special promotions for all weddings held before October this year besides joining a lucky draw with prizes such as a jewelry set, room and dinner vouchers, and more.

Life Heritage Resort Halong Bay

The resort in Ha Long Bay is offering brides and grooms-to-be a private wedding photo cruise in Ha Long Bay, including three hours aboard a heritage sailing junk manned by a personal crew, drinks and a light snack meal for four.

While on the cruise, couples will have their pick of prime photo opportunities within the bay, from the scenery at the Tuan Chau marina to panoramic sunset views from the upper deck. They will participate in a quarterly lucky draw, with the chance to win a 50% discount on a two-night honeymoon at the resort.

Summer fun at Majestic hotel saigon and Bier Garden

Posted by admin on June 21, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam hotels | Be the First to Comment

Family festival at the Majestic Hotel Saigon

To celebrate Vietnam Family Day on June 28, the five-star Majestic Hotel Saigon will host ‘Family festival’ at the Cyclo Restaurant from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on June 24 and 25. There will be stacks of games for kids who will also receive gifts. The whole family can enjoy a buffet party with traditional Vietnamese dishes and drinks. Tickets are priced at VND399,000 per adult and VND199,000 per child.

Local and foreign beer promotions at Bier Garden

Located in downtown HCMC on Dong Khoi Street, the open-air Bier Garden is an ideal rendezvous for revelers to relax and feast on Western and Asian food. The fried tartar clam and battered fish is done British style and there are other dishes like salmon salad, pumpkin soup with crouton cake or grilled beef with banini cake.

The restaurant is offering a Local Beer Package priced at VND155,000++ for five bottles of beer, Sapporo priced at VND210,000++ per five bottles or happy hour-buffet draught beer from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. priced at VND120,000++.

This month the restaurant has introduced a new menu with American beef dishes such as beef salad with teriyaki sauce and beef wrapped with bamboo and mushroom.

The Majestic Hotel Saigon is located at 1 Dong Khoi Street, HCMC’s District 1.

The Bier Garden is at 125 Dong Khoi Street in HCMC’s District 1.

Sea festival is a great excuse to explore Nha Trang

Posted by admin on June 13, 2011 under Vietnam Festivals, Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam beauty | Be the First to Comment

Nha Trang Sea Festival 2011 which will take place from Saturday to Wednesday is a great chance for tourists to admire the city’s stunning beaches and fascinating islands.

Saigontourist Travel Service Company and the Yasaka-Saigon-Nhatrang Hotel, under management of Saigontourist Holding Company, use this occasion to try to attract festival-goers with special events.

The four-star Yasaka Saigon Nhatrang Hotel, located in the center of the city, will hold a number of festival events that promise to leave guests with unforgettable memories.

There will be a parasol display before a doorshow featuring music and dancing at the hotel’s lobby from 6:30 p.m. from Friday to Wednesday.

The hotel will prepare Asian, Vietnamese and Western fare in the Beach Cuisine event which will be held from 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

There will also be a rock balancing competition and on Tuesday the hotel will join the Cyclo challenge and parade at April 2 Square and along Tran Phu and main streets of the city.

Meanwhile, Saigontourist will offer trips, including a five-day tour to Nha Trang-Dalat priced at VND3.2 million, departing on Sunday, a four-day tour to Hon Mun Island-Wonder Park priced at VND2.9 million,

departing on Saturday, a four-day tour to Nha Trang-Hoa Lan Stream-Doc Let Beach priced at VND2.5 million, departing on Sunday, a six-day tour to Phan Thiet-Nha Trang-Dalat priced at VND4.7 million and a five-day tour to Phan Thiet-Nha Trang priced at VND4.2 million both departing on Saturday.

Saigontourist Travel Service Company is located at 45 Le Thanh Ton Street, HCMC’s District 1.

The Yasaka Saigon Nhatrang Hotel is at 18 Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province.

Other nha trang hotel information, you can visit the website http://Vietnamhotels.net

Nha Trang all set for sea extravaganza

Posted by admin on May 18, 2011 under Vietnam Destinations, Vietnam Festivals, Vietnam Travel Info | Read the First Comment

The fifth biennial Nha Trang Sea Festival, themed Nha Trang – Coastal Destination this year, will be held next month.

Life’s a beach: Nha Trang Beach in the coastal province of Khanh Hoa will host some 60 cultural, arts and tourism events next month during the fifth biennial Nha Trang Sea Festival. (Photo: VNS)

It will feature some 60 cultural, arts, sporting and tourism events, Khanh Hoa Province People’s Committee deputy chairman and head of the organising board, Le Xuan Than told the media in HCM City on Monday.

“The festival aims to attract domestic and foreign tourists to the province and the country,” Than said.

Thai Nguyen Province will also participate into this event this year, he said.

From June 2 to 10 there will be a fishing and sea tours at night, an S1 water-motorbike performance, a sepak takraw competition on the beach, and a Nha Trang sea bath day.

There will be environmental protection activities, including a city-wide rubbish clean-up on the International Environment Day (June 5), and a conference on marine preservation.

Exhibitions will be held to showcase Cham culture, Lu Cam porcelain, calligraphy, photographs of the city, and high-quality Vietnamese goods, as will a festival of folk cuisine and the region’s special dishes, a music concert and comedy shows.

The organisers will highlight the region’s speciality – swallow’s nest – with conferences on the industry’s history and traditional culture, developing swallow communities and the uses of swallow’s nests, and two swallow’s nest festivals in the city and on Hon Noi Island.

A charity show, Dance on the Beach, will be held on June 10.

The main festival will open with a fireworks display. The opening day will feature a volleyball competition, a film week, a street photo exhibition on the Beauty of Aloe Wood Region, another on the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, a Champa pottery and brocade display, a cooking contest, a food court, and a street-arts show.

The highlights of the festival will be parades of bicycles, pedicabs, Vespa scooters and vintage motorbikes, an exhibition of sand art, human chess, a Fish Worshipping ceremony, stunt kite flying, dancing by the best couples from the Khanh Hoa Gymnasium, poetry recitation, and music shows themed the sea and islands.

Morbihan Province of France will participate in the festival, bringing its own musicians and photography enthusiasts.

Vietravel’s diving centre, Vinadive, will organise underwater weddings for 10 couples on June 15 at Hon Mun Sea Reserve Area.

Of the cost of organising the festival, 80 per cent has been contributed by organisations and businesses in Khanh Hoa and elsewhere.

Source: VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Mangrove palm forest draws tourists in Hoi an

Posted by admin on May 16, 2011 under Vietnam Destinations, Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam tours | Be the First to Comment

About three kilometers from the ancient town of Hoi An, the Dua nuoc (mangrove palm) forest in Cam Thanh Commune in the central province of Quang Nam has become a much sort after tourist destination.

The forest rests at the convergence of Thu Bon and Truong Giang rivers before they flow into the East Sea. The Hoi An mangrove palm forest plays an important role by forming a natural filtration system before the river currents merge into the sea.

The year-round green forest grows along the river and canal banks. On islets and areas around the forest, there is a particular ecosystem, which is home to many species of fishes and shrimps.

Local residents are well aware of the value of the mangrove palm forests to the environment and for tourism and are cooperating with organizations and tourist companies to exploit the tourist potential, annually broadening and preserving the forest area.

Visitors to the forest can take a leisurely bicycle ride through the forest. Crossing the various paths there, visitors will see local farmers picking mangrove palm leaves, which they use as roofing material and for handicraft items.

Boats are always available to carry visitors along the canals to pick mangrove palm nuts and enjoy a cool coconut drink.

For those who want to relax in a fresh atmosphere, they can bring fishing rods, choose a suitable place and enjoy the sunset as it lazes over the Thu Bon River. People prefer wide-open spaces, they can row a boat out to the river or cast a net with the help of local anglers.

Source: Thanh Nien

Anantara resorts makes its foray into Vietnamese market

Posted by admin on May 13, 2011 under Vietnam Travel Info, Vietnam hotels | Be the First to Comment

Anantara has announced that it will be opening its first property in Vietnam in July this year.

The Anantara Mui Ne Resort and Spa will be located next to the town of Phan Thiet in Binh Thuan Province, along a shoreline spot on a former coconut plantation.

Following a traditional Vietnamese architectural design, the resort offers 89 rooms, suites and pool villas, as well as a variety of banqueting, event and meeting facilities, including five conference rooms for up to 250 participants.

Other facilities at the resort include an open-air seafood restaurant on the beach and the signature Anantara Spa.

Collected by Vietnam hotels