Travel in brief on 27 Aug

Phu Quoc resort unveils special packages for couples in October
Mango Bay Resort in Phu Quoc Island has announced special packages for couples starting in October.
The Romantic Getaway and Honeymoon Package promotions, available until February, will include accommodation in a seaview bungalow and a free romantic candelit dinner.
The Honeymoon Package will include fresh flowers, a bottle of wine in the room on arrival day and a one-day private snorkeling boat trip to the north of the island.
Their prices are yet to be announced.
Ha Long Bay gets second-highest number of foreign votes in online poll
Ha Long Bay has won the second largest number of international votes in the past four weeks in a campaign for the world’s seven new natural wonders.
There were a fair number of votes for Ha Long Bay in several countries like Japan, France, Mexico and South Korea.
A range of activities to promote the vote for Ha Long will be held in many countries. Those seeking to vote for it can visit www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/vote_on_ nominees.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ha Long Bay Management Board held a photo exhibition in New York from August 11-18.
Five HCM City travel agencies win The Friends of Thailand award
Five HCM City-based tour operators have won The Friends of Thailand award given away by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) every two years to honour contributions to Thai tourism.
Saigontourist Travel Service, Vietravel Marketing and Tourist Co, Tan Dinh Trade and Travel Service Co or Fiditourist, Ben Thanh Tourist and TST Tourist will receive the awards in Bangkok late next month.
According to TAT, Thailand welcomes around 14 million foreign visitors every year, including 300,000 from Viet Nam.
Soothing Japanese robot PARO on show at Hoi An-Japan festival
Japanese made therapeutic robot PARO was presented at the Hoi An-Japan Festival held in the ancient town last week.
Visitors were able to carry and talk with the baby harp seal robot, which can interact with humans via touch, light, audition, temperature and posture sensors.
Sold commercially since 2004, the stress-busting PARO is designed to have a calming effect on and elicit emotional responses in hospital patients.
Vegetarian dishes showcased at Vu Lan festival at September 23 Park
The Vu Lan festival (held on the 14th and 15th days of the seventh lunar month to express people’s gratitude to their mothers) will be celebrated at HCM City’s September 23 Park until tomorrow.
Themed For Health and the Environment, the festival will showcase more than 100 vegetarian dishes from Viet Nam and other countries made by 50 vegetarian restaurants and pagodas.
There will be events like a vegetarian food-processing contest, cooking vegetarian dishes together with famous people, a lantern festival, and speeches on vegetarianism by experts.
Restaurants joining the festival will include San May Restaurant, Cao Thang Street, District 10; Viet Chay Restaurant inside Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, 339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Seoul Garden, 208 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street.