www.365TravelVietnam.com

Highlights: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Danang – Hoian – Hue – Saigon – Cuchi – Mytho – Siem Reap
Duration: 13 days/ 12 nights
Trip star: Hanoi
Trip end: Siem Reap
Tour type: Historical & Cultural Tours

Vietnam’s alluring charms are proving a big magnet for foreign travelers.

Australia’s Expedia Australia Press Centre, a comprehensive source of travel-related news and reports, said in its Expedia HiFX Foreign Exchange Index released last week that Asia was the best value-for-money region in the world. Meanwhile, Vietnam is “the best-value destination for Aussie travelers, with the Australian dollar appreciating by over 23 per cent against the Vietnamese dong in the past 12 months.”

Laos and Cambodia introduced a series of investment projects to Vietnamese enterprises at a recent conference hosted by Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Economic Development and Cooperation Association (VILACAED) in Hanoi.

Le Van Tuy, Head of Economic Development and Cooperation Committee with Cambodia said among major projects calling for investment in Cambodia, of the most noteworthy are the manufacturing of electric cables, the building of an Olympic stadium worth 156 million USD, a special economic zone and a 500-hectare land terminal in the area between Cambodia’s Ratanakiri provinces and Gia Lai of Vietnam.

Vietnam ranks second in Southeast Asia in terms of the tourism growth rate, according to a recent report by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

Accordingly, nations in this region are experiencing a very dynamic growth rate, with Myanmar (27 per cent) in the first position, followed by Vietnam (22 per cent). The remainders are: Cambodia (18 per cent), the Philippines (17 per cent), Singapore (16 per cent), Thailand (12 per cent), and Indonesia (11 per cent).

Ensuring water resources security - an urgent issue that requires coordinated efforts of all countries.

The first meeting of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) study group on water resources security opened in Hanoi on March 22, attracting 30 international delegates from CSCAP members, including Cambodia, Thailand, Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, India, Russia, the US and Australia.

A programme was launched in Hanoi to present the “ASEAN outstanding businesses, ASEAN famous trademarks” award, and gold cup for outstanding and talented businesspeople of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

The programme was co-sponsored by the Van Hien Viet Nam (Vietnam Civilisation Magazine), the Vietnam-Laos and Cambodia Economic Cooperation Development Association and other organisations.

A Mui Ne surfing school owner plans to ride hundreds of kilometers down the Mekong River on a stand-up paddle board to raise awareness about plastic bag pollution in Asia’s waterways and oceans.

Australian surfer and kitesurfer, Rob Kidnie, said he was planning to do the epic paddle anyway, but decided - why not use it to help make Vietnam’s waterways and beaches cleaner for watersports.

Indonesia, in the status of ASEAN chair, is arranging meetings for defense ministers and border chiefs of Cambodia and Thailand, according to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

PM Hun Sen revealed the information during a visit to some 500 disabled soldiers and their families in Chhouk district of Kampot province on Mar. 5.

Da Bia International Mountain Marathon is scheduled to be held at Da Bia mountain in Dong Hoa District, in the central province of Phu Yen on February 27, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced.

The event is expected to attract teams from 15 cities and provinces nationwide and four teams from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.

Revenue from Angkor Wat ticket sales rose 45 percent last month, compared with January 2009, as visitor numbers were boosted from Chinese charter flights.

According to the Apsara Authority, which manages the temple, revenue reached US$4.5 million last month compared with $3.1 million the year previous.

Despite sector concerns that ongoing border tensions would affect tourism, Director General of the Apsara Authority Bun Narith said that good security and the economic recovery had led to the increase.