| Night market opens in Hue Posted: 04 Jan 2012 11:56 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM-The Hue City People's Committee launched a pedestrian-only night market along Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street from Truong Tien Bridge to Phu Xuan Bridge on January 2. The night market will be open daily from 17:00 to 23:00, featuring 122 booths selling handicrafts and fine arts as well as consumer goods and food.
It was invested with a total capital of more than VND3 million, aiming to create a shopping and sightseeing area for both foreign visitors and and Hue residents.
Hue attracts more than 1.6 million local and foreign tourists every year.
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| Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi opens to visitors Posted: 04 Jan 2012 02:46 AM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  UAE-Hyatt Hotels and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company have announced the opening of Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi. Located at the city’s premium business address on the top floors of the iconic Capital Gate building, the property leans a record-breaking 18 degrees.
Strategically located adjacent to the thriving Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the property is within walking distance of the upmarket Embassy District and only 15 minutes from the international airport.
Occupying floors 18 to 33 of the Capital Gate building, Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi offers 189 luxury guestrooms and suites featuring floor-to-ceiling glass windows that offer sweeping, bird’s eye views of the Arabian Gulf and the city.
“Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi is unique in its forward-thinking design and well-crafted hospitality approach,” said Peter Fulton, managing director, Hyatt International, South West Asia.
“The hotel was designed to cater to the individual traveller seeking indigenous experiences and the property offers many thoughtful features that executive travellers value today.”
Owned and developed by ADNEC, the Capital Gate tower, has already earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for its 18 degree lean - more than four times that of the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The impressive architectural feats that define the Capital Gate building are combined with elegant interior design concepts to create a uniquely refined guest experience.
“ADNEC is delighted to have had the opportunity to work with Hyatt to bring this landmark property to the Abu Dhabi market.
“Hyatt Capital Gate is well on its way to becoming a ‘must-visit’ for tourists and Abu Dhabi residents alike,” said Sanjay Tanna director of business development and investments of ADNEC.
“The opening of the hotel further broadens the destination appeal of ADNEC for the business traveller.”
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| Russian TV channel introduces Vietnam Posted: 03 Jan 2012 08:27 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM - On January 2, the Russian TV channel “Russia – 2” broadcast a one hour programme (from 1pm-2pm) to introduce Vietnam’s customs and daily life of the Vietnamese people and the most popular sites in the country. The “Top Gear” programme described a trans-Vietnam motorbike tour by three foreigners who departed from Ho Chi Minh City and went through the Central Highlands city of Da Lat and then the central cities of Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue and Vinh. They arrived in the capital city of Hanoi before making their final leg to the northeastern city of Ha Long.
Through their trip, the foreigners had a chance to enjoy the most special dishes of the Vietnamese cuisine, study the customs and daily life of Vietnamese people and see the most popular sites in the country which have been loved by the domestic and foreign tourists.
The tour’s members saw with their own eyes the hospitality, hardworking, cleverness and creativeness of the local people.
The “Top Gear” programme about Vietnam was a practical activity to advertise Vietnam’s images and Vietnamese people to the world, while contributing to attract more Russian visitors to Vietnam.
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| Sacomreal to build large resort in Da Lat Posted: 03 Jan 2012 08:13 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM - Dung Anh Real Estate Company, under Sai Gon Thuong Tin Real Estate JSC (Sacomreal), has revealed its plan to build the project Floryn Hill on Thong Nhat Hill in Da Lat City. Floryn Hill is a project for tourism and entertainment, together with 70ha of ecological resorts on two hills along Mai Anh Dao Street, Da Lat City.
To be located on an area of 36ha, Zone A is an entertainment area and resorts with various facilities, including three-star hotels, clubhouses and 40 villas, while Zone B, on an area of over 34ha, will include 60 luxury hotels, an ecological resort, an entertainment area and beautiful parks for outdoor activities.
In addition, there will be 100 ecological villas on the tops of the two hills.
The construction is expected to be completed in 2013.
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| Six Senses Con Dao offers special rates for Tet Posted: 03 Jan 2012 07:54 PM PST |
| Vietnam welcomes first foreign visitors of 2012 Posted: 03 Jan 2012 07:44 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM - On the first day of 2012, many foreign visitors arrived in Vietnam by air and sea. In the early morning of January 1, officials of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports, the Tourism and the HCM City Tourism Association and the Vietnam Airlines Corporation welcomed the first foreign tourists to the city in 2012. The first group was 260 tourists from the UK, followed by nearly 300 Germany visitors on flights of Vietnam Airlines.
HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s deputy director La Quoc Khanh presented flowers, New Year greeting cards, gifts and books on Vietnam’s tourism to the first visitors.
Vietnam Airlines offered these special tourists free luggage fees as the New Year gifts.
Peter Grove and Kate Goswell from the UK said they were very happy to be visiting beautiful Vietnam with its friendly, hospitable people and wanted to go on a trans-Vietnam journey during the first days of the New Year.
The first foreign tourists were welcomed by traditional songs and dances, performed by Vietnamese artists at the airport.
An official from the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that in 2011, HCM City welcomed 3.5 million foreign visitors, up by 13 percent over 2010.
Saigontourist also welcomed a group of Russian visitors to HCM City at 4.50pm, January 1, on a flight of Vietnam Airlines.
Meanwhile, the northern border province of Quang Ninh received three groups of tourists from China and Japan and nearly 100 foreign visitors who were on an excursion tour of Ha Long Bay organized by Saigontourist. Around 5,000 visitors boarded 352 hydrofoils to cruise in Ha Long Bay before midnight on New Year's Eve. Saigontourist Quang Ninh also welcomed an additional 500 international visitors from China and Europe to Ha Long Bay on the same day.
Hotels in the Bai Chay Tourist Resort held a variety of programs to welcome 2012 and most of the hotels in the resort were 65 percent full, with some reaching 75-100 percent. On January 1, Novotel plans to welcome more than 300 visitors who have booked rooms already.
Last year, Quang Ninh served nearly 6.2 million visitors including 2.3 million from abroad, earning revenues of VND3.4 trillion. In 2012, the province aims to attract 7 million visitors and bring in around VND4 trillion.
Thousands of visitors also flocked to tourist destinations in the central region on the first day of the New Year. The most popular destinations were Vinpearl, Yang Bay, Diamond and the islands in Nha Trang Bay.
Quang Nam province and Hoi An city held a ceremony to welcome 45 people from the Republic of Korea.
The visitors were treated to art performances and traditional folk games by local artists.
Tran Minh Ca, deputy chairman of the Quang Nam provincial People Committee said that the province has planned special programmes in 2012 to attract more local and foreign tourists including major cultural events to be held throughout the year.
The province will also upgrade its infrastructure and speed up projects to fully tap its tourism potential.
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| Hanoi’s ancient street gets new face Posted: 03 Jan 2012 07:28 PM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM - Ta Hien street in Hanoi’s inner district of Hoan Kiem now gets a new face following a French-assisted restoration project. Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Khoi told the inaugural ceremony, which took place in Hanoi on December 29 that the pilot project is a research co-operation agreement between the capital city and France’s Toulouse city to improve living conditions of the locals living in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and uphold its traditional heritage values.
The project, worth nearly VND15 billion (US$720,000), helped renovate a 52 metre-section of Ta Hien street which was built in the early 20 th century.
Khoi said that the district authorities will continue working closely with experts of Toulouse city and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to upgrade other streets in a bid to draw more domestic and foreign visitors to the capital city.
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| NZ tourism boosted by China Southern Posted: 03 Jan 2012 01:36 AM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  NEW ZEALAND-The increase in direct flights from China to New Zealand has attributed a 1.7 percent increase in overseas arrivals for the month of November compared to the same month last year. The New Zealand government reported the total visitor arrivals numbers reached 230,000 in November, which is the same month that China Southern Airlines began daily flights between Guangzhou and Auckland, China Daily reported.
According to figures by statistics New Zealand, Australia maintained its place as New Zealand's largest tourist market, with Australian visitor numbers rising 7.6 percent year on year.
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said Australia accounted for about 44 percent of all visitor arrivals in the year to the end November 2011. Statistics also showed consistent growth out of Asian markets in November 2011, with the visitor numbers from China up 3,685, Malaysia up 1,320 and Singapore up 863 up from last year.
"China Southern Airlines' commencement of daily flights into New Zealand from November 1 will have certainly supported this outcome," Mr Bowler said.
"The steady upward trend we continue to see out of Asia is a reminder that this market is where continued focus is required."
China Southern Airlines, which carried more than 70 million passengers last year, began direct flights to New Zealand in April, and plans to announce an increase in capacity due to the demand.
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| Maldives Govt plan to shut down Luxury Spa's Posted: 03 Jan 2012 01:25 AM PST |
| InterContinental Tangshan welcomes first guest Posted: 03 Jan 2012 12:50 AM PST + Click Image to Enlarge  CHINA-InterContinental Tangshan, the first international 5-star hotel in Tangshan, celebrated its Grand Opening last week. As the very first guest, Mr. Yoshinobu Nakamura, President & CEO of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Itd., Tokyo, Japan was welcomed by the hotel’s General Manager and his hotel management team. Mr. Yoshinobu Nakamura was given a grand welcome by hotel General Manager Otto Kurzendorfer and his management team. As the first guest of InterContinental Tangshan he was the first to benefit from a host of corporate facilities that will meet all business and leisure requirements.
Mr. Otto Kurzendorfer, the General Manager of InterContinental Tangshan commented, “We are honored to host our first guest the day before Christmas. The combined efforts of our talented and experienced team and state-of-art amenities will ensure a long and comfortable stay for our valued guest. InterContinental Tangshan is the only international hotel in the exceptional city of Tangshan, and our location is both convenient for business as well as right in the middle of the new build downtown.”
InterContinental Tangshan is the first international 5-star hotel in Tangshan and is located in the heart of the city directly facing the Tangshan Seismic Memorial and Dazhao Park. It has 285 luxurious guest rooms including Club Floor, Suites and Accessible Rooms. Minimum room sizes start from 42 sqm and rooms feature a 42 inch LCD television, audio video equipment, iPod & iPhone base station, wired/wirless internet access and comfortable working area. The spacious bathroom will have separate shower and bathtub.
The exquisite pillarless Grand Ballroom covers an immense 1,200 sqm and can be partitioned into three rooms. A total of 8 multi-function rooms are filled with natural daylight and equipped with state-of-art meeting facilities. Going further than simply providing a comfortable place to do business, our mission is to inspire delegates, giving them the chance to get the most out of their meeting while feeling connected to their destination. Our team is here to provide a seamless service that extends from start to finish and will do whatever it takes to make life easier for you as the event planner.
Experience the best dining facilities ranging from Imperial Court featuring exquisite Chinese delicacies of seafood, abalone, shark’s fin and bird nest to Tang Yuan Chinese Restaurant which specializes in dishes from Guandong province. Phoenix All Day Dining offers international cuisine with an open kitchen buffet concept that will tantalize the taste buds of all palates.
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