Fiditour, Laos Airlines join hands

Laos Airlines has picked Fiditourist Tan Dinh Travel JSC (Fiditour) as an agency to sell airfares in HCM City and tours using the Lao carrier's flights between HCM City and Vientiane. According to Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, director of Fiditour's PR and communication division, to visit Laos, formerly travellers had to fly to Hue and from the historic city a 10-hour bus ride would take them to Vientiane. Now it takes nearly three hours to fly from HCM City to Laos. Fiditour is offering a five-day trip to Laos, departing on Tuesdays, and taking in Pakse, Savanakhet, Vientiane and Champasak. The tour is priced VND10 million (US$200) per person.

Miss Earth tours in Nha Trang

Visitors to the Miss Earth 2010 pageant in Nha Trang City from November 4 to December 4 can take advantage of the package tours to the central resort city. Saigontourist Travel Service Co offers a four-day trip to Nha Trang, Wonderpark, departing from HCM City, for VND2 million to VND5.3 million. The company also has 3-day packages for Vinpearland Resort for VND4.9 million.

Hanoitourist has launched the Sai Gon-Phan Thiet package departing on November 11 which includes a visit to the Miss Earth 2010 national costume round. Indochina Traveland is offering a tour to see the final round of the pageant in Nha Trang for VND3.25 million, inclusive of tickets for the show, lasting from December 2 to 5.

Phu Yen to host VN tourism event

The Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has chosen the south-central coastal province of Phu Yen to host its National Tourism Year 2011 event, with the theme of Sea and Island Tourism. The event will be organised by the province in co-operation with other central and Central Highlands provinces, and major cities in Viet Nam.

Major events of the National Tourism Year 2011 will include the international mountaineering tournament at Da Bia Mountain in March, the Viet Nam-South Korea cultural exchange in April, the sea and island month in April and the ASEAN traditional music festival in June.

VNAT seeks location for yacht race

Viet Nam's tourism and sport authorities are joining hands with the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) to look into conditions in Ha Long to see if it is fit for an international yacht race. Representatives of VNAT, the Viet Nam National Administration of Sports and WMRT, have begun a fact-finding trip to Ha Long. The tour is a preparatory step to help organisers find a good location for the competition expected to take place late next year.

Promotions for travellers to Myanmar

Vietnam Airlines has announced a special price of US$100 for travellers boarding its flight linking HCM City and Yangoon in Myanamar from November 15 when the carrier launched this new air route. Passengers buying tickets from October 15 to December 25 for flights between November 11 and December 25 will get the incentive.