Travel in brief 4 Jan 2011

Over 11,000 tourists visit Ha Long Bay at New Year
More than 800 ships have been mobilised to carry over 11,000 tourists visiting Ha Long Bay during the first two days of New Year holiday (January 1 and 2), an increase of 10 percent compared to 2010.
Of them, 80 percent are foreign visitors. Streets, restaurants, hotels, especially in Bai Chay area, are decorated with banners wishing a Happy New Year. In big hotels such as Ha Long Plaza, Grand Ha Long and Novotel, traditional games, art performances and fashion shows were organised, attracting many tourists.
Joining other international cruise ships which regularly bring foreign tourists to Ha Long Bay, in late 2010, the Ha Long-Fangchenggang cruise officially reopened after a long interruption, reaffirming position of the northern province of Quang Ninh in sea tourism.
In 2010, Quang Ninh province received 5.4 million visitors, up by 12 percent against the previous year, of which, the number of foreign visitors increased by 2.2 million, up by 10 percent compared to 2009. Turnover from tourist activities reached VND2,900 billion, showing a year-on-year increase of 11 percent. The number of visitors from major tourist markets rose: China (by 10 percent), Taiwan (by 65 percent), Japan (by 40 percent) and the Republic of Korea (by 22 percent).
In 2011, Quang Ninh’s tourism industry set a target of welcoming 5.4 million visitors, including 2.5 million foreigners, and achieving a turnover of VND3,000 billion.
Tourists to Hung Kings Temple at New Year increase by 30 percent
Nguyen Tien Khoi, director of this historical site’s management board, says the Upper Temple has been refurbished to and put into operation since the Hung Kings Temple Festival 2010.
Now the Lower Temple, worth VND20 billion raised from Ha Noi municipal People’s Committee, and Well Temple, cost VND30 billion donated by people in Quang Ninh Province, are being restored. The upgrading is projected for completion before the Hung Kings Temple Festival 2011.
The number of tourists to the Hung Kings’ Temple Complex in the northern province of Phu Tho during the first three day New Year holidays (January 1-3) reached about 4,500 arrivals, up by 30 percent against normal days.
Vietnam, South Africa cooperate in tourism
The Prime Minister has approved an agreement on tourism cooperation between Vietnam and South Africa which was signed in Hanoi on October 6, 2010.
In his decision dated December 30, 2010, the PM assigned the Foreign Ministry to complete necessary procedures following current regulations.
The decision came into effect as of the date of signing.
Hai Phong welcomes 450 New Year foreign visitors
Five-star cruise liner Europa carrying 450 foreign tourists on board docked at the port in Dinh Vu, Hai Phong port city on January 2.
The arrival of first international cruise liner on the New Year day is hoped to open up a year of development for this kind of tourism in the city. Hai Phong targets to welcome 900,000 foreign arrivals of a total 4.5 million tourists in 2011, an increase 7.14 percent over the previous year.
The Bahamas-flagged ship was on a one-day tour to Hai Phong, during which tourists would visit villages and places of interest in the inner city.
Meanwhile all hotels in Sa Pa resort town in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, were fully booked on the first days of 2011, promising a good year for the Sa Pa tourism sector.
According to the Sa Pa Tourism Centre, the town is capable of accommodating about 4,500-5,000 visitors a night.