TRAVEL IN BRIEF 8/4

      Vietnam tourism to be broadcast on Star World channel
A nine-minute clip about Vietnam’s images, people, culture, history and ‘must’ tourist destinations will be broadcast on the international television channel Star World at the Mrs World 2009 Final Night in Vung Tau city on November 22, said the Organising Board of Mrs World 2009.
This channel will live broadcast the Mrs World 2009 Final Night to 800 million viewers worldwide. Recently, there have been 73 nations registering to join Mrs World 2009.
Foreign Airlines join tourism stimulus package
Responding to the Vietnam’s tourism stimulus package, some foreign airlines which have flights to and from Vietnam have recently announced the campaign to reduce airfares for several international flights.
Specifically, Eva Air and Asiana Airlines have already launched an airfare reduction until May 31. Korean Air and Shanghai Airlines have also joined this promotional campaign till June 20 and April 30 respectively.
Tourists can learn about this stimulus package through Transviet Travel Group, the agent of many Vietnam-based foreign airlines, at No. 9 Dao Duy Anh, Hanoi.
Qatar Airways seats for Vietnam almost full
Qatar Airways, the only carrier from the Middle East flying to Vietnam, posted an average seat occupancy rate of more than 80% in its Doha-Ho Chi Minh City service, much higher than 50% in the beginning in March 2007, according to the carrier’s HCM City office.
The airline has plans to add one more flight to its current four flights per week between Doha and Ho Chi Minh City to meet increasing demand, said a Qatar Airways source.
The Doha-based carrier operates the four flights with aircraft Airbus 330-300 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
In related news, from June 1, Northwest Airlines of the US will operate seven flights a week with Boeing 757 linking Ho Chi Minh City and San Francisco and Los Angeles, with a transit stop in Tokyo.
The national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, also wants to fly to the US but has delayed its plans to do so several times. It is scheduled to open flights to the US next year.
Hanoi – Ha Long express train launched
Dongrim Railway Transport Co. Ltd. began to operate a high-speed tourist train from Gia Lam District in Hanoi to Ha Long on April 6.
The Ha Long Express has five coaches and a dining car, all imported from South Korea.
Fares are US$15 for foreigners and $5 for Vietnamese.