Viet Nam News By Vu Hoa TOKYO — If you love the romance of travel, there is a “love boat” named Costa neoRomantica – an Italian-style cruise that’s made for you. We embarked at Oi Wharf in Tokyo for a seven-day, six-night cruise that would take us to Kobe, Jeju Island in South Korea, and Fukuoka before coming back to Tokyo. Sailing had never been a part of my travel itinerary as I thought that being at sea for many days may be boring. However, I was wrong, as this was the first time I experienced an unforgettable journey on a five-star cruise ship. Costa neoRomantica, the gem of the Costa fleet, is currently in Japan. Her cruise itineraries range from four to eight nights, sailing either from Fukuoka or Tokyo, and are designed to immerse guests in the magic of the diverse coastal destinations, where they can enjoy the sights and sounds of Japan and South Korea in a different way. Italy at sea The Romantica, which was originally constructed in 1993, … [Read more...] about Experiencing romance at sea
South seas hotel
Artificial island in south welcomes first residents
Artificial island in south welcomes first residentsThe Saigon Times Daily An artist’s impression of Phu Gia artificial island off the southern province of Kien Giang – PHOTO: NLDO HCMC – The first residents of Phu Gia artificial island off the southern province of Kien Giang have taken possession of 112 homes built by Phu Cuong Kien Giang Investment Co. As Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reported, Kien Giang Province and Phu Cuong Kien Giang Joint Stock Company transferred ownership of the townhouses to the first residents coming to live on the artificial island on January 25. According to the investor, the over-30-hectare island of Phu Gia, having an investment of some US$100 million, is a land reclamation project in Phu Cuong urban area, Rach Gia City. The island was designed to provide 424 townhouses and villas with sea views. The project also features coastal resorts, public services, a five-star hotel, a water park, golf course, sports complex, restaurant, and … [Read more...] about Artificial island in south welcomes first residents
South Korean travellers opt for Altara Suites in Danang
Danang has been named among the world’s 10 destinations favoured by South Korean families and couples, with Altara Suites emerging as a top choice among high-class hospitality establishments. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the number of South Korean arrivals to Vietnam has increased strongly since last year. Approximately 53,000 Korean visitors travelled to Vietnam in 2000, and this number increased significantly to over 1.5 million in 2017. Within only the first eight months of 2018, more than 1.5 million passengers arrived to Vietnam, an increase of nearly 50 per cent over the same period last year. This made South Korea one of the largest markets for Vietnamese tourism. Danang is one of the provinces with the most well-known leisure destinations throughout the country Particularly, the number of South Korean tourists coming to the coastal city of Danang has sharply increased in recent years. During the first eight months of 2018, the city … [Read more...] about South Korean travellers opt for Altara Suites in Danang
Khanh Hoa seizes its seas for growth
The central coastal province of Khanh Hoa has seen considerable development in recent times, which is partly attributable to its three sea bays – Nha Trang, Cam Ranh and Van Phong. Nha Trang Bay has made the city of the same name famous for tourism and as such, become the centre of Khanh Hoa Province. Meanwhile, Cam Ranh Bay plays an important role in terms of national defence and security. Furthermore, the northern Cam Ranh peninsula tourism area is also making strides towards becoming a national tourism site. Located in the north of Khanh Hoa, Van Phong Bay has become a key economic zone of the locality. However, its impact on local economic development remains limited. Hoang Dinh Phi, head of the management board of the Van Phong Economic Zone, said the area has attracted more than 150 investment projects with total registered capital exceeding US$4 billion. Of these, 42 projects have specialised in shipbuilding, seaport construction, aquaculture, and tourism services. The … [Read more...] about Khanh Hoa seizes its seas for growth
Jubilant launching of TMS Luxury Hotel Danang Beach
The launching ceremony of TMS Luxury Hotel Danang Beach October 20 marked privately-held TMS Group’s official launching of the premier TMS Luxury Hotel Danang Beach on My Khe Beach in the central city of Danang, marking an important milestone in the developer’s journey to become a leading and prestigious real estate developer. The event attracted more than 300 guests, including leaders of central and local agencies, representatives of domestic and foreign enterprises, as well as famous local stars from across the fields of art and literature, culture, and sports such as Mrs Worldwide 2018 Duong Thuy Linh, Miss Vietnam 2014’s first runner-up Huyen My, and business partners from the US, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. "TMS Group is a serious investor, always trying to create the best products. The group has chosen to cooperate with reputable partners to ensure high quality in every phase, from product design and supervision consultancy to operation … [Read more...] about Jubilant launching of TMS Luxury Hotel Danang Beach
2nd Annual Global Hotels and Resorts conference opens
The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel. — VNS Photo Truong Vi Around 100 officials representing State agencies, hotel and resort developers, design and architecture firms, and solution providers from around the world are gathering today in HCM City for the Second Annual Global Hotels and Resorts conference. The two-day conference, organised by Bricsa Consulting, which holds high-end networking and knowledge-sharing conferences, focuses on Viet Nam as an emerging market for luxury hotels and resorts. It will be a platform for hotel developers to not only explore business opportunities in the Asia Pacific region but also keep abreast of key market trends in the hospitality industry across the globe. Some of the key highlights to be discussed include identifying significant market trends in the competitive hospitality market, understanding the needs of a diversifying market and discussing ways to tackle it and FDI opportunities in Viet Nam this year. There will be a panel … [Read more...] about 2nd Annual Global Hotels and Resorts conference opens
2nd Annual Global Hotels and Resorts conference opens in HCM City
The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel. — VNS Photo Truong Vi Around 100 officials representing State agencies, hotel and resort developers, design and architecture firms, and solution providers from around the world are gathering today in HCM City for the Second Annual Global Hotels and Resorts conference. The two-day conference, organised by Bricsa Consulting, which holds high-end networking and knowledge-sharing conferences, focuses on Viet Nam as an emerging market for luxury hotels and resorts. It will be a platform for hotel developers to not only explore business opportunities in the Asia Pacific region but also keep abreast of key market trends in the hospitality industry across the globe. Some of the key highlights to be discussed include identifying significant market trends in the competitive hospitality market, understanding the needs of a diversifying market and discussing ways to tackle it and FDI opportunities in Viet Nam this year. There will be a panel … [Read more...] about 2nd Annual Global Hotels and Resorts conference opens in HCM City
Binh Thuan aims to become national sea tourism hub
Visitors at Binh Thuan's beach (Photo: VNA) Binh Thuan (VNA) – The south-central province of Binh Thuan has seen a 12 percent growth in the number of visitors so far this year, thanks to the locality’s efforts to develop a safe and friendly tourism environment and enhance service quality. In June, Binh Thuan welcomed 430,000 visitors, pushing the total number of tourists to the province to around 2.6 million in the first six months of 2018, a rise of 11.6 percent year-on-year. Of the total, 334,000 were foreigners, mostly Chinese, Russian, Korean, and Thai – a rise of 13.9 percent for this majority demographic year-on-year. Binh Thuan’s tourism revenue in the January-June period was estimated at 6.35 trillion VND (279 million USD), up 18.8 percent year-on-year. In recent years, Binh Thuan has become popular among tourists thanks to its beautiful landscapes, stunning beaches, and friendly and safe environment. It has 192km of coast featuring idyllic … [Read more...] about Binh Thuan aims to become national sea tourism hub
Clarion call: Make South China Sea ‘a sea of peace’ Vietnam exhorts
Vietnamese Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich has called for all concerned parties to act responsibility to maintain order and make the South China Sea “a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship.” Addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, Minister Lich said: “The peaceful means of dialogue, instead of confrontation, the threat to use force or unilateral action, is really the best solution, which can resolve multiple issues on the basis of common interest, respect for international laws and regional institutions.” He called for responsibility from all concerned parties in building order at sea to make the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, “a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship.” Lich said militarizing acts on disputed areas in the East Sea a serious breach of the sovereignty of another country and a serious violation of international laws. “Vietnam pursues a defensive and peaceful defense policy, does … [Read more...] about Clarion call: Make South China Sea ‘a sea of peace’ Vietnam exhorts
South central and Central Highlands regions promote tourism
Despite its great potential, tourism in the south central and Central Highlands regions has only awakened in the last three years. To boost sea tourism, relevant authorities and travel agencies have worked together. Binh Dinh province welcomed more than 8 million visitors in 2017, an impressive surge compared to around 4 million tourists a year previously. The province is expected to receive about 12 million tourists this year. However, the provinces’ tourism services have not met demand with this rapid growth. A representative of Mekong Tia Sang Travel Company told reporters: "New tourism destinations often have difficulties in providing sufficient services such as restaurants and hotels. Especially, airfares to provinces in the region like Binh Dinh and Quy Nhon are still high. We hope there are more improvements in the time ahead." To overcome shortcomings, big travel agencies have worked with local agencies due to their advantages in geographical and cultural understanding. … [Read more...] about South central and Central Highlands regions promote tourism