Travel News Jetstar airfares on sale for HCM City-Chu Lai The low cost carrier Jetstar Pacific is officially offering flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Chu Lai, facilitating travel for residents in the central provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai and its vicinity. On the occasion, fares as low as 250,000 VND (11.6 USD) are on sale from 11 am on April 22 to 24 for flights departing from May 19 to 28 and September 7 to October 22. Flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Chu Lai run three round trips per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing from Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 11:20 am. Returning flights will take off from Chu Lai at 13:10. Tickets are available on www.jetstar.com and at registered ticket agents. This is the eighth domestic air route offered by Jetstar Pacific in the first four months of the year, including flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Quy Nhon, Dong Hoi and Tuy Hoa and from Buon Ma Thuot to Thanh Hoa and Hai Phong. The carrier is also offering tickets from Hanoi- Da Lat and Hanoi- Phu Quoc departing after June 1. Jetstar Pacific currently has a ten-airplane fleet with eight Airbus A320 and two Airbus A321 aircraft, covering 12 domestic destinations as well as Singapore, Thailand and Macau (China). Nha Trang to host first tourism fair The first Nha Trang tourism fair is set to be held on July 3 in the central coastal city of Nha Trang as part of activities pertaining to the Sea Festival 2015 slated for July 11-14. A broad array of activities will be planned during the three-day event, including an art programme, a mineral bud bath festival, and a tourism promotion program. According to Luyen Manh Cuong, Director of the Khanh Hoa Tourism Promotion Information Centre, the event will give localities and local travel operators a chance to introduce tourism products and promotional programmes to visitors, and develop their brand names in order to spur tourism cooperation between Khanh Hoa and other southern localities. Large green destination opens to visitors A new eco-tourism site inside the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in central Quang Binh province opened its doors to plant lovers on April 20. The 40-hectare site—featuring a specimen exhibition, a nursery and a natural forest—boasts more than 500 plant species within their diverse ecosystems. Tourists can take part in a guided plant tour along a 3-kilometre path or set up camp to enjoy the scenery as night falls. Entrance fees are 40,000 VND (1.8 USD) per adult and 20,000 VND (0.9 USD) per child over the age of six. Student groups for learning and research purposes will receive a 50 percent discount. The destination is designed to be a sustainable space contributing to raising public awareness and generating financial resources for preservation initiatives.- VietJet launches new flights from Hai Phong The VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Company (VietJet Air) will open a series of new flights departing from Cat Bi International Airport in northern Hai Phong city, VietJet Chairwoman Nguyen Thanh Ha revealed in a meeting with city leaders on April 21. Accordingly, flights from Hai Phong to Da Nang, Nha Trang and Da Lat will be launched alongside four others to China. Ha said the low-cost airline currently has a fleet of 22 aircraft which will be expanded to 30 by the end of 2015. The firm has gained a local market share of 38 percent and its number of passengers rose by 15-20 percent annually. Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee Duong Anh Dien highlighted the progress of the Cat Bi International Airport expansion project, saying that the airport will have a completely new look once it is inaugurated by the end of this year. The expansion will increase the airport capacity to 4 million passengers per year and 1,000 passengers at peak hours, he added. The Chairman also suggested VietJet Air open new international flights connecting Hai Phong and the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong, as the city wishes to welcome more foreign visitors, particularly from these countries who have been major investors in the city. Cat Bi International Airport plays an important role in the socio-economic development strategy of Hai Phong city and the region. Holiday destination overflowed Beautiful scenery, affordable prices and pristine beaches draw the holiday-seekers. Tran Ngoc Nguyen, chairman of the district's People's Committee, said the island expects to host a high number of tourists for the long holiday next week. Hospitality services including 18 hotels and guest houses and 20 homestays have been booked for the coming holidays on April 30 and May 1. He said the district can provide accommodation to only 1,000 tourists at present, though more than 2,000 tourists showed interest in visiting the island. "We have allocated VNĐ10 billion (US$476,000) to build public restrooms and upgrade 300 household restrooms to provide good service for tourists this year," Nguyen said. VNS/VNA/VOV