TRAVEL IN BRIEF 15/12

Foreign troupes to perform in Hue
Forty foreign art troupes from 29 countries have registered to perform at the Hue Festival 2010 which will be held in the former imperial capital city between June 5 and 13. The main venues of the festival include the Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) Square, the Huong (Perfume) River and the Dai Noi (the Imperial Enclosure), where a number of parties and games will be organised.
Tourism agency plans promo
The Viet Nam National Tourism Administration (VNAT) has said it would launch a new discount campaign this month to attract more tourists following a successful promotional programme last year.
The new campaign that will last several months aims to enhance the competitiveness of Viet Nam’s tourism sector. VNAT targets between 4.5 and 4.6 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, bringing in revenues of up to VND78 trillion ($4.2 billion).
Last year, more than 100 travel agencies, hotels and transport operators in the country participated in the year-long Impressive Viet Nam campaign, reducing their prices by 30 to 50 per cent.
Electric tourist cars for Ha Noi
Visitors to Ha Noi will be able to travel around Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake and the old quarters of the city on electric cars as from February 2010. This type of car will not only serve tourists but also passengers without bulky luggages. There will be four routes for the electric cars but initially, they will operate on two routes around the old quarter and Sword Lake, according to the deputy chairman of Hoan Kiem District People’s Committee, Nguyen Quoc Hoa.
Each car will have up to 12 seats, and tickets will cost around VND10,000 per tour. Twelve electric cars have been imported so far, said Hoa.
Saigontourist welcomes ship
Saigontourist Travel Service Co received 2,000 tourists from cruise ship Costa Classica which docked at the Sai Gon Port on Tuesday. During their stay in HCM City, the tourists visited My Tho City in the Mekong province of Tien Giang and the Cu Chi Tunnels in HCM City. They also went shopping at the city’s Ben Thanh Market.
During their visit into Da Nang on Thursday, they were taken to the historic Hoi An Town, the Marble Mountain and the My Son Cham Tower Complex. They also enjoyed a boat cruise on the Huong River in Hue.
Later this month, Saigontourist will welcome two new cruise ships – Spirit of Adventure and Voyages of Discovery – that will ply the local waters for the first time.