New tour of historic sites in Thang Long-Hanoi

Domestic and foreign visitors will soon have the chance to learn more about Hanoi and its history by taking a “Thang Long-Hanoi city tour – a journey through history” specially designed to celebrate of the capital’s forthcoming millennium anniversary.

The tour will take visitors to destinations in Hanoi that have made a significant cultural, humanitarian, architectural or social contribution to the city during the country’s history.

The tour starts at the Royal citadel and then goes on to the old original house at No. 87 Ma May Street, Bach Ma temple - the eastern defender of the former Thang Long citadel, O Quan Chuong - the eastern gate of the citadel, Voi Phuc temple - the western defender of the citadel and Hanoi’s old quarter.

The city tour also will also take tourists to the statue of King Le, the Hanoi Opera House, My Dinh new urban area, the National Conventional Centre and the Hanoi Museum.

According to the Deputy Director of the Hanoi city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Mai Tien Dung, the tour will enable tourists to have a comprehensive insight into Hanoi.

The Deputy Director of the Hanoitourist travel company, Tran Thanh Cong, said that the tour combines both ancient and modern sites and is highly rated by local travel firms as a tourist attraction. In addition, the tour will also help to attract investment in popular tourist spots included in the tour.

Decoding Italy’s menu mysteries

The search for common ground between food lovers and weight-watchers, bargain-seekers and luxury-lovers ends in the most unlikely place: Italy. The country has reached the end of the reign of culinary extremists like chef Elena Fabrizi, whose restaurant sign on Rome‘s Isola Tiberina commanded non solo primi (no first courses only) as mercilessly as any emperor’s edict at an ancient Roman bacchanal. Tourist menus may still try to convince novices that pasta, mains and dessert are essential to the Italian restaurant experience, but Italians are no longer buying the three-course mandate.

Italy’s modern meal plan

Never fear, Italy has not gone on a diet – che orrore! the horror! – only become a bit more practical over the past decade. In Italy’s urban centres, tighter budgets have made ordering ample first courses such as pasta or risotto a decadent yet sensible choice. Many modern Italian workplaces are following Milan‘s trend-setting example of reducing the traditional three-hour pausa (break) between noon and three to a more literal lunch hour (well… hour and a half). This abbreviated lunchtime is good for shopping, and bad for sobriety. Beware Milan’s stylish Quadrilatero d’Oro, where Franciacorta and espresso imbibed in rapid succession with a light pasta can induce a woozy, giddy state that make psychedelic Pucci-print halters seem like must-haves with Missoni zig-zag tuxedo pants.

Thailand: which beach is right for you?

It isn’t fair, really – there are over 200 countries around the globe and Thailand has managed to snag a disproportionate amount of the world’s top beaches.
These aren’t your average stretches of sand; you’re about to uncover perfect powder-soft dunes and dramatic limestone crags that pop straight out of the impossibly clear waters. Robinson Crusoe, eat your heart out!

Hat Phra Nang, Railay

This beauty will shock and awe. Perfect sand, limestone cliffs and caves, emerald water and colourful long-tail boats make this photographic bliss. It’s little more than a cosy nook, and tends to get crowded in high season.

Japan Travel Guide

Japan is swathed in natural beauty, from the snow festivals and lavender farms of the northern isle of Hokkaido to the sun-drenched beaches and turquoise waters of the subtropical islands of Okinawa. Whether climbing volcanic Mount Fuji, wandering the pine forests of Mount Koya, taking in the springtime beauty of the sakura cherry blossoms or the spectacular maple leaves in the autumn, a journey to Japan is a wealth of unforgettable natural landscapes. In recent years, the powdery snow of Japan’s ski fields has also been attracting international visitors.

National park draws anglers to fisherman's paradise

Every weekend, hundreds of people flock to U Minh Thuong National Park in the southern province of Kien Giang to go fishing for different kinds of fish far beyond their wildest dreams.

There is a long line of cars queuing up along the road that leads to the park, most of them from HCM City, 365km away.

For many people, fishing in this remote area is a way to escape from the bustle of city life and enjoy the primitive cajuput forest, where they are greeted by birdsong and chirping insects.

Proclaimed as a National Park in 2002, U Minh Thuong covers 22,918 hectares of freshwater wetlands, peat forest, seasonally inundated grasslands and swamps. The central zone of the park is surrounded by a canal and dyke system, creating an ideal environment for aquatic species.

One of the last significant peat forests remaining in Viet Nam, the park has also been recognized as one of the three highest priority sites for wetland conservation in the Mekong Delta.

U Minh Thuong is home to more than 250 species of plants and and 500 species animals, with nine species of birds that are listed in the Red Book as endangered. At least eight species of economically valuable fish have been found at the park.

Luxury Travel Ltd. to Attract More Discerning German Travelers with its Business Representative in Germany

Luxury Travel Ltd. has announced the addition of representative office in Germany and appointed Pham Duy Tien, a German- Vietnamese as its Business Representative in Berlin, Germany.

Mr. Tien will be responsible for German speaking markets, trade shows, sales call and marketing activities with Luxury Travel Ltd’s business partners throughout German speaking countries, seeking new business opportunities and coordinating the company’s marketing program.

"I was born and raised in Viet Nam, but I´m currently living with my wife Sina in Berlin. However, I still love Viet Nam and its destinations and want to that ensure travelers feel the same way.  Therefore, I hope that by working with German tourists I can do something good both for home and adopted countries.  I work for Luxury Travel Ltd. as a representative in Germany, and it is a great opportunity to promote Viet Nam and Southeast Asia.  I hope that working in the luxury travel segment will lead to an increase in the the company’s market share and cultural exchange here in the German speaking markets” said Pham Duy Tien.

Viet Nam now has world class hotels and resorts, beaches and cuisine, in addition to its natural beauty, rich history and traditional culture. The country receives 100,000 German tourists yearly, and the number of tourists increases year after year. The new slogan of Viet Nam tourism, “Vietnam - Timeless charm,” was created with an aim to attract long haul travelers from Germany and elsewhere, who wish to experience its defining characteristics: Thrills, nature, heritage, festival, pristine, enjoyment, scenery and essence.

“Germany economy is still strongest in euro zone. Germany is a great market for us and we have beautiful products for German tastes and preferences and target the right clients with personalized products and services. We have increased both FITs and GITs bookings from our partners and direct customers. Travelers choose Viet Nam for their vacations for safety, affordable prices, authenticity and convenient direct flights. Our German teams have native Germans and Vietnamese, who are passionate and motivated. With our representative, we will expand and expect to stay strong in Germany. We take part in more trade shows, revamp our website in German language, will launch German brochures both online and offline. We are delighted to have Tien as our representative in Berlin, Germany. With our vision, marketing efforts and commitments, we will attract more discerning German travelers who wish to experience the timeless charm of Viet Nam in style and luxury and we are targeting 100% growths from this market for 2012" said Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd.

Budget airlines set to operate new routes

Vietjet Air is set to begin flying the Hanoi - Nha Trang route from May 24.

The new route is the carrier's third, in addition to the Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City and Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang routes.

Another carrier, Air Mekong officially opened a direct air route between Ha Noi and Con Dao May 20, with nine flights a week.

The new route is expected to meet increasing demand of tourists from northern localities to travel to the historical, southern island during the summer, the airline said.

Life Resorts debuts bespoke summer package in Ha Long Bay

Life Resorts on June 5 breaks away from the pack this month with the launch of its first summertime package: a private two-day-one-night cruise allowing guests to set their own course within Ha Long Bay’s spectacular Central, Eastern and Western islands.

Features of the 2-day/1-night package include a night aboard the four-star Life Heritage Resort Ha Long Bay, a choice of three customizable itineraries, entrance fees to major attractions in the bay, full meals, complimentary welcome cocktails and afternoon tea, unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, as well as free use of the boat’s kayaks, snorkeling and fishing gear.

Open to guests of all nationalities until September 30, Life’s summer package is priced at 453 USD per couple, inclusive of taxes and service charge.

In addition to the standard length of its overnight cruises, Life Resorts is adding four extra complimentary hours of cruising time to the second day of its summer package.

Each of the Life Resorts’ heritage junks is a four-star floating hotel room, manned by its own four-man crew. Guests have full reign of the boat’s quarters, including a luxury cabin with panoramic windows, en-suite bathroom, swim deck, sun deck, and covered lounge area.

Designed to accommodate only two guests per cruise, Life Resorts’ heritage junks can also be chartered by groups looking to explore the famous bay in equal measures of freedom and privacy.

“This time last year, there was no operator on Ha Long Bay that could sail visitors on a private, overnight cruise to any point of their choosing. Our mantra for this summer is simple: We provide the boat, you chart the course, and Ha Long will do the rest”, said Mr Chris Duffy, General Director of the Life Resorts group.