Of which, the Chinese tourists put up 90%, the Republic of Korea, 24%; Taiwan (China), 17.8%; Japan, 5.8%; Australia, 17.2%; France, 12% and Thailand, 36.9%.

Remarkably, the number of Cambodian visitors to Vietnam witnessed an impressive rise of over 100%.

In February this year, Vietnam received about 450,000 international visitors, increasing 3.5% over the previous month and 30% as compared to February last year.
 
Tourists to enjoy new tourism promotion programme
 
A programme on tourism promotion in 2010, named “Vietnam – Your Destination” is scheduled to be implemented from the third quarter of this year, announced the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

The programme focuses on discounts for tourists in the low season in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. The discount rate ranges are expected to offer discounts from 10% to 50%.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism will work together with the Ministry of Industry and Vietnam Airlines to conduct this year’s programme. Vietnam Airlines has also committed to reduce its ticket price from 30% to 50% at some certain routes.
 
Vietnam’s tourism advertised in ASEAN countries
 
A seminar on Advertising Vietnam’s tourism was held in Bangkok, Thailand on March 1.

The seminar, which was co-organised by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Vietnam Embassy in Thailand, Vietnam Airlines and fifteen Vietnam travel agents, was in response to the National Tourism Promotion Programme

Minister Counselor of Vietnam to Thailand Phan Minh Tuan addressed at the opening ceremony.

The seminar had the participation of representatives of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Vietnam Airlines and the Thailand Travel Agent.

Speeches delivered in the seminar highlighted that Vietnam was an attractive destination for tourists in the region and the world with various forms of tourism such as cultural heritage tourism, ecological tourism, adventure tourism, Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions tourism (MICE), etc.

Particularly, many festivals will be organised in Vietnam this year, including the grand ceremony of Thang Long-Hanoi millennium anniversary.

Similar seminars were scheduled in Singapore on March 3 and on March 5 in Malaysia.

Hanoi- Yangon direct air route opened
 
Vietnam Airlines  launched its first commercial direct air route from Hanoi to Yangon,  Myanmar, on March 2.

This first flight departed from Noi Bai international airport at 16:10 and arrived in Rangoon after two hours . In the first period, Vietnam Airlines will have four flights a week, which will be on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, using the 79 seat Fokker 70.

Vietnam Airlines offers a discount fare of VND 950,000 ( around US$ 49 and duty and other charges are not included) for return ticket from Hanoi to Yangon issued from March 15 to 25 for travelling from April 1 to June 10.

According to Vietnam Airlines deputy general director Duong Tri Thanh, the launch of this new air route is in the implementation of the air transport liberalisation agreement in the area among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam which came into effect from April, 2007. Of which, the direct air route from Hanoi to Yangon and vice versa helps link four countries in the Mekong sub-region, contributing to promoting economic, cultural and social development in the region.

PV