Travel on 13 Aug 2010

HCM City to establish yacht club
The HCM City Tourism Association plans to set up a yacht club later this year for yacht owners and sailing industry executives. Nguyen Huu Tho, director general of Saigontourist Holding Co and chairman of the association, said 30 people, all yacht owners and businesspeople providing yacht and yacht-related services on the Sai Gon River, have registered to join the club.
There are more than 30 yachts in the city and another 10, each costing millions of dollars, will arrive this year.
Direct flights to Nagoya resumed
Vietnam Airlines resumes its direct service between HCM City and Nagoya, Japan, today with two weekly flights on Monday and Friday using Airbus 321 aircraft. The flight leaves HCM City at 00:05 and Nagoya at 11:30 local time.
This is the carrier’s fourth service from HCM City and eighth from Viet Nam to Japan.
The HCM City-Nagoya route was first introduced in July 2005 but suspended in December 2007 due to low demand.
Malaysia targets Vietnamese tourists
Malaysia’s tourism authorities are stepping up promotions, hoping to attract 200,000 travellers from Viet Nam this year.
Akbal Sertia of Tourism Malaysia told a Malaysia Golf and Youth Seminar in HCM City recently that his country welcomed 150,000 Vietnamese visitors last year but nearly 100,000 in the first half of this year.
Meanwhile, nearly 116,000 Malaysian visitors came to Viet Nam in the first seven months, a year-on-year increase of 19.4 per cent.
City street only one in original form
Only one old street remains in its original form in HCM City, a conference held by the city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism heard recently.
The quarter, dating from the early 19th century, is located at the intersection of Hai Thuong Lan Ong and Trieu Quang Phuc Streets in District 5 and is part of the historic Cho Lon (Grand Market) in the former Sai Gon.
The city has recognised three buildings as important historical landmarks: the Municipal Theatre, the HCM City Museum, and the HCM City People’s Court.
Malaysian culinary week in Ha Noi
A Malaysian Culinary Week to be held at the Melia Hotel, Ha Noi, from August 26 to 31 will showcase typical Malaysian foods and drinks.
Two Malaysian chefs will make some of their country’s iconic dishes like roti canai, satay, fried rice noodles or laksa, nasi lemak, and teh tarik.
Also at the event, Malaysian artists will perform traditional dances including court and folk dances played to the beat of drums.