VIETNAM - Resort projects proliferate in central Vietnam

thanhniennews.com, January 16, 2008

Gia Minh Conic Company broke ground last Saturday on its Conic-Lang Co resort project with an investment of VND400 billion (US$25 million).
Two other high-end resorts also began construction last December and should be in operation by 2010.
Singapore-based Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts has just received the investment certificate from Thua Thien-Hue Province’s People’s Committee for a $1 billion project, the largest ever eco-tourism resort in the province.
The project is designed to contain seven high-end hotels with a total of 2,000 rooms, an 18-hole golf course, and areas for meeting and shopping.

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VIETNAM - Two-decade FDI attraction tops US$83.1 billion

VNECONOMY, 03/01/2008

Viet Nam has drawn around US$83.1 billion worth of 8,590 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects over the past two decades, according to an official from the Foreign Investment Department.
According to Director of the Department Phan Huu Thang, the FDI flow into Viet Nam increased rapidly during the 1991-96 period before declining from 1997 due to negative effects of the regional financial crisis. The sector, however, started to show signs of recovery since 2000.
Average investment capital of each FDI project has also increased gradually with the exception of several years following the regional financial crisis.
From US$7.5 million per project per year during the 1988-90 period, the figure has almost doubled during the 2006-07 period.

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VIETNAM - Advertising Vietnamese culture through tourism

Nhan Dan Online, January 5, 2008

Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh stressed that the tight co-operation between tourism and culture, between businesses and artists were of great importance in popularising the image of Vietnam to international tourists.
The Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism held a get-together last night at the National Puppetry Theatre, Hanoi between leaders of 12 art organisations of the ministry and representatives of 60 travel agencies. This is the first ever official get-together between tourism managers and artists since the merging of three sectors: culture, sport and tourism.
Minister Hoang Tuan Anh emphasised that travel agencies should introduce international tourists to Vietnam’s heritage such as Hue Royal Court Music, Central Highlands gongs, classical opera and particular, water puppetry so as to develop both Vietnamese culture and tourism.

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VIETNAM - Local MICE tour market bursting at the seams

Vietnam net bridge, 24-12-2007

According to Saigontourist Travel Service Co., 2007 has been a boom year for the MICE market. Even in the low season, October and November, Saigontourist won several big MICE-tour contracts. In December alone, the company conducted 40 tours and served 5,655 visitors among which there was a group of 2,700.

Earlier, Saigontourist rocked the MICE market when, for the first time, it clean executed a Southeast Asian tour on a 5-star cruise ship for 800 professors and doctors of otolaryngology (branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, function, and diseases of the ear, nose, and throat). Next, a multinational group with 650 Europeans, Americans and Australians was hosted at the Caravelle and Sheraton Hotels. And soon there is to be a tour for Japanese athletes coming Vietnam for a marathon in Da Lat.

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VIETNAM - Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels inks second deal in China Beach, for 2007

Jones Lang LaSalle , 14 December 2007

As exclusive advisor to Magnum Asia Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels (the “Firm”) is pleased to announce the completion of the acquisition of a 39-hectare prime beachfront site in Danang to US-based Kor Realty Group LLC (“Kor”). This deal marks the Firm’s second transaction this year on world-famous China Beach, Vietnam’s premier resort destination and one of the region’s most promising tourism markets.
Mr Craig Collins, Managing Director Investment Sales Asia, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, together with Ms Heng Sue Lin, Vice President, negotiated the transaction on behalf of Magnum Asia Limited.
Lining over 750 metres of pristine coastline, the spectacular beachfront site is slated for the development of Viceroy China Beach, a boutique luxury hotel. Each of the Viceroy properties of the Kor Hotel Group are renowned for their legendary locations, distinct style, and unique design.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Survey launched to set up sea tourist route

VietNamNet Bridge, 11/12/2007

A delegation left Rach Gia port in southern Kien Giang Province on December 10, starting a trip to survey a sea tourist route linking Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.The delegation, including 162 representatives from the three countries’ travel administrations and agencies, will call at tourist sites in Kep, KoKong and Shihanoukville of Cambodia and Thailand’s Trat and Chanthaburi provinces and Pattaya resort city, to assess local tourism potential and then propose orientations to tap the advantages.At every destination, the delegation will work with local authorities on tourism development and host exchanges between visiting and local enterprises.

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VIETNAM - Doing business successfully in Vietnam

Bangkokpost.com, December 08, 2007

As Thai businessmen continue to look at Vietnam as a destination to invest, experts warn that doing business in the country that is just opening up its doors can be a double-edged sword.
Doing it right means you have hit a jackpot but landing on the wrong footing can send shivers through your business. As one who has been involved with Vietnam for a long time, I am writing this as a piece of advice for all entrepreneurs who are looking at Vietnam as their investment destination.
Doing business in Vietnam can be easy or difficult, depending on the nature of your product, your business skills, and your awareness of its culture, working and consumption habits and laws.

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VIETNAM - welcomes year's 4 millionth foreign tourist

(eTN) 7-12-2007

Vietnam on Thursday greeted its four-millionth visitor of the year, celebrating a milestone for the tourism sector as it is seeking to position itself as a leading Southeast Asian travel destination.
US citizen Michael Davis Magidson was surprised to be greeted with flowers by women wearing traditional au dai dresses and conical hats as he stepped off a Vietnam Airlines flight at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport.
"We look forward to seeing your beautiful country," said Magidson at a ceremony to mark his arrival on flight VN 830 from Bangkok, which meant the sector had achieved its annual target several weeks ahead of time.

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VIETNAM - Phan Thiet beckons with beach allure

TTGasia.com, Nov 30 - Dec 6, 2007

MOST travel agents do not know of Mui Ne or Phan Thiet, but they should as this area is being discovered by international tourists, mostly Europeans and Russians.But more travellers from Asia, Australia and the US are being drawn to Mui Ne’s long stretches of deserted beaches, impressive landscape and delicious food. Mui Ne is about 15 minutes by car from Phan Thiet, the capital city of Binh Thuan province in central Vietnam. Access is by road or train as there is no commercial airport close by. The drive north from Ho Chi Minh City on Highway One should take about four hours.

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VIETNAM - lines up sea tourism hub

Asia Property Report - December 04 2007

The central province of Binh Thuan has been asked to combine economic restructuring with human resource development and job placement to tap into sea and tourism-based industries.Working with Binh Thuan leaders on December 3, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong said the province, which boasts 52,000sq.km of sea and 92km of coast, should also make a determined effort to protect the environment, preserve cultural identity and manage social affairs efficiently and effectively.

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SINGAPORE - Vietnamese tourists keen on Singapore

eTN, Dec 3 2007

The city-state is fast becoming the destination of choice for Vietnamese tourists drawn by its reputation as a safe, cosmopolitan city, published data said on Sunday.
Vietnam charted the highest visitor-arrival growth in September with 16,000 visitors, a 24.3 per cent hike over the corresponding period a year earlier.
The absolute number is small given the overall figure of 766,000 visitors for that month, according to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) data in The Sunday Times.
Most were from Indonesia, China, Australia, India, and Japan.
"Vietnamese visitors are becoming more travel-savvy," Chang Chee Pey, the STB's regional director for the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) was quoted as saying.

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VIETNAM - to develop sea tourism infrastructure

Vietnamnetbridge, 13/11/2007

An official from the Travel Department of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said the conference was initiated given an increase in cruise ship arrivals and would be attended by leading tourism officials, experts and travel companies.
Currently, the tourism authority does not have a strategy in place for developing sea tourism interns of promoting the sector and building the necessary infrastructure.
Since 2002, Vietnam has received more than 300,000 cruise ship visitors. The SARS outbreak in 2003 caused many potential tourists to travel elsewhere, but with the number of visitors growing in recent times, the tourism authority expects visitor arrivals by sea to recover soon.

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THAILAND - Regional resort competition rising

Bangkokpost, November 12, 2007

While there is no denying that Phuket is at the top of the hierarchy when it comes to the region-wide resort property market, Thailand should watch the economic benefits it is obtaining from foreign investment because neighbouring countries are offering better terms.

In any case, Phuket remains the most successful regional resort market, followed in succession by Samui where CBRE has just opened an office, Pattaya and Hua Hin. Also emerging rapidly are Danang in central Vietnam and Penang and Langkawi in Malaysia. While Thailand's tourism reputation and infrastructure are quite enviable, Mr Simister noted that rival destinations are not only getting the tenure issue right, but some have improved their infrastructure as well. The facilities in Langkawi are excellent, he notes.

Vietnam is also becoming very interesting to property investors, even though Bali in many ways is seen as Phuket's most obvious competitor. However, Mr Simister believes that while the Indonesian resort island has seen a resurgence, it is now viewed as an area of minority interest.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Flow of tourists from Indochina seen surging

Bangkokpost, 15th October 2007

Private tourism operators are being urged to prepare for an influx of foreign tourists as the East-West Economic Corridor linking Burma, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam approaches completion.
According to Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, deputy secretary general to National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), the East-West Economic Corridor linking Thailand, Laos and Vietnam has been finished, with the construction of 18 kilometres in Burma nearly completed.
The economic corridor is created based on a road of 1,450 km with the west end at port city of Mawlamyine (Burma), crossing Kayin Division, the Thai provinces of Tak, Sukhothai, Kalasin, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, Yasothon, Mukdahan and the Laotian provinces of Savannakhet, Vietnamese provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue Province and Da Nang city as the east end.

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VIETNAM - “Hoi An Eco Tour” of young fisherman

VietNamNet Bridge, 30/09/2007

It is an interesting tour attracting foreign tourists in Hoi An ancient town, whose author is a young man, 29, originating from a fisherman. He ever worked as a receptionist for the Victoria Hotel in Hoi An.Khoa asked his parents to borrow VND 100 million to buy boats to organise his own tours. “Hoi An Eco Tour” was given birth from that time. Khoa’s father rows the boat and cooks dishes; and Khoa works as a tourist guide.
“What I would like to do is to combine making tourism with protecting the environment, promoting unique values of the sea,” Khoa said.

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VIETNAM - Tourism human resources in shortage

Nhandan.com.vn, September 28, 2007

The high growth of the tourism industry has recently brought about the great demand for human resources. Human resources are directly influencing service quality and the professionalism of the tourism sector.
According to statistics of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the total number of workers in the tourism sector is around 850,000 at present, including 250,000 workers who directly serve tourists. However, only around 50% of them are trained.
The tourism sector needs an additional around 35,000 trained workers each year but training centres can provide only about one-third of the number.
Besides weakness in terms of professional knowledge and skills, the largest disadvantage of Vietnamese tourism workers is foreign languages.

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VIETNAM - AirAsia to launch New Budget Airline

Asiatraveltips.com, 3 September 2007

AirAsia has signed a Letter of Intent with the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (VINASHIN), one of the largest state owned corporations in Vietnam with a legal capital of the Joint-Venture Company estimated at US$30 million.
The venture will see both parties establishing a low-cost airline in Vietnam based on AirAsia’s successful business model. The intended business for the venture will include securing the license to operate a new Vietnamese airline which will serve; domestic, regional and international routes.

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VIETNAM - Survey reports record growth in domestic hotel industry

VietNamNet Bridge, 20/08/2007

Record growth in visitor arrivals, hotel occupancy and room rates and an increase in interest from major hotel groups all occurred in 2006, according to a new survey conducted by financial and accounting firm Grant Thornton Vietnam. Five-star hotels in Hanoi and HCM City recorded significant increases in average room rates and occupancy rates last year, the survey said. Northern Vietnam remained the market leader in terms of occupancy with over 70% in 2006, according to Grant Thornton’s annual Vietnam Hotel Survey 2007. Grant Thornton surveyed 29 hotels with 3,946 rooms in different cities in three main regions of the country during 2005 and 2006.

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VIETNAM - sea being ‘cut into small bits’

VietNamNet Bridge, 28/06/2007

Vietnam’s sea is now being cut into small bits, commented Pham Tu, Vice Head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), at a recent workshop titled “Nature – tourism resources” held on June 15 in the coastal city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province.
The number of foreign visitors coming to Vietnam increased from 1.5 million to 3.6 million from 2002 to 2006. During this time, sea tourism accounted for 70% of the total revenues of the tourism sector. As the number of tourists rises, the number of coastal tourism projects is also on the rise.
With nearly 1 million sq.km of sea, Vietnam’s sea tourism potential is huge. However, Vietnam’s sea is being polluted. Ha Long Bay, Lang Co Lagoon and Nha Trang Beach are the most typical examples.

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VIETNAM - Qatar team to visit Vietnam

GulfTimes.com, 1 July, 2007

THE Qatari Investment Agency will send a delegation to Vietnam this month to inquire into projects on urban development and the development of tourist sites and luxury resorts, Vietnamese press reports said yesterday. Vietnam's Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc has just concluded his trip to Qatar and Kuwait that ran from June 22- 27 and was aimed at securing investment from the oil rich states. Phuc visited Qatar and Kuwait at the invitation of the Kuwaiti finance minister and the Qatari minister of finance and economy and was charged with carrying out agreements signed by the Vietnamese prime minister and the Kuwaiti prime minister and the Qatari deputy prime minister during their recent Vietnam visits.

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