Vietnamese tourist office opens in Japan Vietnamese tourist office opens in Japan A tourism representative office for Vietnam will open in the Japanese capital Tokyo in December, according to the Vietnam Tourism Association. The association will also establish a business club organising tours to Japan to promote Vietnam-Japan tourism and to protect the two countries’ interests in this sector. Nearly 100,000 Vietnamese visitors are expected to visit Japan in 2013, almost double the amount of 2012, according to Janpan tourism agency figures. Meanwhile, over 450,000 Japanese tourists are expected to visit Vietnam , up 5.1 percent year-on-year, according to Vietnam National Administration of Tourism data. Promoting maritime tourism promoted       Viet Nam received more than 285,000 visitors by cruise ships in 2012. In the first seven months of 2013, the number of visitors travelling by the mean of transport to Viet Nam increased around 55% compared to the same period in 2012, accounting for 4-5% of the total foreign visitors to Viet Nam. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the world’s tourism development strategy till 2020 has the tendency to develop the Far East, including Viet Nam. The cruise ships tourism generated more cash than other tourist types by 30-40%. In the future, travel agencies need to exploit cruise ship tourism in such crucial markets as the North America, Europe, Australia and China through enhancing tourist promotion and advertisement programs. Cruise ship tourism is expected to help Viet Nam fulfill the goal of receiving 7.5 million foreign visitors by 2020. Jetstar Pacific offers additional 28,000 tickets for Tet Low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacific Airlines will offer 28,000 extra tickets to meet traveler demand during the coming Tet holiday season. Travel demand is expected to rise sharply 40 days before and after Tet, on routes from South to North on January 12-31 and from North to South from February 1-20. Tickets are being sold from October 9 at www.jetstar.com, and Jetstar Pacific agents and ticket offices throughout the country. Passengers can use credit cards, domestic debit cards (ATM), or Internet Banking Services with banks that are partners of Jetstar Pacific for payment within 24 hours. This is the second ticket selling phase by the carrier. Earlier, Jetstar Pacific had sold 136,000 seats for the Tet holiday season, including 14,000 seats during peak days. Foreign arrivals in Hanoi shoot up by 20 percent The number of foreign visitors to Hanoi in the first nine months of this year amounted to 1.9 million, a year-on-year increase of 20 percent and representing 35 percent of all international arrivals in Vietnam. Up to 1.4 million foreign visitors were from China, rising by 37 percent from a year earlier. It was followed by the Republic of Korea and Japan, said the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. In the first eight months of 2013, Vietnam welcomed around 4.9 million international tourists, up 7.9 percent year-on-year. They mainly came from Russia (up by 63.1 percent), China (33.1 percent), Indonesia (25.6 percent), Thailand (24.2 percent) and New Zealand (21.9 percent).- Halloween celebration at Can Gio Resort A Halloween gala will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on October 26 at Broccoli Restaurant in Can Gio Resort, a unit of Saigontourist. The party will serve gourmets 25 signature dishes made in Halloween style and entertain guests with bartender performances and thrilling dance shows. Guests will also have a chance to win two prizes of one night’s stay in a Superior room for one male guest and one female guest who have the best Halloween costumes. Guests sporting costumes will be given a free glass of wine or soft drink. Admission is VND249,000 per person and those purchasing ten tickets will be given two free before October 20, and one free after October 20. The resort also discounts 50% on room rates on October 26 for guests joining the Halloween party who book before October 20, and also gives a 30% discount on room rates for guests booking before October 24. The resort is also offering a promotion that charges just two nights for guests staying three nights, valid until December 31. Located around 50 kilometers from downtown HCMC, Can Gio, which has been recognized as one of the World’s Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO, is famous for its biodiversity system of mangrove forests, beach and typical cultural features. It is regarded as a weekend getaway for Saigonese to indulge in fresh air, tranquility and nature. There, travelers can visit Monkey Island where is home to about 1,000 monkeys, cruise along the mangrove forest and learn more about the history of Sac Forest military base. The three-star Can Gio Resort with 80 rooms is nestled by the 30/4 Beach under the shade of a casuarina forest all year-round murmuring among the winds and waves. The resort is well equipped with bungalows, Carrot Restaurant, swimming pool, karaoke, massage, sauna, steam room, tennis court and meeting room. The Carrot Restaurant with a capacity of 250 guests is dedicated to serve Western and Asian dishes, fresh seafood and specialties of Can Gio. Source: SGT/SGGP/VNA/VNS/VOV/ND