Tourism Year 2007 aims to promote northern mountainous region

Imbued with cultural identities of ethnic minority groups living in six northern mountainous provinces, the Thai Nguyen Tourism Year 2007 is expected to make a breakthrough to develop tourism in Thai Nguyen province and neighbouring areas, said the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism.

Themed "Returning to the capital of mountain and forest wind - the Northernmost Viet Nam Base 2007", the tourism year will comprise activities to honour Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Bac Can, Cao Bang, Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces which were chosen by late President Ho Chi Minh as a revolutionary base during nine years against the French colonialists (1946-1954).

A fair to promote trade and tourism investment will be held in addition to many cultural and sports activities in Thai Nguyen province.

Thai Nguyen has been collaborating with Ha Noi and other northern mountainous provinces to disseminate information on the tourism year, organise personnel training courses and conduct surveys to make new special and attractive tours.

With mountains making up two-thirds of its total acreage, Thai Nguyen is home to primeval forests, caves and wonderful waterfalls such as the Phuong Hoang cave and Mo Ga stream (Vo Nhai district), Chua cave (Dong Hy district) and Hang Cave (Dinh Hoa district). In addition, the province has 780 cultural and historical relic sites, many of which have been recognised as of national significance.

Thai Nguyen is well known for the Nui Coc Lake ecological tourism site and tea brands such as Tan Cuong, Trai Ca and La Bang.

Coming to Thai Nguyen province, tourists will be encouraged to involve in ecological tours to the Thai Nguyen city, the Nui Coc lake, the Dinh Hoa and Dong Hy cave tourism zones.

Nearly 150 foreign tourists have visited the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien since Feb. 17, the first day of the traditional Tet holidays, marking a year-on-year rise of five percent.

They mostly came from France, the UK, Canada and China.

Besides the relics of the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, another favourite destination in the province is Pa Khoang lake, which is 1,000 m higher than the sea level.

The lake, located in Muong Phang commune, Dien Bien district, is about 20 km from Dien Bien Phu city.

Tourists to Pa Khoang lake had a chance to enjoy traditional games, such as "nem con" or throwing shuttle, and meet with young ethnic people.

Other sites, such as U Va hot spring and Pa Thom cave, also attracted many tourists.

The province expects to welcome 160,000 visitors, both domestic and international, and gain a tourism revenues of between 60-70 billion VND in 2007.

Five places worthy of visiting in 2007

Sea city of Nha Trang

Don’t think that Nha Trang is too familiar to visit. From March 2007, Vinpearl resort will be the hot destination for tourists as a series of entertainment items will be put into operation. Instead of going from land to the island with high-speed canoe, it would be interesting to go on the longest sea telpher, 3,320 m in length, which will allow you to admire the beauty of Nha Trang beaches from the above. The world of entertainment of Vinpearl will be very noisy with a lot of modern entertainment games.

When coming to Nha Trang, don’t forget to go diving to admire the beauty of coral reefs at Hon Mun, the very interesting and popular kind of sports in the sea city.

Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long

A British travel firm, which specialises in bringing tourists to

South East Asia, has recognised Bai Tu Long as one of the five most attractive destinations in South East Asia. Bai Tu Long Bay, together with Ha Long Bay, are deserved to be considered as the world’s natural heritages.

When coming to Bai Tu Long, tourists will have the chance to see the 2km sand bank and the deep blue sea water. It would be the right choice for the tourists who love primitive characteristics of the lands. The hotels there are the houses on stilts, built on popular style in rural areas, which are unfamiliar to urban citizens.

Thai Nguyen City

Tourists should go to Thai Nguyen because it is the destination of the national tourism year 2007. In Thai Nguyen, you will be shown typical tea villages. Local residents will show you how to enjoy a cup of tea, and how green tea is processed.

Cat Ba National Park

It is the destination for those who like discoveries. The national park is located on Cat Hai island in Hai Phong City. Travellers, especially foreigners, especially like the Viet Hai village, which is surrounded by the sea, mountains and old forests. The village remains untouched with no motorbike and no burglar. You need not lock your motorbikes.

Legendary Central Highlands

The Central Highlands is always attractive with grandiose waterfalls, suspension bridges and the gong culture. You will have the chance to visit the special houses of local residents, ride elephants and enjoy coffee, the speciality of the central highlands.

More domestic tourists from HCM City travel abroad

VietNamNet Bridge – About 70,000 tourists from HCM City and its adjacent provinces went abroad through the city's Tan Son Nhat Airport for tours, business or visits to their relatives in February 2007, said the city's Department of Tourism.

The figure was 25% higher than that of the same period last year, the department added.

Their destinations included Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Saigontourist last year provided tours of China for 6,000 domestic tourists, the highest figure as compared to other overseas tours. In the first two months of this year, the number of domestic tourists visiting China surged 30% over the same period last year.

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