Feb 16

Polishing Vietnam’s image in Greece

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A Greek Television station will continue to work with the Vietnamese embassy in Athens to promote Vietnam’s image through diplomatic, business and cultural events organised by the embassy.

The commitment was made at a recent working session between 902 Television, owned by the Communist Party of Greece, and the embassy in Athens.

The Greek broadcaster will also strengthen bilateral cooperation in introducing the people, landscape, culture, historical traditions, economics, politics and society in both Vietnam and Greece via their broadcasting networks.

902 TV has coordinated with the Vietnamese Embassy in providing information about the Southeast Asian economy since the embassy was established in Athens. Recently, 902 TV aired announcements about the 13th International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties in Athens in late 2011, including the presence of Vietnam’s Communist Party delegation, led by Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s External Affairs Commission, Nguyen Manh Hung.

Besides, 902 TV ran stories about circus and art performances in Athens in December 2011 and a get-together to welcome spring in 2012, both co-organized by the Embassy of Vietnam and Overseas Vietnamese in Greece.

(source: VOV)

Jan 27

Free visit to Ha Long Bay during Tet

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All domestic and foreign tourists will have the chance to visit Ha Long Bay without fees during the traditional Lunar New Year festival (Tet) from January 23 to February 5.

Quang Ninh province’s decision aims to show its gratefulness to people from across the country and international friends who supported and voted for Ha Long Bay to become one of the seven new Natural Wonders of the world.

Phung Duc Tin, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Ha Long Bay, said the tourism site usually receives 7,000-10,000 visitors during Tet. Especially, this year, Quang Ninh will have three major festivals, the Cua Ong, Yen Tu and Poetry festivals.

The organizing board has prepared careful plans to ensure order and security at the wharf and bay, keep the environment clean and protect visitors.

Ha Long Bay has been twice recognized as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

(source: VOV)

Jan 27

Vietnam’s tourism products introduced at ASEAN fair

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Vietnam’s distinctive and high-quality tourism products are being showcased at an ASEAN international tourism fair in Indonesia.

The event, which opened on January 12, feature different types of tourism such as culture, heritage, sea and island.

Especially, Vietnamese travel agencies introduce visitors to Ha Long Bay, the new Natural Wonder of the World, and other Vietnamese landscapes which have been recognized by UNESCO as world cultural heritage sites in the central region at the fair.

The opening ceremony attracted the participation of 1,600 delegates from 300 travel agencies and hotels, and more than 100 media representatives from Asia and around the world.

The Vietnamese delegation, headed by General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan, also attended the event.

The event is part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum, themed “ASEAN Tourism for Global Community of Nations”, being held in Indonesia from January 8-15.

The forum was initiated by ASEAN member countries with the aim of turning the regional bloc into an attractive destination, developing sustainable tourism, promoting the exchange of international visitors, as well as strengthening cooperation, friendship and cultural exchange.

(Source: VOV)

Jan 27

Dutch Government supports investment in Ha Long Bay

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The Dutch Government has decided to invest in the newly completed Life Heritage Resort Ha Long Bay, with the goal of generating sustainable job opportunities for Vietnamese in the tourism sector.

Life Heritage Resort Ha Long Bay, the four-star resort, which celebrated its grand opening on Nov. 4, 2011, is a collaborative venture between the owners of Life Resorts Vietnam and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its Private Sector Investment Programme (PSI).

Established to provide financial support to groundbreaking investment projects in emerging markets, the PSI currently sponsors the progress of numerous small business and rural enterprises around the globe.

“Our main goal in joining resources with Life Resort Ha Long Bay is to have a positive impact on sustainable economic development by offering job opportunities and valuable training that we hope will translate into higher incomes for the local people,” said Mrs. Saskia Jongma, member of the board of NL EVD International, which is implementing the PSI.

Life Heritage Resort Ha Long Bay marks the PSI’s first major cooperative project in Vietnam, as well as its first foray into assisting the country’s tourism industry.

Following more than half a year of on-the-job staff training, Life Heritage Resort Ha Long Bay sailed the first of its fleet on overnight cruises last October.

(Source: CPV)

Jan 07

Ha Long tourist boats may wear white uniform

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The authorities of Quang Ninh province have proposed to paint all tourist boats in Ha Long Bay in white after the bay becomes the new natural world wonder. However, this policy is not supported by boat owners.

Quang Ninh’s vice chair Do Thong assigned the local Department of Transport to combine with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to implement the plan on painting all tourist boats in white and install brown sails on these boats in the first three months of 2012.

An official from the Quang Ninh Department of Transport said that this measure aims to strengthen state management over tourist transport activities in Ha Long Bay, and to make a facelift for tourist boats after Ha Long Bay is recognized as one of the new seven natural wonders of the world.

Under this policy, more than 500 tourist boats in Ha Long Bay may ‘wear’ white uniform and brown sail in the near future. However, the proposal is not backed by ship owners. The Ha Long Tourist Boat Association has expressed its disagreement to the local authorities.

Director of the Bai Tho Transportation Company, Pham Van Hoa, said that the brown color of tourist boats in Ha Long Bay has become “tradition.” Tourists like this color so it is unnecessary to change.

Hoa said white color is only suitable to big iron boats or cruise ships, not wood boats like those in Ha Long Bay. Moreover, boat owners do not want to pay for this task. With nearly 20 boats, Hoa’s company will have to spend VND1 billion ($50,000) for repainting their boats.

“We will have to obey the authorities’ decision but I think that boats will return to their color after several months,” Hoa said.

Doan Van Dung, chief of the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association, said that Ha Long tourist boats will lose their characteristics with the white color. This color is not close to Oriental culture like the current color of brown. Moreover, transport firms will have to pay a lot of money to re-pain their boats.

“The cost for repainting a boat is around VND30-40 million ($1,500-$2,000) and the necessary time is up to 3-4 months. Before making decision, the authorities must consult the opinion of tourists and travel firms,” Dung added.

Dao Hong Thuong, deputy director of Vietsky Travel, is surprised with the information, saying that each tourist boat has its own style so it is unsuitable to force all boats have the same color.

(source: vietnamnet.vn)

Dec 06

Ha Long listed among world’s best travel destinations

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The UNESCO World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh, has been included in the 2011 list of the world’s best destinations for hotels, family vacations, beaches, and food by the prestigious online travel website Tripadvisor.

Ha Long is also one of the top 25 most attractive destinations in Asia.

According to Tripadvisor, Ha Long’s beautiful natural landscape, impressive caves, and its recently gained status as one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World are some of the aspects that appeal to tourists from all over the world.

The website also listed Hoi An, in Quang Nam province, as one of the best culinary destinations in Asia.

(Source: Nhan Dan )

Nov 15

Gala to welcome Halong Bay as the new natural wonder of the world

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The result of a poll to determine the New 7 Wonders of Nature is announced. The provisional New7Wonders of Nature are, in alphabetical order: Amazon (South America), Ha Long Bay (Viet Nam), Iguazu Falls (Brazil/Argentina), Jeju Island (South Korea), Komodo National Park (Indonesia), Puerto Princesa Underground River (Philippines), Table Mountain (South Africa).

A celebrating gala of the 4-year voting campaign for Ha Long Bay as one of the new natural wonders of the world was jubilantly held in the evening of November 12, 2011 at August Revolution Square in the front of Hanoi Opera House by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The gala aims to look back on the road to success of Ha Long Bay in four years and be grateful for the communities’ responses and supports for Ha Long Bay.

During the four years, the campaign “Vote for Ha Long Bay” had been conducted throughout the country with many diverse forms such as photo contest, writing contest, cycling, television bridge, arts performances…

Recognized as a World Heritage site twice by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and now listed among the new seven natural wonders of the world, Ha Long Bay has contributed to promoting a image of Viet Nam to the world.

(source: vietnamtourism.com)

Nov 11

Malaysia’s tourism minister votes for Halong Bay

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Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism YB Dato’ Sri Ng Yen Yen has just voted for Halong Bay to become one of the seven new wonders of the world, saying she had a very interesting time enjoying the world’s heritage site.

“That’s fantastic,” the Malaysian dignitary said about her experiences with Halong Bay in Quang Ninh Province while officiating the opening of Tourism Malaysia’s office in Hanoi on Tuesday.

“I posted on my Facebook a lot of nice pictures that I took in Halong Bay,” she said during the opening ceremony, which was also attended by Nguyen Van Tuan, head of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

“Vietnam is an important tourist generating market for Malaysia,” Yen Yen said. The opening of Tourism Malaysia in Hanoi is in line with the country’s efforts to enhance its presence in Vietnam and strengthen marketing networks with its Vietnamese counterparts such as tour operators, airlines, and hotels.

According to the minister, last year a total of close to 160,000 tourists from Vietnam visited Malaysia. Malaysia expects to attract 200,000 Vietnamese tourists in 2012.

The Minister of Tourism Malaysia noted that Vietnam has a long standing culture and a lot of nature wonders, so “it deserves to be one of the most interesting destinations for tourists to Vietnam.

(Source: SGT)

Oct 29

Overseas Vietnamese in Belgium vote for Halong Bay

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Many staff members of the Vietnamese embassy and representative offices in the European Union along with Overseas Vietnamese and Vietnamese students gathered in Brussels on October 25 to vote for Halong Bay as one of seven new natural wonders of the world.

The Vietnamese ambassador to Belgium, Pham Sanh Chau, said this was the third time in the last five months they had come together to vote for Halong Bay.

Launched on October 11, the final stage of the vote will close on November 11.

The list of seven new natural wonders with an overwhelming majority of the votes will be announced on November 11, 2011.

Halong Bay has been twice recognized as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO.

(Source: CPV)

Sep 11

Au Co Cruise will be lauched in March 2012

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In March 2012, Ha Long Bay’s premier cruise provider ‘Bhaya Cruises’ will be launching two unique, new vessels dedicated to the ‘Mother of Vietnamese Civilization’, which will soon become legends themselves. The Au Co Cruise is the first and only luxury operator to offer 3 days 2 nights cruise in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Edgar Cayanan, Cruise Operation Manager: “The Au Co plans to set new standards in terms of luxury. It will present a journey guaranteeing its guests an experience of a lifetime. The Au Co’s daily trip will not only lead through the natural wonders of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site Halong Bay, it will also discover the Bays of Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long. Cat Ba Island and its renowned National Park will also be revealed.”

The vessels combine state of the art safety standards and innovative Oriental Design, providing luxury and dedication in every detail. Each ship has 32 spacious cabins of minimum 20 square meters each. It also boasts private balconies and well-equipped bathrooms. The numerous activities en route, the culinary experiences and the atmosphere will please both the active traveler and those just seeking pure relaxation. Whether you enjoy the stunning scenery, a wellness treatment or a glass of wine from the Chef’s exclusive selection, the trip promises to be an unforgettable one.

Mr. Tran Thanh Nam, CEO of the group: “The Au Co strives to provide minimum impact on the local environment and will operate under the concept of sustainable tourism. It’s the owners’ major goal and commitment to support local communities and conserve the beauty of the Gulf of Tonkin for future generations.”

The Au Co Cruise combine state-of-the-art safety standards and innovative oriental design,providing luxury and dedication in every detail. Each ship has 32 spacious cabins of minimum 20 – 40 square meters each. It also boasts private balconies and well-equipped bathrooms. The numerous activities en route,the culinary experiences,and the atmosphere will please both the active traveler and those just seeking pure relaxation. Whether you enjoy the stunning scenery,a wellness treatment,or a glass of wine from the Chef’s exclusive selection, the trip promises to be an unforgettable one.

FACT AND FIGURES

  • Number of boat:02
  • Length:55.29m
  • Width:10.3m
  • Depth:3.2m
  • Crew:45
  • Engines:02 Yanmar 368KW
  • Passenger cabins:32 all with French balcony, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door
  • Passenger berths:66
  • Build:2011
  • Air draft:10m

Services &Facilities

  • Reception
  • Boutique Library
  • 24-hour security
  • Conference &facilities
  • Cars rental service with driver
  • Kayaking,Snorkeling,Swimming,Biking and fishing equipment
  • Cigar bar
  • Safety box in cabin
  • Doctor on call
  • Baby sitter
  • Tender for sightseeing
  • Theme party on request
  • Rowing boat
  • Jacuzzi &Spa room

Dining Room &Bar

  • Breakfast &Brunch (7h30-8h30)
  • Lunch:13h00 – 14h30 Buffet
  • Dinner:19h30 – 21h Set menu &BBQ
  • Seating capacity:70 passengers plus outside seat along corridors and in the open bar
  • Drink list and bar:Tea, Coffee, Fresh Juices,mock tail, cocktail, spirit, drought beer and wine list sourced from around the world.