The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) is going to lodge a proposal to the government, asking for investment incentives for the enterprises that develop hotels and tourism accommodations.

Do Thi Hong Xoan, Chair of the Hotel Association, thinks that the current tax policy applied on tourism accommodations is unreasonable.

“A resort area covers 20 hectares, but the investor only uses 35-40 percent of the total area for the construction works. However, in this case, the investor has to pay the same high tax rate for the whole area of 20 hectares, which I believe an unreasonable taxation,” Xoan said.

She went on to say that only devoted people dare to make investment in hotels at this moment, because it is very difficult to borrow capital, while the bank loan interest rates are sky high and hotel room occupancy ratio is low.

Also according to Xoan, a lot of hotels and resorts have been build in recent years, but Vietnam still lacks high quality accommodations for tourists. Therefore, it is still necessary to encourage the investment in hotel development, especially high grade hotels, in order to well prepare to serve tourists when the number of travelers to Vietnam increases sharply.

Meanwhile, investors are now facing big difficulties due to the high land tax and high electricity and water prices.

Hotel and resort developers have voiced the same complaints that the corporate income tax and the peak hour electricity pricing mechanism applied to tourism accommodations are overly high.

Vu The Binh, Chair of the Travel Association, said that travel firms have complained about the land tax over the last many years, but there has been no change in the tax policy so far.

According to Phung Quang Thang, a senior executive of Hanoitourist, in the tourism sector, there are two business fields that need big investments, but it will take investors a long time to take back investment capital: hotel development and means of transport development. “The State should offer investment incentives to help develop the two business fields,” he said.

In fact, the investment incentives offered to tourism accommodation developers have been stipulated in the Tourism Law already. The law says that the State offers preferences in land allocation, finance and credit to institutions and individuals who make investments to develop material facilities for tourism, especially in remote areas. The law also stipulates that Vietnam allows importing of modern specialized equipment to be used at high grade tourism establishments.

However, according to Le Mai Khanh, Deputy Director of Hotel Department under VNAT, to date, only the tax incentives applied to the import of equipment for the first time have been clarified.

When asked why VNAT still has not promulgated legal documents clarifying the investment incentives stipulated in the tourism law, Vu The Binh, who was the Director of the Travel Department under VNAT, said it always takes a long time to compile and issue legal documents. Therefore, in many cases, legal documents do not have the topicality right after they come out.

VNAT’s leaders said they have proposed to put the amendment of the Tourism Law into the upcoming National Assembly’s session’s agenda. While waiting for the law amendment, in order to help ease the problems on enterprises, VNAT will ask the government to apply some preferences in tax, land allocation, electricity and water prices.

Meanwhile, the representative from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said that the proposals for investment incentives need to come in line with the tourism law, the tourism development program up through 2020, which has been submitted for the government’s approval.

Regarding the proposal to reconsider the tax rate imposed on the resort land area where there is no construction work, he said, that clients who want to stay in the resorts, have to pay money for the whole campus, environment and the whole area, not only for the rooms. Therefore, it would be unreasonable to impose tax on the land area with construction works only.

Source: DTCK

The national tourism year 2012 themed “Hue-Ancient capital city-New experiences” will be held in central Thua Thien Hue province.

The event is expected to promote Vietnam ’s tourism products and cultural heritages, attract more foreign tourists and boost domestic tourism.

Hue Festival – a quintessential biennial event of Vietnamese cultural heritages – will be the major cultural draw card.

Lying on the north-south railway and main road connected to Laos and northeastern Thailand and with the Phu Bai international airport and the Chan May seaport, Thua Thien-Hue province will be a stopover for central and nationwide tourists.

In particular, Hue city – the local tourism centre – was the capital city of the Nguyen feudal dynasty and is the sole place in the country preserving the royal court music “nha nhac” recognised by UNESCO as masterpieces of oral and intangible heritage of humanity.

Thua Thien-Hue is also well known for its cuisine, craft products and folk festivals, including the Cau Ngu festival, the boat race on the Huong (Perfume) river and Hue Festival.

The system of tombs and pagodas together with beautiful beaches like Lang Co beach, Thuan An and Canh Duong and the Tam Giang-Cau Hai lagoon will be especially attractive destinations for tourists.

The National Tourism Year 2011 themed “ Exotic Beaches and Islands ” took place in central coastal Phu Yen province on April 1.

Source: VNA

Creating a luxurious new gateway to the distinctive cultural charms of southeastern Vietnam, as well as a breathtaking first glimpse of refined coastal life in a much celebrated beach destination, Anantara Mui ne Resort & Spa will welcome discerning travelers by harnessing the very spirit of this exciting locale. This will be combined with Anantara’s revered Asian hospitality and a range of signature spa, dining and discovery journeys.

Located 198 kilometers northeast of Ho Chi Minh City on the South East Coast of Vietnam, next to the town of Phan Thiet in the province of Binh Thuan, Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa is named after Mui Ne fishing village, in which it occupies an enviable central shoreline position and is surrounded by the village’s famously long and beautiful beaches, stunning mountains and desert-like sand dunes.

Mui Ne’s natural charms are enhanced by an ideal beach climate, being attractively warm and dry for the most part of the year with an average temperature of 29 degress Celsius and promising the lowest annual rainfall of the entire country. Accompanying winds coming in from the ocean transform the heat into a pleasant breeze and generate optimum conditions for kite surfing and windsurfing, as well as refreshing beach time.

Immersed in this alluring tropical scene, guests of Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa will take further inspiration from a fresh water lagoon and tropical gardens which will highlight an expansive swimming pool, while the resort’s traditional Vietnamese architecture will proudly embrace 89 rooms, suites and pool villas designed in contemporary harmony with local culture.

Guests will have a choice of a wide range of rooms and suites ranging from 42 square metres to the Presidential Suite of 178 square metres which offers different lagoon, pool and beach perspectives. In addition, 20 Pool Villas, ranging from 92 to 128 square metres, will boast a private lounge, open-air bathroom, private swimming pool, and spectacular outlook of the gardens, lagoon, pool or beachfront.

Food and beverage outlets marry the resort’s magnificent views and tropical setting with local delicacies and international flair.

Banqueting, event and meeting facilities include five conference rooms for up to 250 participants, as well as exceptional al fresco reception locations. Leisure time unfolds in a host of relaxing and rejuvenating pastimes, with amenities including a spa offering a wealth of health, beauty and wellness treatments, a stunning beach swimming pool, a fitness centre with modern gym equipment in a picturesque garden setting, a reading lounge providing books, magazines, CDs and DVDs.

Guests can look forward to experiencing an invigorating range of water sport activities or improving their swing at a nearby golf course, as well as delving into local culture and history with local points of interest including Mui Ne’s fishing village, port and sand dunes, Hon Rom Red Canyon, Lotus Lake, Dragon Fruit Farm, the Poshanu Cham Tower, Ta Ku Mountain, the Fairy Stream, and Water Tower, and Ke Ga Lighthouse.

Further information about mui ne resort,  please visit the website http://Vietnamhotels.net!

(Source: luxurytravelmagazine)

Traditional foods will be the highlight of the fourth Traditional Craft Villages Festival 2011, themed “Vietnamese Kitchen in Hue’s Garden” and will be held in the ancient capital of Hue from April 30 to May 3.

The festival which will be organized in three areas: Ngo Mon Square (Noon Gate), Dai Noi (Royal Palace) and at the Huong (Perfume) River bank. The biennial festival will introduce hundreds of specialty dishes from the south, Hanoi and Hue. Native bonsais plants from all across Vietnam will be showcased to plant lovers.

Some local dishes featured will be heo nuong lu (baked pork in jar), chao luon dau xanh (eel porridge cooked with green peas), oc buou hap hem (medium-sized edible snail steamed with draff) and more will be served in the southern cuisine pavilion.  While enjoying these culinary treats in the pavilion, festival goers will be delighted with a performance of don ca tai tu (southern amateur music), Khmer dance and folk music.

Save some room for the northern food and recipes pavilion which will attract visitors with its offerings of Hanoi specialties and performances of ca tru (an ancient genre of chamber music featuring female vocalists, with origins in northern Vietnam) and hat xam (a type of Vietnamese folk music which was popular in the northern region of Vietnam).

For those who like to eat like a King, the food sections in Ngo Mon Square will represent culinary delights from the central area of Hue. According to officials from the Hue People’s Council, they will introduce traditional Hue dishes including vegetarian foods, royal dishes, sweet soups, and rice and cakes.

According to the organizers at Ngo Mon Square there will also be a floating food fair on Huong River in the evening, a cooking contest for children during the festival, and an exhibition of ancient cooking utensils at the Lieu Quang cultural center and Ta Vu House in Dai Noi.

In addition, the event will include street music, artistic kite performances, folk games, a human chess contest and an exhibition of ornamental tree and culinary arts along Phu Van Lau Park and Nguyen Dinh Chieu walking street.  Many artisans of ornamental tree clubs throughout Vietnam will join the show.

The festival is held every two years and aims to encourage visitors to come to Thua Thien-Hue Province, and to Hue City, in particular.

See best hotels in hue at the website http://Vietnamhotels.net/.