New routes for Ha Noi electric car tours

Tourists visiting Ha Noi will have more options to enjoy and learn about the city's history when two new routes of sightseeing electric car tours will be launched next week.

Designed by the Dong Xuan Joint Stock Company, the tours will take visitors through several French-influence architectural areas, with building of interest including the railway station, University of Pharmacy, Opera House and the Government Guest House.

Other historical spots such as Hoa Lo Prison – once dubbed as "Hilton Opera" by American inmates during the American War, and Quan Su Pagoda, also are among the tour's agenda.

Beginning from Dinh Tien Hoang Street alongside Hoan Kiem Lake, both tours will last for approximately 45 minutes, taking in several other main streets including Le Thai To-Ba Trieu-Tran Hung Dao-Quan Su-Hai Ba Trung-Ly Thuong Kiet-Trang Tien-Ly Thai To.

Tickets for the tours start at VND20,000.

According to the company director Do Xuan Thuy, 10 new electric cars using solar batteries were purchased. Each car will also be equipped with an audio system presenting information about the places along the route.

The company currently offers electric car tours within the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. About 1,000 tourists, mostly foreigners use the tours everyday.

First int’l tourism fair opens in Hanoi

The first Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM)—featuring more than 100 foreign and 260 domestic stalls representing six airlines, 134 travel operators, and 105 hotels and resorts—opened in Hanoi on April 18.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan praised the organisation of the VITM, saying it meets the demands of both businesses and tourists.

He asked the Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA) to work closely with partners and businesses in the interests of maximising contributions to the tourism industry’s development through mobilising investment sources and improving its professionalism and effectiveness.

The government supports the annual hosting of such an event and encourages foreign friends to continue attending the event in the coming years.

VTA Deputy Chairman Vu The Binh highlighted tourism as a bright spot in Vietnam’s economy with its added values second only to crude oil exports.

The number of Vietnam’s international visitors has leapt from 1.3 million in 1995 to 6.8 million last year. Domestic traveller figures have also increased remarkably from 6.9 million to 32.5 million over the same period.

Despite encompassing more than 30,000 businesses and creating jobs for 1.5 million workers, tourism in Vietnam still faces daunting challenges to promote and improve its international reputation. 

Sanitation, transport, taxi drivers bother tourists

The three critical issues for tourists to Ha Noi are sanitation, transportation and the behaviour of some taxi drivers and shop employees, a survey by the Ha Noi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has found.

It polled 1,420 international tourists aged 40 on average.

Two-thirds of international visitors to Ha Noi are tourists, 14 per cent come for business, and three per cent visit family.

Sa Pa holds festival next week

The 2013 Sa Pa in the Cloud festival will be held from April 26 to May 5, the Sa Pa District People's Committee has said.

The event will feature a large number of cultural and sporting activities including folk cultural festive days at the Ham Rong tourist site.

A Cat Cat village culture festival and a Mong ethnic pan-pipe competition will also be featured.

A decision to make Sa Pa a Class-Four town will be announced at the festival.

Recession-hit travel firms design new tours

With the economic crisis hitting tourism, many travel firms have launched new products to attract customers.

HCM City-based travel firm Lua Viet, which said discovering new destinations and designing new tours has been a focus, has developed tours to the central region this year.

Small travel firms have also been trying to revamp their tours and itineraries to make them more attractive.

Nguyen Ngoc Thu of Bi Tour said she planned to launch "humanitarian tours" that target clients who seek to make friends with others.

Cities and provinces have also been trying to create new products.

Da Nang has unveiled a tour to Son Tra peninsula and built two floating huts in the Bai Nom area for anglers.

Da Lat has introduced tours to mountain craft villages and technology-based agricultural production areas.

Source: VNS/VNA/VOV