HCM City welcomes 1,100 foreign MICE visitors

HCM City has welcomed 1,100 foreign scientists, doctors, and academics who have come on a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) trip for an ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies conference that runs from yesterday (Nov 17) to tomorrow (Nov 19).
The city-based Ben Thanh Tourist said the visitors are staying at luxury hotels like the Sheraton and Park Hyatt and will visit the Cu Chi guerrilla warfare tunnels and other attractions after wrapping up a workshop. This is the biggest MICE group Ben Thanh has served in 2011.
* HCM City tour companies roll out festival promotions
Several travel agencies in HCM City have announced discounts for Christmas and New Year package tours.
Saigontourist Travel Service is offering a wide some 300 inbound and outbound tours, including Lunar New Year package tours for overseas Vietnamese, older people, and honeymooners. Saigontourist's Christmas and New Year tours will take travellers to Paris, Rome, Zurich, New York, Sydney, Melbourne, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Viet Travel Media Corporation has announced a promotion programme with over 100 inbound and outbound tours.
Tourists who book tours to Da Lat, Ninh Chu,õ and Phu Quoc Island in November will get discounts of 40 to 45 per cent.
* More traditional fork art shows to serve tourists
Mekong Artists JSC will organise folk music performances at the HCM City Opera House on the 15th and 23rd of each month for foreign tourists.
Hon Viet (Soul of Viet Nam) will feature various traditional arts such as cai luong (southern opera), hat xam (blind buskers' songs), nha nhac (royal music), circus performances, and martial arts.
The programmes will start at 5pm, while tickets will cost VND100,000; 180,000; and 300,000. Vietnamese dishes will be served at the theatre for audiences to taste.
There are other similar cultural shows being held in the city now – like Xin Chao (Hello), organised by Xin Chao Art Performance Co Ltd, and Duyen Viet (Vietnamese Charm), held by Van Tuan State and Cinema JSC.