Sep
07
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Simultaneous investment to boost craft village tourism
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Over the past years, traditional craft villages in the southern provinces of Tien Giang, Dong Thap, An Giang, Tay Ninh and Ba Ria-Vung Tau have proved popular destinations for travel companies. However, due to lack poor planning and limited tourist products, these villages have been unable to cash in on return visits.
Craft village tourism is a type of tourism to discover the traditional culture of the local people combined with purchasing the products they make. In southern provinces like Tien Giang, Dong Thap and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, there are many craft villages that have a hundred-year history of development and now still keep their craft production ways and draw the attention of tourists, especially those coming from Germany, Japan, Australia and the US.
According to Master of Arts Phan Buu Toan - Deputy Director of Saigon Tourist College, craft villages development associated with tourism not only make tourism activities more diversified but also increase consumption demand for craft village products, create jobs for local laborers and contribute to the economic restructuring. However, the State plays an important role in making orientations and drafting a sustainable development plan for craft villages to exploit their potential and promote links among travel companies and the local people.
Trinh Van Thanh, Director of Thanh Dat Cocoa Co, Ltd in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province said from the wish to popularize and build a brand name for cocoa products, the company has also upgraded infrastructure to receive visitor arrivals. Every month, it welcomes from three to five delegations of foreign tourists (6-80 people in a delegation). They come to visit cocoa gardens, the process of manufacturing cocoa and enjoy products made from cocoa and most of them felt excited about their trips. The company is currently coordinating with Saigontourist Company to expand this tourism model.
Nguyen Thi Nam from Tan Thanh Tourism Company said craft villages mainly intend to do business but not promote tourism. Every time when tourists want to visit craft villages, the travel companies have to make an appointment with production households in advance. Despite this, most of tourists were excited and impressed as they enjoyed the natural scenes and witnessed the real life works of local residents.
In the coming time, one of the main targets of localities is to increase international tourist arrivals. The Director of Ba Ria-Vung Tau's Tourism Promotion and Information Center Trinh Ngoc Hoan said to effectively exploit craft village tourism potential, the Center has determined traditional crafts that are likely to attract more tourists including arca and snail fine arts products, Hoa Long wine and girdle cakes.
Nguyen Huu Phuc, a visitor from the US shared his experience during his tours to some craft villages specialized in making souvenirs made of bamboos, tea and food made of tea. He said that when taking tours in the villages, visitors seemed to be lost in modern workshops with private sections for each processes including putting in materials, primary treatment, processing and packaging. Apart from sightseeing and shopping, tourists could take part in producing handicraft products under the instructions of craftsmen and they could buy these products as the gifts to their relatives. If they buy handicraft products in a large amount, the goods would be sent to them by post. Such kind of tourism and services, however, have not been adopted in craft villages in Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Tay Ninh and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces.
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Sep
07
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Step back in time at Hoi An Town
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Tourists or locals keen to admire landscapes and Vietnam of the past, are most likely to head to Hoi An. There the passion of discovering the natural beauty of the nation is easily done with the romantic and unique features of the world heritage ancient town.
The diversity of a complex of relics, pristine landscapes of old streets, river banks, religious, civil and folk architectural works in an urban area by Thu Bon River, near Dai Beach, combined with the town’s history and natural conditions make Hoi An such an attractive spot.
Coming to Hoi An, strolling along Hoai River or walking amidst the ancient town, tourists may not realize it but the town used to be a busy trading center in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Hoi An was the cradle of Sa Huynh Civilization and home to cultural relics of My Son, Tra Kieu and Cu Lao Cham cultures.
Highlights of the old town include various relics and diverse architecture and designs and chilling under the shade of malabar almond trees.
Tourists will be able to appreciate the vestiges of time and the lull of space on ancient homes with green moss, old trees and bas reliefs. There are many old pagodas worth a visit such as Cau, Long Tuyen, Phu Kien or Ba Mu.
Amidst the town are also many old communal houses, ancient wells and traditional long houses of ethnic people.
Architecture in Hoi An is a harmonious combination of Vietnam, China and Japan, creating an unique look in this area. Moreover, Hoi An is also blessed with a fresh and cool climate.
On Thursday, Hoi An is more upbeat with outdoor folk artistic performances on full-moon nights. Lingering under the moonlight with colorful lights of lanterns, hanging around the old streets and listening to folk songs of the past and joining folk games, tourists will have some amazing and unforgettable moments.
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Sep
07
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Air Mekong announces promotion on its anniversary
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The budget carrier Air Mekong has launched a special promotion program to mark its 2nd anniversary of operation.
Accordingly, every day from September 6th, the airline will provide at least 222 discounted seats on domestic routes of Ho Chi Minh City-Buon Ma Thuot/Pleiku/Phu Quoc/Con Dao/Quy Nhon (from VND 535,000 each), and Hanoi-Da Lat/Ho Chi Minh City/Buon Ma Thuot/Pleiku, Phu Quoc, Con Dao (VND 1 million), flying between September 15th and October 14th.Air Mekong also schedules an increased number of local flights between Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku and Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City and Con Dao, Hanoi and Buon Ma Thuot and Pleiku. Besides, passengers who successfully complete a transaction through the online service F@st i-bank of TechcomBank at the airline’s website (www.airmekong.com.vn) will get VND 50,000 in cash.
Further information is available at Air Mekong’s website or its ticket offices across the country.
Over the past two years, the airline has conducted over 20,000 safe flights with more than 1.3 million arrivals on 13 domestic routes, with an average of 30 flights a day.
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Air Mekong announces promotion on its anniversary
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07/09/2012 11:02:15
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Vietnam-RoK cultural week to start
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07/09/2012 10:43:15
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Ba Ria – Vung Tau to kick off 100 tourism projects next year
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07/09/2012 10:29:13
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Luxury Travel Ltd to launch tour to unseen destinations in the Central Coast of Vietnam
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07/09/2012 10:28:07
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HCM City's Monkey Island offers kids a real experience
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07/09/2012 10:09:27
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H-Artistry returns to Vietnam
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07/09/2012 10:05:30
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Deep journey home for Do Tuan Anh
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07/09/2012 09:58:46
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Centaur dance contest launched nationwide
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07/09/2012 09:49:28
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DJ Kamel stirs up Lil’ Paris party tomorrow
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07/09/2012 09:45:19
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