Sunday, January 8, 2012

Emirates Airlines Opens New Routes From Dubai to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)


Emirates will launch the first flights to Vietnam later this year. From 4 June 2012, the Dubai-based airline will launch direct daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), using a two-class Airbus A330-200. This will be changed to a two-class Boeing 777-300ER from 28 October 2012.
Flights will depart at Dubai International Airport at 09.25 am each day and arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) at 19.20 pm. The return flight will leave HCMC at 20.50 pm, then arriving back into Dubai at 00.45 am the following day.

Source: traveldailyasia.com

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest City in Vietnam. In Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can visit several tourist attractions as the major attraction sites of Saigon include Re-Unification Palace, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the War Remains Museum. Then from there travelers can easy visit some famous destination as Cu Chi Tunnels, Tay Ninh Holy See Temple, Mekong Delta and Cat Tien National Park about 200 km.

Related programs to Ho Chi Minh City:
Saigon City Tour by Jeep
Holiday in Saigon - Experience Old Saigon On Vespa

Related programs to Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta:
Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels by Jeep
Full Day Cu Chi Tunnels & Tay Ninh Holy See Temple
Biking to explore My Tho (Mekong Delta)
2 Days 1 Night Explore Rural Mekong Delta on Motorcycles
3 Days Deep into Mekong Delta

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Russian TV Channel Introduces Vietnam

On January 2nd 2012, the Russian TV channel “Russia – 2” broadcast a one hour programme (from 1pm-2pm) to introduce Vietnam’s customs and daily life of the Vietnamese people and the most popular sites in the country.

The “Top Gear” programme described a trans-Vietnam motorbike tour by three foreigners who departed from Ho Chi Minh City and went through the Central Highlands city of Da Lat and then the central cities of Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue and Vinh. They arrived in the capital city of Hanoi before making their final leg to the northeastern city of Ha Long.

Through their trip, the foreigners had a chance to enjoy the most special dishes of the Vietnamese cuisine, study the customs and daily life of Vietnamese people and see the most popular sites in the country which have been loved by the domestic and foreign tourists.

The tour’s members saw with their own eyes the hospitality, hardworking, cleverness and creativeness of the local people.

The “Top Gear” programme about Vietnam was a practical activity to advertise Vietnam’s images and Vietnamese people to the world.

Source: en.baomoi.com

Vietnam Jeep Tours offers motorcycling and biking programs from North to South of Vietnam. If you are excited in those tours please visit www.vietnamjeeptours.com or contact directly at adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com / hotline: +84 909 602 370 for more information and advice.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Travel Attraction: Phu Quoc Island – Pearl Island


Surrounded by more than 40 km of white beaches decorated with coconut palms, Phu Quoc Island – Vietnam’s largest island is situated in the Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodian border. It is closer to Cambodia than the closest mainland town of Ha Tien in Vietnam in the Kien Giang Province, which is 46 km away. Its western coastline is sparsely populated while the interior is largely covered with jungle and mainly deserted.

Phu Quoc Island is an almost unknown destination in Vietnam Tourism. International tourists and Vietnamese alike just recently discovered Phu Quoc Island.

It is really a peaceful tropical paradise with turquoise waters, untouched natural environment, relaxed atmosphere, friendly locals... It is not hard to see why many travelers in Vietnam travel are boasting of the splendid natural beauty and untouched remote beaches of this spectacular tropical island.

Although Phu Quoc Island is a new holiday destination, in the first quarter of 2007, about 50,000 visitors came to the island of which 50 per cent were foreign tourists. According to new targets released by the Government, Phu Quoc Island is aiming to attract 2 – 3 million visitors annually by 2020, with a larger portion of foreign tourists.

Phu Quoc Island is blessed with favorable natural environment like the virgin forest of over 37,000 hectares, white sandy beaches, coral gardens offshore, varieties of wildlife species, so it is not hard to see why the island has great tourist potential.

Tourists will start to explore the island in Duong Dong, the biggest town on the island (west of Phu Quoc), where most of hotels and resorts are located. Going south, travelers can drive along Bai Truong (Long Beach) – a spectacular beach with 20 km long. Visitors will see two pearl farms on the right; the second is worth a visit. At the end of the road, travelers should not miss to turn left and follow the signs; you will reach the fisherman village An Thoi and the An Thoi pier, the island’s southern tip. From here the An Thoi Islands, a very nice snorkeling and diving area consisting of 15 small islands and islets surrounded by coral reefs in crystal clear water, can be visited by boat.

Continue travel to north – east, tourists will see a sign to Bai Sao Beach (the sign is somewhat hidden, around 1 km away from the main road). Bai Sao Beach, with its marvelous white sand and green-turquoise water, is one of the most beautiful, quite untouched beaches on Phu Quoc Island. There are a number of simple, on-the-sand restaurants with tasty, fresh seafood in this area.

Before going back to Duong Dong, there are some recommendable springs and falls such as Tranh Stream and Da Ban Stream. Tranh Stream (about 10 km north of Bai Sao Beach) is a stream connecting tiny ponds at different levels through small waterfalls. Da Ban Stream (a stony surface stream, north-east of Duong Dong) is an easily accessible white – water creek, gracefully flowing down huge granite boulders and some natural pools are waiting for a refreshing swim.

A stay on Phu Quoc Island would not be complete without visiting one of the factories producing fish sauce, one of the most popular ingredients of the Vietnamese cooking as well as one of the pearl farms with panels describing the formation of pearls and shops selling pearl jewelry.

This island has a unique species of dogs, the Phu Quoc Ridgeback, which has a ridge of hair that runs along its back in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. Much of this island’s nature is still protected. Around 70% of the island, an area of 31,422 hectares became a national park in 2001. The rainy season on Phu Quoc is from July to November and the peak season for tourism is midwinter, when the sky is blue and the sea is calm.

If you are excited to travel to Phu Quoc Island please visit www.vietnamjeeptours.com or contact direct adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com / hotline: +84 909 602 370.

For more information about accommodation in Phu Quoc, click here.

Related programs to Phu Quoc:
Exploring Phu Quoc Island
Fishing Trip at Thailand Gulf (Phu Quoc Island)
Full day - Snorkeling Boat Trip at An Thoi Archipelago
Full Day Trekking Phu Quoc National Park

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Vietnam’s Top Ten Cultural, Sports and Tourism Events in 2011


The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 27th 2011 has announced the list of top ten cultural, sports and tourism events in 2011.

Five cultural events include UNESCO’s recognition such as:
1. The Ho Dynasty Citadel as a world cultural heritage site.
2. Hat Xoan (Xoan Singing) as intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection.
3. A show of traditional costumes of all Vietnamese ethnic groups.
4. The 100th founding anniversary of the Hanoi Opera House.
5. The 1st International Tea Festival in Northern Thai Nguyen Province.

Three sports events are Vietnam’s third position assumption at the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia, with a total of 288 medals (96 gold, 92 silver and 100 bronze), gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh’s winning a bronze medal at the International Aerobics Championship in Japan, and swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc’s winning two gold medals for the 100m – butterfly event at the 26th SEA Games, both eligible for the 2012 London Olympic.

Besides, two tourism events include Halong Bay’s being listed among the world’s new seven natural wonders, and Vietnam’s six millionth international arrivals.

Source: English.vietnamnet.vn

Vietnam Jeep Tours (VJT) – organizer of adventure tours in Vietnam, featuring various types of activities including Jeep, motor biking, cycling, trekking, and culture exploration in Vietnam.

VJT also was the first company introduced used Jeep to international travelers, transforming the image of vehicles left from the war to a symbol of fun, friendly and active travel experience. Details of company and travel offers please visit www.vietnamjeeptours.com

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Aerosvit Airlines Opens New Route from Kiev (Ukraine) to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)


Ukraine’s Aerosvit Airlines has launched direct flights between Kiev and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), operating twice a week using wide-body Boeing 767 aircraft and starting Dec 23rd 2011, the carrier announced Thursday.

Flights will depart the Ukrainian capital on Wednesdays and Saturdays, returning from Ho Chi Minh City on Mondays and Fridays. It takes about 10 hours to fly.

Representatives of the airline held a press conference in HCMC on Thursday for the new service, which is said to “serve primarily tourist, ethnic and business traffic flows to Vietnam.”

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest City in Vietnam. In Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can visit several tourist attractions as the major attraction sites of Saigon include Re-Unification Palace, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the War Remains Museum. Then from there travelers can easy visit some famous destination as Cu Chi Tunnels, Tay Ninh Holy See Temple, Mekong Delta and Cat Tien National Park about 200 km.

Related programs to Ho Chi Minh City:
Saigon City Tour by Jeep
Holiday in Saigon - Experience Old Saigon On Vespa

Related programs to Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta:
Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels by Jeep
Full Day Cu Chi Tunnels & Tay Ninh Holy See Temple
Biking to explore My Tho (Mekong Delta)
2 Days 1 Night Explore Rural Mekong Delta on Motorcycles
3 Days Deep into Mekong Delta

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Adventure Activities: Biking and Motorcycling Tours in Vietnam


Nowadays, more and more tourists choose Vietnam as their destination. There are many ways to discover this beautiful S-shape country via motorbike tours, trekking tours, biking tours, etc. and the easy way to discover Vietnam is biking deep into the countryside and villages of Vietnam. The cycling tour programs vary with levels of difficulty.

The most interesting areas for biking tours to explore Vietnam are highly recommended as below:

Far North West of Vietnam – undoubtedly the great place to cycling or motorcycling in the country. The landscape is stunning, amazing karstic rock formations, stilted houses with thatched roofs, mountains nestled between limestone outcrops and the highest concentration of hill – tribe people in the country.

This expedition to Sapa District – located in Lao Cai province, 350 km from Hanoi, close to the border with China. Most of visitors travel to Sapa, especially for the first time are anxious of having a memorable vacation, an opportunity to explore this remote part of the country with its hidden values, admiring beauty of the rich nature, meeting local ethnic minority peoples with their interesting culture,… all should be realized in a proper way as what they wished.

Next, Ha Giang is a province in northeastern Vietnam. It is located in the far north of the country, and contains Vietnam’s northernmost point. When visit Ha Giang, travelers should not miss to visit Hoang Su Phi, where tourist will be charmed by the pristine of wild mountains and authentic culture of Ethnic Minority people. Come to Hoang Su Phi travelers will ride through the gorgeous terraced fields, to some colorful villages, then climb up to green tea – plant hills, cross to some old bamboo forest.

The nearest mountainous village from Hanoi is Mai Chau. The first sighting of Mai Chau, where the gorgeous terraced fields and thatched stilt houses is particularly striking during winter and autumn days when they are shrouded in fog and clouds. Mai Chau is a little village surrounded by green mountains and dotted with lakes, paddy fields, rivers and houses on stilts of the local Thai people. Biking from Ha Noi to other remote areas, most travelers would stop at the entrance to Mai Chau, which offers the breathtaking panoramic view of mountains, valleys, sugarcane farms, rice paddies, tea plantations and peaceful villages.

Next, Central of Vietnam – Pedaling on quiet streets, along the river, crossing the hundred year old bridges, on the rice field, in contact with soft, calm and friendly locals is the real explore Hue Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, Royal Tomb of King. Travelers will face the most highlight challenge of cycling from Hue to Hoi An via Danang or vice versa is Hai Van (Ocean Cloud) Pass (bike from Hue – Danang – Hoi An) which is renowned for its scenic beauty. Presenter Jeremy Clarkson, host of the BBC Top Gear featured the pass during the show's 2008, Vietnam Special calling the road "a deserted ribbon of perfection – one of the best coast roads in the world, but once you have overcome the challenges; you will be rewarded with a tranquil and tantalizing setting of paddy fields and eucalyptus forests. Then arrive Hoi An Ancient Town, we will leave our bike or motorbike to walk deep into the heart of Hoi An in narrow streets to observe and photo-hunt the tiled – roof houses constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs. The original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact.

Continue ride through the Central Highlands: Kon Tum – Buon Ma Thuoc – Lak Lake – Dalat. Kon Tum – Buon Ma Thuoc and Lak Lake are home to ethnic minority people and with the old traditions is well kept. While winding across the plantations of rubber, pepper, tea and coffee, fields and flowers farms around Central Highland towns and villages, riders will find local unique communal houses – they made from wood, bamboo, cane, or rattan.

Traveling into Vietnam Central Highland– the homeland of Vietnamese coffee and tea, the visitors should not miss a cozy morning of tasting cups of finest coffee or tea then a memorable night of home-staying in Ethnic Stilt house and sharing the traditional dance with a local ethnic group by the fire.

Then arrive to Dalat, where is considered as the highland city of thousand flowers. Da Lat is characterized by pine forests, lakes, waterfalls, beautiful flower fields and French architecture. Traveling in Da Lat visitors can not only adore the fresh nature beauty and the temperate climate but also the colorful legends of ethnic people. For those that seek more adventures, riders may pedal to trail head of forests belonged to Lang Biang Mountain then on foot climb up to reach this mountain summit and the winners will get a reward of the amazing panoramic of Lang Biang Mountain for their victory. Another interesting choice for travelers is enjoying the water abseiling and canyoning at the great Datanla Waterfall.

After that, our riding trip will bring you through the charming hide-away beaches of Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, and Mui Ne which connected the southern coastal lines of Vietnam. Nha Trang is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travelers on the Southeast Asia circuit. It is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists. Beside wonderful beach, tourists will have chance to enjoy many activities when coming to Nha Trang as wind–surfing and rafting.

Ride ahead southward, travelers will arrive at Phan Thiet City – located in Binh Thuan Province. Phan Thiet - Mui Ne has long been considered as the "Hawaii "of Vietnam. It boasts shady roads under coconut trees, a beautiful beach and cliffs battered by the waves of the sea. The typical scenery of Mui Ne lies in the moving lines of golden sand caused by the wind and when they are seen from afar they look like moving waves. The scenery looks more fascinating at dawn, when young Cham girls in green dresses go to work. That's why no photographer fails to visit this area.

Mui Ne is an ideal place for rest and relaxation. Visitors can certainly enjoy swimming in the blue water of the sea, climbing the sand dunes or relaxing by a swimming pool. In fact this oasis enters – people of all ages, and furthermore, provides an endless inspiration to the artists' creation.

Vung Tau Beach City – Is also famous for the huge statue of Jesus Christ lies on the top of Tao Phung Mountain. On the top of this mountain, scenery is so beautiful. You can take photograph here and enjoys the fresh air while having a look at the statue. Everyone come here cannot resist the curious feeling to go inside the statue and climb up the hand of it, where you can see the whole beach of Vung Tau. Then leave those beaches to Ho Chi Minh City, on the way you will have chance to experience the busy traffic of Vietnam via Cat Lai Ferry where hundreds of motorbikes, cars, bicycles crossing the river on the ferry at one time. You will also witness one of the busiest ports of Vietnam at this point.

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City – the largest city in Vietnam, where is bustling with activities from morning to night. Then cycling or motorcycling through the countryside and sleepy villages of the Mekong Delta, this journey will takes you deep into the agricultural of the country, visit the countryside, fruitful orchard gardens, and discover daily lives of local on the waterfront when we stay overnight at their places and enjoy the hospitality with the families. Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and many of the villages are often accessible by rivers and canals rather than by road. The region is home to “Don ca tai tu” – a form of Vietnamese folk opera. Preparing the dinner together and sharing the life experience with people whose lives are as simple as in the old time will give us so many thoughts about lives, people and culture which in the busy daily life we might have missed.

Travel through the length of Vietnam from Northern to Southern via the beaches, small town and central coast. Travelers will discover the real daily life of Vietnamese in the countryside. The Mountain bikers will love these biking trips for the variety of trails – from good single track paths, undulating rough jeep trails to some climbs that are rewarded with ultimate descents.

There is no neither ideal nor bad time to visit Vietnam as there are distinct regional weather variations between the Northern, Central and Southern regions.

Vietnam Jeep Tours offers many bike and motorbike tours from North to South of Vietnam. For more information about those tours, click here or contact via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com / hotline: +84 909 602 370.

Related biking programs in Vietnam:
Biking to explore My Tho (Mekong Delta)
Full Day - Biking Off-road to South of Dalat
2 Days Discover Ancient Phuoc Tich Village on Bike
Biking Through The Ancient Paths - Hue & Hoi An
Biking Hidden Paths of Mai Chau & Ninh Binh
9 Days Bike North Vietnam
19 Days on Bike from Saigon to Hanoi

Related motorcycling programs in Vietnam:
Full Day - Explore Mekong Delta by Motorbikes
3 Days Taste of Ho Chi Minh Trail
2 Days 1 Night Explore Rural Mekong Delta on Motorcycles
5 Days Southern Coastal Lines on Motorbikes
5 Days Motorcycling West to East Northern
11 Days Motorcycling the Ho Chi Minh Trail - Half Challenge
14 Days Motorcycling Adventure in Northern Vietnam

Monday, December 19, 2011

Vietnam Airline Opens New Route from Taiwan to Can Tho in Vietnam

The Director of the Vietnam Airlines office in Can Tho City said on Dec 15th 2011, that the national flag carrier will operate 11 direct flights from Taiwan – China to Can Tho – Vietnam and vice versa during the 2012 Lunar New Year.

There will be six flights from Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung to Can Tho and five flights from Can Tho to these destinations, with the first flight from Taipei to Can Tho on January 17, 2012.

Each flight is capable of carrying 100-130 passengers on Airbus 321 aircraft.

Can Tho City is the biggest city in Mekong Delta of Vietnam and it is about 169 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Can Tho is connected to the rest of the country by National Road 1A and Can Tho Airport. The Can Tho Bridge which is now completed and is the longest cable-stayed bridge in South East Asia.

Can Tho City is famous for its floating markets, Cai Rang and Phung Hiep, where people sell and buy things on the river, its bird gardens (Bằng Lăng), and Ninh Kieu port.

For more information about accommodation in Can Tho City, click here.

Related program to Can Tho City:
3 Days Deep into Mekong Delta
3 Days Discover Hidden Beauty of Mekong on Motorbike
5 Days Deep into Mekong Delta by Motorbike
6 Days Discover Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc Island