Ba Na central mountain resort welcomes tourism festival

Da Nang tourism authority has prepared for another festival to take place at Ba Na-Suoi Mo Resort in Hoa Vang District, some 40km west of the city. The three-day Ba Na Tourism Festival, which will kick off on July 14, aims to help promote eco-tourism in Da Nang. The event will include music shows, the fifth Ba Na Tennis Cup, a gong performance by Ko Tu ethnic people, and a photo exhibition. The festival also includes an exposition of fine cuisine and folk games, folk stories and a kite flying performance.

Saigontourist organises Hong Kong-Nha Trang yacht race

The country’s leading tour operator Saigontourist will join hands with the Hong Kong Royal Yacht Club to organise an international yachtrace from Hong Kong to Nha Trang later this year. The second international sailing boat race, which will take place between October 25 and November 1 is to attract from 150 to 200 competitors on some 20 sailing boats. The Hong Kong Royal Yatch Club has announced the 656 mile race under the name of VinaCapital Hong Kong Viet Nam Race 2006 on the website at http:/rhkyc.org.hk/hkvietnamrace.htm.

New 200-seat tourism boat to cruise Co Chien River

The Sai Gon-Vinh Long Tourist Boat, a 36m vessel which can carry 200 visitors, was launched in the Mekong province of Vinh Long on June 10. The tourist boat’s package tour is inexpensive: VND10,000 for a seat on the boat and VND25,000 to VND30,000 per dish. The boat will take visitors and diners along the Co Chien River while they enjoy special southern food, music and a fantastic nocturnal view of the Mekong Delta.

Quang Nam to launch cultural tours throughout province

The tourism authority of Quang Nam Province will launch a new tour to explore the ethnic minority people’s culture and the former Ho Chi Minh Trail in the province. Departing from Hoi An, the new tour will take tourists to the ethnic minority villages in Nam Giang and Dong Giang districts where they can visit the trail and have cultural exchange with ethnic minority people. Quang Nam Tourism Department will organise the first familiarisation (FAM) trip for 30 travel agencies on July 8 and 9.

Malaysian company takes over Amara Sai Gon hotel and casino

The Rick Lee Company of Malaysia has acquired the gambling club at the four-star Amara Sai Gon Hotel in HCM City. The Singapore-based Riard, marketing agent for Rick Lee said the Malaysian company had bought the ground-floor Jockey Club Sai Gon from the South Korean owner. Riard said the club has 25 new slot machines and electronic gambling tables. Many luxury hotels in HCM City, such as Caravelle, Equatorial, Legend, New World and Omni Sai Gon, has slot machines and other games.

Vietnamese flowers exported to Russia

Flowers grown in Da Lat will be exported to Russia under a contract signed by the Da Lat Hasfarm Co. recently. To secure the contract, the company had shipped four sample flowers including roses, lilies, tulips, chrysanthemum and carnations worth US$7,200 to Russia, said Ngo Cao Trang, Hasfarm Sales and Marketing manager. Da Lat Hasfarm expects to earn $15.6 million this year from export. So far the company has exported flowers to Japan, Singapore, Australia, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia. — VNS