Travellers' Notes on 6 Jan

Early Tet bookings on the rise
Tour operators in the country have received early bookings from overseas Vietnamese returning home for Tet (Lunar New Year holidays). Vietravel has reported an even bigger number of 3,600 overseas Vietnamese tourists during the holiday.
Saigontourist Travel Service Co as of Monday had received bookings from more than 2,100 overseas Vietnamese, up 20 per cent compared to the same period in 2008. Most of these tourists have booked domestic tours to favorite destinations such as Phu Quoc Island, Ha Noi, Sa Pa, Da Nang, Hue, Phong Nha, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet.
Vietravel has reported an even bigger number of 3,600 overseas Vietnamese tourists during the holidays. Of them, 1,200 people have booked domestic tours and 2,400 have reserved outbound tours. The tour operator also said these visitors were making reservations earlier than last year’s holiday.
Tour Da Lat flower fest by air
Two flying inflatable boats, which are owned by Mai Linh Corp and were used in the coastal cities of Nha Trang and Ha Long, will serve tourists during the Da Lat Flower Festival from today to next Monday.
From Xuan Huong Lake, tourists who want to see the city of flowers from the air can take a 15-minute city tour at an altitude of 120 to 150m for VND800,000 per passenger. According to pilot Pham Duy Long, these flying boats, which costs US$40,000 each, are equipped with Austrian Totax motors and Italian kite wings. He added passengers have to pay $120 to $150 each for a 15-minute flight.
New Thang Long-Ha Noi tour opens
Hanoitourist Travel Co has launched the "Thang Long-Ha Noi City Tour" which aims to offer visitors a chance to learn more about Ha Noi and its history. The tour will take visitors to the city’s cultural and historical sites 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 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 Ha Noi’s Old Quarter. The city tour will also view the statue of King Le, Ha Noi Opera House, My Dinh new urban area, the National Convention Centre and the Ha Noi Museum.
Fly high in Nha Trang
Hon Tam – Nha Trang Sea Joint Venture Co will add hot air balloon rides to its list of tourist activities at Zone B of Hon Tam Resort on February 3. The 1.2 million-euro French-made balloon, which has arrived in Nha Trang, can hold up to 30 people to a height of 150m to contemplate the whole of Nha Trang Bay for 20 minutes.