Vietnam Airlines recognized as National Brand

The national flag carrier- Vietnam Airlines has just been honored by the National Brand Council as Vietnam National Brand in 2018. 

Vietnam Airlines receives the 2018 National Brand

This is the second times Vietnam Airlines has achieved the title of the unique brand in the field of air transport.

According to Mr. Duong Tri Thanh, General Director of Vietnam Airlines, the core values of the National Brand Program included "Quality - Innovation, Creativity - Pioneering capacity"; accordingly, Vietnam Airlines' services have met all of these criteria.

In the last three years in a row, Vietnam Airlines maintained its four-star international service quality and it is expected to serve five-star quality from 2020. Vietnam Airlines is also a pioneer in the application of advanced technologies such as exploiting a combination of modern aircraft cockpit simulators, wireless entertainment system and upcoming Wifi on the plane to bring the best experience for its customers.

In the event for honoring 97 enterprises achieving national brands in 2018, representatives of businesses had a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Government Office.

Earlier, Vietnam Airlines was valued at US$ 310 million by Brand Finance, an international independent branded valuation and strategy consultancy, belonging to the Top 10 Vietnamese brands in 2017 and evaluated by the global market research company Nielsen under "Top 20 airlines having the leading Asian brand strength index”.

BY BICH QUYEN – Translated by Huyen Huong

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- A visit to Sài Gòn’s Tân Định Church

- Three days to discover Kien Giang beaches and islands

- Tourism helps southern islanders escape poverty

A visit to Sài Gòn’s Tân Định Church

Tân Định Church is located in HCM City’s District 3.

HCM CITY — Located at 289 Hai Bà Trưng Street in HCM City’s District 3, Tân Định Church has been a destination for Catholics as well as tourists who come to admire the imposing French-influenced architecture and find peace for their soul. 

Built by the French between 1870 and 1876, the church was built in a Gothic architectural style featuring Roman-style designs. 

The church, better known as the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was painted with a vibrant pink colour on both the exterior and interior, drawing huge attention from passersby and those from abroad.

The church is just a short walk from Tân Định Market, which has existed for nearly 100 years and houses a food court and thousands of stalls selling groceries, clothing, footwear, fruits and textiles. — VNS

Lê Hùng Vọng

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- Three days to discover Kien Giang beaches and islands

- Tourism helps southern islanders escape poverty

- Chinese tour scams cause profit dilemma in Vietnam

Three days to discover Kien Giang beaches and islands

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang attracts large numbers of visitors in summer, thanks to a series of beautiful islands, particularly the most famous one, the Phu Quoc.

Most islands are very pristine, clean and thinly populated. They are ideal places for adventurous visitors.

It takes around 30 minutes to travel from Ba Hon station to Ba Hon Dam Island by motorboat.

You can experience fishermen’s life on the island with activities like catching fish and hunting for snails and craps.

Ba Hon Dam is small and it takes only 15 minutes to walk around the island.

It is a marvelous place to contemplate while watching sunrise and sunset on the island.

Hai Tac is also a pristine island and an ideal destination for trackers. It has a diverse flora and fauna system.

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- Tourism helps southern islanders escape poverty

- Chinese tour scams cause profit dilemma in Vietnam
- Phu Quoc adds another night market

Tourism helps southern islanders escape poverty

Cham Island Biosphere Reserve in Hoi An City, Quang Nam province has become more and more attractive to visitors. Its performance is helping local residents improve their livelihood.

Since Cham island was recognised as UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2009, many local residents living in its core zone or Tan Hiep commune have switched from fishing to tourism, earning much more for their living.

Residents living on the island are urged to offer homestay service because development of hotels and resorts at the biosphere reserve is not encouraged.

As the island welcomes some 400,000 tourists per year, 60 among 600 local households now offer the service.

Thanks to the local government assistance on personnel training and financial resources, fishermen on Cham island now can provide homestay service in a more professional manner.

Their hard works have paid off with an average income of 32 million dong per person per year, making Tan Hiep island commune be the one with the highest per capita income among rural communes in Quang Nam province.

Tourism development in line with environment protection not only helps preserve the biodiversity in the locality but also promotes the distinctive tourism values of Cham islands to both domestic and foreign visitors.

VNA

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- Chinese tour scams cause profit dilemma in Vietnam
- Phu Quoc adds another night market
- Busy Tet holiday travel continues at Noi Bai Airport

Chinese tour scams cause profit dilemma in Vietnam

Despite possible revenue, cash may not be ending up in Vietnam's state coffers.

Vietnam needs to manage Chinese-sponsored "$0 tours" by controlling quality, tightening foreign exchange rates and closing shops that only serve foreigners to protect visitors and guarantee incomes, a Vietnamese government tourism official said.

Branded as “$0 tours”, the service is offered by Chinese travel firms that bring tourists to Vietnam for free before "selling" them to their counterparts. After arriving, Chinese tourists are often forced to buy food, accommodation and gifts at inflated prices.

However, the “$0 tours” have actually been creating jobs for locals and become a source of income in Vietnam, said Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

During the low season, the service still sends tourists and keeps business stable for airlines and tour operators, he told reporters on Wednesday.

The northern province of Quang Ninh earns VND330 billion ($14.6 million) every year from just visa fees and selling tickets to the world-renowned Ha Long Bay to Chinese tourists who arrive by land, Tuan said.

Overall, revenue from Chinese visitors arriving by land generates up to VND1 trillion for Quang Ninh, and around 3,500 local residents are employed in the tourism sector, he added.

However, a surge of Chinese tourists to particular areas has led to public disorder, while stores backed by Chinese companies are costing Vietnam valuable tax revenue, Tuan said. 

Violations also include illegal Chinese tour guides, Chinese visitors being ripped off and tours being canceled, he said.

Authorities in Vietnam should look at the quality of these budget tours, and tax and market inspectors should work closely together to ensure foreign exchange rates are fair. Shops open only to Chinese tourists should also be closed, Tuan said.

Low-cost tours are also available for Chinese tourists wishing to visit the central city of Da Nang and the resort town of Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa.

Nearly 1 million Chinese visitors arrived in Vietnam in the first three months of 2017, a surge of 63.5 percent from the corresponding period last year, VNAT data showed.

Last month, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered Quang Ninh authorities to investigate reports of tour scams after Chinese arrivals via the Mong Cai Border Gate jumped to 5,000 per day on week days, and 10,000-15,000 over the weekends, around two to three times higher than usual.

(vnexpress.net)

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- Busy Tet holiday travel continues at Noi Bai Airport
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Phu Quoc adds another night market

Sol Beach House Phu Quoc has opened a night market to house the island’s vendors.

Seafood eateries in Phu Quoc Island. 

Aimed at both tourists and local residents, the market will sell natural products, including essential oils and soaps, as well as fashionable items such as bikinis and bags.

As the market continues to become popular, the Melia Hotels International member looks to add more local foods and wares.

Magdalena Martorell, general manager of Sol Beach House Phu Quoc, said the local community on Phu Quoc Island is a tight-knit one and the resort is eager to help small businesses in the locality.

“We hope to see more vendors join us soon.

“We don’t pretend to compete with the Phu Quoc Night Market, which is an absolute must-experience on a visit to the island.

“We just want to create a fun, comfortable and relaxing point of reference for guests and tourists.”

VNS

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- Chinese tour scams cause profit dilemma in Vietnam
- Busy Tet holiday travel continues at Noi Bai Airport

- Đà Lạt and Sa Pả named among best new destinations in Asia

Busy Tet holiday travel continues at Noi Bai Airport

Busy holiday travel continued January 23 at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi as travellers pile home for the long Tet holiday.

Officials are expecting millions of people to travel through the airport this holiday season – with the New Lunar Year holiday