Vietnamese chase travel bargains

Vietnam travellers are opting for vacations in Thailand and Singapore to escape high prices in Vietnam, local media reported earlier this week.

The report says the growth in Vietnamese tourists to destinations in Southeast Asia is driven by rising costs in the country, mainly hotel rates and airline fares, but food and beverage costs have also risen.

Around 360,000 Vietnamese visited Thailand last year.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports said that during the first half of 2011, Tan Son Nhat International Airport reported 485,368 Vietnamese travelled overseas, up 30% on the same period last year.

Travel is driven by lower airline fares and the most attractive fares are offered currently by THAI and Turkish Airlines.

These two airlines sell route ex-Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok at US$245 and US$215 while ex-Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is US$200.

PIT Tour, Ho Chi Minh office complained that demand was so high to Thailand, the company ran short of tour buses that needed to be contracted from the Thailand-based partner.

Viet Travel, another popular travel agent in Vietnam also reported that sales on Thailand packages were up 30%.

Another tour operator in Vietnam, Benthanh Tourist Company said their co-partner a tour operator in Thailand reported they could not keep up with demand as there was a shortage of Thai guides who can speak Vietnamese.

According to Tourism Authority of Thailand data, released at its recent marketing plan meeting, Thailand attracted 244,882 Vietnam tourists, up 37% over the same period last year.

Singapore is also another popular destination for Vietnamese with room allotments for the Vietnamese tour groups over subscribed.

Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports said it was asking travel agents, hotels and airlines to reduce the price of domestic tour products to revive interest.

Source - ttrweekly