Travel agents offer holiday deals Many travel firms have kept tour prices unchanged while others are offering big discounts of 30-35 percent for the upcoming National Holiday early next month (September 2). According to the Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper, the The He Tre Tourism Co, in collaboration with Vietnam Airlines, will offer two tours of the northeastern region at unchanged prices despite it being a holiday, when prices normally rise significantly. Those who take the tours will be able to enjoy several attractions including the Dong Van Stone Plateau, Lung Cu Flag Pole, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Ba Be Lake, Nguom Ngao Cave and Ban Gioc Waterfall. The tours, lasting six or seven days starting from August 30, cost 9.8 million VND (470 USD) and 11.4 million VND (540 USD), respectively. This would be up to 35 percent lower than current market prices, the company said. For the National Day holiday, Fiditour is offering tours from Ho Chi Minh City to favoured destinations like Phu Quoc and Con Dao islands with discounts of up to 30 percent. A three-day all-inclusive tour price for Phu Quoc will be reduced by 1.57 million VND (75 USD) to 5.19 million VND (250 USD) per visitor, while that for Con Dao will drop by 300,000 VND (14 USD) to 6.46 million VND (310 USD). Doan Thi Thanh Tra, Marketing and Communication Director of the Saigontourist Travel Service Co, said that in keeping with the policy to promote domestic tourism, the company had guaranteed that it would not only refrain from increasing tour prices on this occasion, but also offer many cost-saving tours. Tourists from Ho Chi Minh City can choose tours to Buon Ma Thuot, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Sapa, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat, or Phan Thiet with prices ranging from 2.5-6.5 million VND (120-310 USD). Besides, there are longer tours to the northern, central and western regions priced from 5 million VND (240 USD) onwards, departing from Ho Chi Minh City on September 1 and 2. Since this year's National Day holiday falls on Monday, most visitors tend to choose short tours of 3-4 days. On the occasion of the National Day, Saigontourist would launch its river tours, Tra said. Recommended tours include a half-day tour to Cu Chi Tunnel, Long Phuoc Garden and Binh Quoi Tourist Village; and a full-day tour to Can Gio and Long An. The tours cost 294,000-2.23 million VND (14-10USD) per person. Ton That Hoa, General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association (HTA), said that the association would sign a domestic tourism stimulus programme with Vietjet Air. The agreement would be a win-win situation for everyone, Hoa said, adding: "Travel firms will have more opportunities to exploit cheap air tickets to sell tours and consumers will have the opportunity to buy cheap travel tours." Source: VNA