National Day holiday

National Day holiday: no worry of high price

Contrary to forecasts, tourism companies say the numbers of visitors buying tours for the National Day holiday are on the rise, despite economic difficulties and tour price increases of 5-7%.

Quoc Bao from Saigontourist said local Airlines applied fuel surcharges as of August 15 so on August 14, Saigontourist booked nearly 500 tickets for its customers.

Some travel firms have announced they will not increase prices of tours during the National Day holiday (September 2) or will slash tour charges for visitors who registered early (one week in advance).

As students have started their new school year early this year, the numbers of visitors who are families have fallen remarkably but tours registered by organisations have increased.

Quoc Bao said the number of visitors in tours bought by companies account for 50% of the total.

Most individual visitors are buying tours to Phan thiet Vung Tau and the central coastal region. Tours to Phu quoc and Con Dao islands sold out very early because travel agents couldn’t book more air tickets.

Tour prices have increased by 5-7% on average due to the increase of transportation fares.

Outbound tours selling well

According to travel firms, the volume of tourists buying outbound tours has surged. Saigontourist said by August 18, the number of visitors buying overseas tours for the National Day holiday had risen by 14% year on year. The increase is 20% at Vietravel.

Fiditour’s Outbound Tourism Director said Fiditour expected to have 3,000 visitors buying overseas tours, up 22% over the same period of 2007.

4-5 day tours are selling very well, including Thailand tours. Saigontourist will send 325 visitors to Thailand from August 28-30, 67% up year on year, Fiditour nearly 400, and Vietravel 100-150, every day.

Notably, the number of visitors who have bought expensive tours has increased unexpectedly. Fiditour said visitors who have booked tours worth more than $1,000 account for 17% of the total, and the percentage is growing.

Tours to the US, South Korea, Japan, Europe, and Australia offered by Vietravel, Hoan My and Saigontourist in September are sold out.

Hoan My said at least 100 tourists are waiting for visas for tours in September and October.

(Source: Tuoi Tre)

Tag: Airlines , Holiday , Japan , Phu Quoc , Saigon , Tour , Tourism , Tourist , Travel

National Day holiday: no worry of high price

Vietnam Tour News


Ethnic Chinese group’s festival opens in Binh Thuan (20-8-2008) The Nghinh Ong Festival, also known as the Guan Kung Greeting Celebration, opened in Phan thiet city of southern Binh Thuan province on August 19.
Bao Son Paradise Park to be put in use (20-8-2008) More than 60 travel agencies have surveyed the Bao son Paradise Park, which was built on an area of 20ha in An Khanh Commune, Hoai Duc District, Hanoi at a cost of US$ 50 million.
Asian Zither Festival enlivens HCM City in September (19-8-2008) Performers from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Japan and the Republic of Korea and Vietnam are expected to participate in the second Asian Zither Festival in Hcm city early next month.
Central Highlands to get international airport - Phuong Hoang Airport (19-8-2008) An international airport called Phuong Hoang will be built at Tan Canh Commune in the Central Highland’s province of Kon Tum by 2015, according to the Management Board of the Bo Y International Border Gate Economic Zone.
Mekong Delta to become a friendly destination (16-8-2008) “Mekong Delta can be seen as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Asia with beautiful natural landscapes, but it may soon lose this advantage due to rapid infrastructure development.
Local airlines collect fuel surcharges as of August 15 - Vietnam Airlines (14-8-2008) As of August 15, Vietnam airlines Jetstar Pacific and Vasco will apply fuel surcharges from VND50,000-VND180,000 ($3.1-11.2) per one-way ticket for local flights.
Nghinh Ong Festival to take place in Phan Thiet city (14-8-2008) The Nghinh Ong Festival, also known as the Guan Kung Greeting Celebration, will kick off in Phan thiet city of southern Binh Thuan province on August 19. The three-day festival will commemorate a Chinese general and warrior-saint honoured by the Hoa (Chinese Vietnamese) community.
New caves found in northern Son La province (14-8-2008) Local people in northern mountainous Son La province have discovered several beautiful caves in limestone mountains in Moc Chau district.
Man infuses fresh spirit into Ha Dong silk (14-8-2008) Everyone in the famous Van Phuc silk village knows Do Van Hien, the only person who can create fine patterns for silk in a short time.
Luxury Saigon-Nha Trang Railway Route to be launched in late August (13-8-2008) The Saigon Railway Transport Company announced it will operate a new two-way luxury railway route from Saigon to Nha trang starting August 22nd, 2008. The new rail service will include 14 carriages with 7 cabins in each and is designed with interior decorations at a five-star hotel standard.
Travellers pay $1,000 to fly from Sapa to Hanoi (13-8-2008) Some helicopters of the Northern Air Service Corporation carried some tourists stuck in the tourism town of Sapa Lao cai province due to floods to Hanoi on August 11. Each traveller had to pay around $1,000 to go back to Hanoi.
High as a kite - Vietnam kite (11-8-2008) Kite flying is a simple and captivating hobby which has a long standing tradition in Vietnam
Phuoc Hai pagoda (11-8-2008) Covering an area of 2,300m2, Phuoc Hai Pagoda, or Ngoc Hoang (the Jade Emperor) Pagoda in the past, in District 1, Ho chi minh city was built around the turn of the 20th century on the foundation of the old Minh Su Pagoda.
Vietnam Airlines to launch fourth direct air route to Japan (09-8-2008) The national flag carrier Vietnam airlines will launch on August 12 its direct service from Hanoi to Nagoya township of Chubu , the third biggest economic hub of Japan , announced the carrier.
NSFC launches air-taxi service to connect Ha Long and Hanoi (07-8-2008) The Northern Service Flight Company (NSFC) and Royal International Joint Stock Company launched air-taxi service in Ha long city Quang Ninh province this morning.
Phong Nha – Ke Bang and Fansipan Go Back on Voting List (07-8-2008) Phong Nha- Ke Bang Cavern in Quang Binh Province and Fansipan Mountain Peak in Lao cai Province have been added to a list of 77 candidate sites to be voted on as world natural wonders again. Phong Nha – Ke Bang were taken off the voting list about four months ago.
Vietnamese, Swiss universities establish cooperation (06-8-2008) Two agreements on tertiary education cooperation between Vietnamese and Swiss universities were signed in Hanoi on August 5 in the presence of visiting Swiss President Pascal Couchepin and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan.
Thang Long royal citadel proposed for world cultural heritage recognition (04-8-2008) Hanoi has finalized documentations on the Thang Lo