TRAVEL NEWS IN BRIEF 27/7 Khanh Hoa-a favourite destination for Russian tourists The number of Russian tourists to the south central province of Khanh Hoa reached 70,000 in the first half of this year, making up 45.5% of the total Russian arrivals in Vietnam. Many Russians regard Khanh Hoa in general and Nha Trang in particular as the most attractive sites for them to explore, where there are more than 4,000 luxury rooms and a wide variety of tourism products plus a moderate climate all year round. The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will operate 2 direct flights per week between Russia and Nha Trang as of October. Nguyen Van Thanh, Director of the Khanh Hoa Tourism Promotion Centre, estimates that the number of Russian tourists to the province may hit 100,000 by the end of this year. From July 23-25, Vietnam Airlines brought a group of directors from major travel agencies in Moscow and St. Peterbourg cities to Nha Trang to visit many famous tourism sites including Diamond Bay Rerost & Spa, Vinpearl Land, I-Rerost and Amiana. Lao, VN provinces boost tourism The northern province of Quang Ninh will co-operate with Luang Prabang Province of Laos to develop tourism products and create a healthy tourism environment, according to an agreement signed by the two sides on July 17. The two localities will work together to facilitate tourism businesses' operations and ensure the rights of holiday-makers while actively taking part in activities to promote their images and exploit their tourism potential. The two provinces will launch joint tours of their tourist sites, support the training of human resources and exchange experiences in tourism management. Luang Prabang, which once served as the capital city of Laos, is home to many relics and natural landscapes like the Phou Si Mountain, Kuang Si Falls and the Royal Palace Museum. The town of Luang Prabang was recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage on December 9, 1995.-  Madagui resort offers promotions Located in Lam Dong Province's Da Huoai District, the Madagui Forest resort has launched several promotion campaigns to attract visitors. A 2-day, 1-night Legendary Madagui package for VND1.6 million (US$76) per guest will include transportation, five meals, villa accommodation, free zipline and kayaking, and a sightseeing tour. A two-day-one-night relaxation tour will charge VND840,000 per person for villa stay, four meals and a sightseeing tour. Those who choose the Discover Madagui package can enjoy a two-day-one-night stay for just VND450,000. This includes sleeping in a tent, two meals and a tour around the resort. The resort takes its name from the town where it is located.  Hue makes it easier to enjoy history The Hue Relics Preservation Centre has announced several programmes that will make it easier and cheaper to visit the city's numerous historic monuments. In addition to the Tourism Golden Weeks that will last from now until the end of the year, the centre plans two special promotional weeks in September and December this year, plus an array of exhibitions showcasing thousands of artefacts. The promotions and programmes mark 20 years since the Hue Monuments Complex was recognised as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO. During the promotional weeks, tourists would enjoy free electric bus rides from the Royal Palace to the Hue Royal Antique Museum and a 50 per cent reduction in ticket prices for Hue Royal Court Music performances, said the centre's director Phan Thanh Hai. The centre estimates that so far this year, monuments have received more than 1.14 million visitors, about half of them foreigners.- Hydropower plant attracts tourists The Da River Hydropower Plant, also known as the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, has become an alternative sightseeing spot for travelers to the northwestern province of Hoa Binh. The plant site offers great views of the river, terrace fields and mountains and its importance to the nation cannot be underestimated, according to local officials. The province also boasts other popular destinations like Mai Chau and Thung Nai. Built in November 1979, the plant provides electricity for the whole country and helps prevent flooding. It also helps irrigate fields in the Red River Delta. Hilton offers “The Great Getaway” promotion The Hilton Hanoi Opera and Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi are running room promotion “The Great Getaway” for bookings from now until September 30 for stays from now until October 4. With this deal, guests will get 20% off room rate (including breakfast) at the above facilities. The Hilton Hanoi Opera recently received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the second year. The award honors top-rated accommodation locations, restaurants and attractions as reviewed by travelers on the world’s largest travel site. Jetstar offers regular Hanoi-Nha Trang flights Low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacific  will operate regular flights connecting Hanoi with Khanh Hoa Province’s Nha Trang City from this September with one flight per day instead of offering only summer flights like before. According to Jetstar Pacific, instead of providing Hanoi-Nha Trang flights during summer as the peak travel time, it will  operate regular flights on the route from September 1. The carrier on Monday started to sell promotional tickets for all air routes with flights departing between September 10 and November 28. The promotional airfares start from VND279,000 for HCMC-Buon Ma Thuot flights, VND549,000 for Buon Ma Thuot-Vinh flights, VND449,000 for HCMC-Danang flights, VND499,000 for Hanoi-Danang flights, VND749,000 for HCMC-Haiphong and HCMC-Vinh flights, VND779,000 for HCMC-Hanoi flights and VND849,000 for Hanoi-Cam Ranh flights. Promotional tickets are sold at www.jetstar.com and applicable for online payments. Hotels launch promotions on low foreign tourist growth Given a mild rise in the number of international tourist arrivals in HCMC in the first seven months of the year, many hotels in the city are racing to offer promotional programs to lure customers. According to the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city has welcomed an estimated 246,000 foreign travelers this month, taking the total in January-July to more than 2.15 million, edging up only 5% year-on-year. Room rates in the city now are much lower than before as local hotels introduce a vast array of promotions to tour operators and they are even ready to lower the prices of already-signed contracts in an effort to woo more customers. Notably, hotels offer attractive prices to Asian visitors whose response to promotions is often swift as they are inclined to book hotel rooms later than European travelers. “Room rates are slashed by some 5-10% year-on-year, with priority also given to last-minute bookings. International tourist arrivals have grown inconsiderably this season against the same period in 2012,” Bui Viet Thuy Tien, managing director of Asian Trails Co. Ltd., noted. Low growth in foreign tourist arrivals in the city over the past few months has affected hotels citywide. Room rates and occupancy of the city’s hotels continued to decline in the second quarter, Savills Vietnam reported. The occupancy rates averaged out at only 62%, with the room rates staying at an average of VND1.75 million a room a night, slumping up to 12% year-on-year, the firm said. Four-to-five-star hotels in the city’s downtown area do better business than those elsewhere, according to Savills Vietnam. However, business performance of three-star hotels far from the city center is better than that of the same-level facilities in the heart of the city as local visitors and foreign backpackers as the segment’s key customers prefer hotels with lower prices outside the city center. IHG to open InterContinental hotel in Nha Trang InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced a hotel under its luxury brand InterContinental will be inaugurated in the central coastal city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province as part of its continuous expansion in Vietnam. The group did not specify the opening date in a statement obtained by the Daily on Tuesday but confirmed that the opening of the hotel on Tran Phu Street would be soon. InterContinental Nha Trang will feature 277 luxury guest rooms and suites with the panoramic views of Nha Trang Bay. The hotel also includes meeting and event facilities with a grand ballroom able to accommodate 1,200 guests, restaurants and bars, and a fitness center among others. Colin McCandless, general manager of InterContinental Nha Trang, said in the statement that the hotel aimed to serve both local and international guests. “We have something to appeal to every taste, whether traveling for business or leisure… we hope to provide them with new and unexpected experiences when they stay, dine or hold an event with us,” McCandless said. The hotel is located in Nha Trang’s premier beach front in close proximity to the city’s attractions, as well as entertainment areas and shopping centers. It is about 35 kilometers from Cam Ranh International Airport. The new hotel will be the latest addition to the chain of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in Vietnam. At present, the group manages InterContinental Westlake Hanoi and Crowne Plaza West Hanoi in the capital city, InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel and InterContinental Asiana Saigon Residences in HCMC, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort and Crowne Plaza Danang in the central coastal city of Danang. There are 170 InterContinental hotels and resorts worldwide and 49 InterContinental hotels and resorts in the development pipeline, which will be up and running over the next five years. Luxury hotel to go up at city’s prime site A luxury hotel and commercial center complex worth nearly VND7.17 trillion will be built in the heart of HCMC. The HCMC government this Monday approved a selection of investors for the project at 164 Dong Khoi Street in HCMC’s District 1. A consortium comprising Hongkong Land International Holdings Ltd. of the U.K. and two Japanese firms, Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. Ltd. and Toshin Development Co. Ltd., is involved in this project. The project will cover an area of nearly 9,800 square meters near Tran Dai Nghia High School, bordered by the streets of Dong Khoi, Nguyen Du and Ly Tu Trong. This commercial, service and cultural complex would offer offices, luxury hotel rooms and exhibition space. The cost of the project is around VND7.17 trillion, or roughly US$355 million, with nearly half to be spent on construction and the remainder on site clearance compensation and resettlement. If the investors failed to carry out the project without good reason, their deposit would be confiscated and they would be banned from participating in other projects in the city for three years, according to the HCMC government. In addition, the investors are not allowed to transfer their stakes or their right to develop this project to other investors as long as the project has not been completed. The prime land lot of the project earlier attracted bids from nearly 70 investors, including those having a strong financial position with equity of over US$1 billion. Royal Hotel Saigon opens Royal Café, Boulevard Restaurant The Royal Hotel Saigon, or Kim Do Hotel, under management of Saigontourist, has opened the Royal Café and Boulevard Restaurant to offer more dining services to gourmets. The Royal Café is located on the ground floor of the hotel, which recently was the Vietnam Competitive and Famous Trademark Winner 2013, facing to Nguyen Hue Boulevard and has the capacity of 100 guests. The café is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and dedicated to serve A la carte with dishes in Asian and Western cuisine. The 120-capacity Boulevard Restaurant is on the hotel’s first floor. The restaurant serves a buffet with more than 40 selected Asian and Western dishes which are changed daily. Moreover, it is a great venue for parties and events. The four-star hotel boasts 127 well-equipped rooms such as Queen Hall, King Hall, Lotus Hall and Saigon Hall serving a range of Asian, Vietnamese and Western dishes in diverse party services and food programs. The hotel also offers guests a swimming pool, gym, coffee lounge and conference hall. The Royal Hotel Saigon is located at 133 Nguyen Hue Boulevard in District 1, tel: (08) 3822 5914 and email: hotel@royalhotelsaigon.com. Source: VNA/VNS/SGT/Dtinews/SGGP/VIR