Sapa Tourism Week to kick off this month Sapa Tourism Week to kick off   April 29 to May 4 is a Sapa Tourism week set aside to celebrate everything about the traditional culture of ethnic minority groups from the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai. A wide array of festivities, including traditional music and dance performances and folk games of ethnic minority groups, are set to get underway at the Ham Rong mountain eco-tourism site. Other events dotting the hamlets, villages and small towns in the region, include numerous cultural festivals of the Mong, Dao and Giay ethnic minority peoples, a bonsai exhibition, and a trade fair introducing novelty items produced by local residents in the region. The Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee has launched a tourism e-portal translated into the Vietnamese, English and Chinese languages to attract more international visitors. Trinh Xuan Truong, Chairman of Sapa District People’s Committee, said preparatory work for the week has been completed, adding that hotels and guesthouses have been fully booked. Truong stressed the need to ensure food hygiene and safety and increase the quality of tourism services to meet the increasing demand of both local and foreign tourists during the peak season. Last year, Lao Cai welcomed more than one million visitors, or over 20% higher than the yearly set target. The province is expected to receive 1.2 million arrivals as the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway is scheduled to open to traffic in June 2014. Vietnam Airlines adds flights during national holiday National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced that it will add 342 domestic flights on 16 routes on April 30 (country reunification) and May 1 (Labour Day). The flights will serve an expected increase of 58,700 travelers during the coming holiday. From April 25 to May 5, Vietnam Airlines will add 308 flights with 53,700 seats in total to the Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Dien Bien routes. The Airlines recommends passengers adjust their flight schedule to avoid overloading on these routes. VN takes part in table setting expo The Vietnamese embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, took part in the International Art of Table Setting Exhibition on Wednesday and Thursday. Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ladies Association, Malaysia, the exhibition featured traditional table settings from 22 countries. Viet Nam used Minh Long chinaware and a lotus theme. Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, minister counsellor, said it was Viet Nam's debut at the exhibition, and the country hoped to showcase its cuisine to the world. Da Nang ready for holidaymakers According to travel agencies, the upcoming Reunification Day and International Labour Day on April 30 and May 1 will see a tourist influx into the central city of Da Nang. The city plans to stimulate tourism through attractions like the inauguration of the Four Season Flower Garden, the first cable railway system called Ba Na – Bynight, Asia Park, beach tourism, and others. The city has ideal destinations for the summer holidays like My Ke beach, one of the six most beautiful in the world, and others like Ngu Hanh Son, Son Tra, and Lien Chieu. Tourists can also enjoy tours for less than VND1 million per person a day. The city hopes to welcome 3.6 million visitors this year, including 820,000 foreign travellers. Beach town targets 2.7m visitors The beach town of Sam Son in Thanh Hoa Province has announced its targets for the coming summer tourism season: 2.7 million visitors and a turnover of VND1.5 trillion (US$71.4 million), up 10 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, over last year. The town will ensure the prices of all products and services are clearly indicated so that tourists can enjoy their trip without the fear of being ripped off. Sam Son Tourism Week will be celebrated from April 30 to May 5 with a Sea Tourism Festival and badminton, table tennis, tennis, and other sports events. Jetstar offers “Golden Days Discount” Jetstar Pacific Airlines is offering a promotion called “Golden Days Discount” for domestic flights as low as VND 68,000 from 2 p.m. on April 11 to 6 p.m. on April 14. One-way route between HCM City-Da Nang will be VND68,000; HCM City-Nha Trang will cost VND199,000; HCM City-Buon Ma Thuot will cost VND320,000; HCM City-Hai Phong will be VND750,000; and HCM City-Hanoi will cost VND800,000. These prices do not include tax. The special rates will be applicable for flights in April, May, September and October. Ana Mandara Villas Dalat offers special promotion Ana Mandara Villas Dalat is putting on a Highland Escape package for two at VND2.69 million that includes one-night stay in a Villa room and daily breakfast, 60-minute body or facial massage, round trip airport transfer, welcoming special ginger tea, personal butler services and complimentary internet besides a 10% discount on F&B and Excursion. The promotion valid from now until July 31 applies to bookings of a minimum two-night stay. There is a surcharge of VND630,000 on weekend and public holidays. A surcharge of VND420,000 applies for upgrade to a next category. Rates are inclusive tax and service charge. For enquiries, email to reservation-dalat@anamandara-resort.com or call (063) 3555 888. VNA/VNS/VOV/SGGP/ND