Travel News in Brief HCM City prepares for travel expo The 2015 International Travel Expo in HCM City will take place from September 10-12. Viet Nam's main international tourism event, with its motto of One Decade – One Mekong – One World this year, is expected to draw 25,000 visitors besides the foreign media. According to a release from the organisers, 22 Vietnamese provinces, 13 international tourism promotion organisations, and 25 tourism enterprises from 20 countries and territories have registered to take part in the event. It will be held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7. Last year the event attracted 320 companies from 21 countries and territories and 22,000 visitors. Kien Giang hosts tourism year More than 50 kinds of cultural and entertainment activities will be held during the National Tourism Year 2016, hosted by the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kien Giang. Kien Giang will organise 11 of the activities, including the 10th Khmer Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festival and the Kien Hai Whale Worship Festival. The remaining activities will be held by the Delta's other provinces. Ha Noi, HCM City, Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue Province will also take part in the National Tourism Year 2016. Besides vast fertile rice fields, cajuput and mangrove forests, Kien Giang has many tourism destinations such as world-famous Phu Quoc Island, the U Minh Thuong National Park, a wetlands area with many fish and water bird species, and the Ha Tien seaside tourist area. The coastal province, with 143 islands, has great tourism potential. Sa Pa improves travel services   The prices of tourism services in Sa Pa District in the northern province of Lao Cai were made public in late July, under an instruction from the district's People's Committee. The aim was to discourage overcharging of tourists in the popular, world-famous destination. Prices for karaoke, taxis, motorbikes, restaurants, beverage shops and eateries have been published. At the end of the second quarter of this year, most hotels and guesthouses in Sa Pa had listed their room and service prices. The district, which has beautiful mountains, caves, forests and terraced fields, is home to many ethnic minorities. During this time of the year, rainwater is released on the terraced rice fields, which shimmer in the sunshine, attracting many tourists and photographers. Lam Dong greets 1m visitors The Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province of Lam Dong welcomed more than 1 million tourists in June and July, the country's peak tourism period, according to the province's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This summer, Da Lat has organised many activities to attract tourists. The city will hold the Mua Pho Nui (Rain in Mountain City) festival this month. Da Lat, known as the City of Flowers, is home to Love Valley, King Bao Dai's Palace and Truc Lam Temple, among other sites. Several famous flower villages, including Thai Phien, Van Thanh and Ha Dong, are located in Da Lat. They offer tours to visitors, who can lend a hand to flower growers on their fields. Long Khanh orchards to harvest Now is an ideal time to visit fruit orchards in Dong Nai Province's Long Khanh Town as it is the harvest season for many kinds of fruits. The town is one of the largest fruit cultivation areas in the southeastern region. Located about 90 km away from HCM City, Long Khanh is famous for orchards with fruit such as rambutan, mango, mangosteen, jackfruit and durian. Long Khanh durians have small seeds, yellow flesh and a milky flavour. At this time of the year, fruit orchards are beautiful with fresh and fragrant fruits. At orchards in Bao Quang, Bao Vinh and Binh Loc communes, visitors are allowed to climb trees and pick fruits. SGT/SGGP/VNS