DIPR 2012 to be held in Danang

The Danang International Paramotor Race (DIPR) 2012 named "Danang - New peaks" will be first organized in Vietnam from May 23-27 with the participation of 25 athletes coming from America, France and Japan.  The race will include four contents: speed, avoiding obstacles, rescuing, and performing in a team; and promises to be an exciting performance for audience. Speaking at a press conference, Vice Chairman of the Danang municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Xuan Anh, head of the competition board, said that the competition will introduce paramotor performance to tourists and people in the city and help Danang live up to its slogan "the city of events". “The competition sets the ground for the development of paramotor events, as well as bringing a new activity to aviation sports in Vietnam.”

Annual fruit festival juices up HCM City

Thousands of people flocked to Ho Chi Minh City 's Suoi Tien park for the annual Southern Fruit Festival that opened on June 1. The festival began with art performances and parades by Cambodian, Lao, Malaysian, Thailand and Indonesian artists in the presence of more than 20 foreign diplomats based in the city. During the three weeks of the festival, a floating fruit market with 70 boats will be re-created, there will be a contest for best fruits, farmers and artisans will match their talents in a contest for making things from fruits, and a "safe and delicious fruit" display will be set up by nearly 600 artisans from 21 provinces and cities. The festival seeks to showcase the wide range of fruits grown in the south, promote reputed brands, and honour Vietnamese farmers. At the opening ceremony, Hua Ngoc Thuan, deputy chairman of the city People's Committee, said the festival showcased the variety of Vietnamese fruits, especially those grown in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, for foreign tourists and promoted the city's image.

Quang Binh to organize tourism month on caves discovery

In June, the tourism month on caves discovery will take place in Quang Binh to promote local tourism products to domestic and international tourists and call for investment to social-economic development in the province. This is an activity of Quang Binh province responding to the National Tourism Year of the North Central Coast - Hue 2012.

The tourism month will include a series of diversified activities such as: opening tourism routes to discover new caves in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park (Rao Thuong – Hang En route, 1,500m Phong Nha cave at night, Hang En and Sinh Ton Valley route); art photography exhibition on Quang Binh’s natural landscapes; traditional boat race on Nhat Le river; Quang Binh’s cuisine week; public art festival; Vietnam – Laos – Thailand international trade fair… 

Germany helps Hue City preserve ancient relics

Germany has provided more than 139,600 euro for a project to preserve Hue royal palace, said Phan Thanh Hai, director of the Center for Reservation of Hue Relics. This is the fourth project under the German international support programme for preserving Hue relics. The three previous projects were focused on preserving the Khai Tuong Lau – An Dinh Palace, King Tu Duc’s tomb and Toi Linh Tu in the Hue royal place. Ta Vu, built in the early 19th century and upgraded in 1899, was seriously damaged during the wars.

Vietnam welcomes 3 mln foreign arrivals in 5 months

Since the beginning of this year, nearly three million foreign visitors have arrived in Vietnam, up 17.5 percent compared to the same period last year. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), 1,750,000 people came to the country as tourists, 510,000 for work, 520,000 to visit relatives and 166,000 for other purposes. However, only 460,000 foreigners came to Vietnam in May, down 25.8 percent from April and 4.4 percent from a year ago.

Over 100 travel firms to take tourists to Suoi Tien

More than 100 travel firms have pledged to take tourists to Suoi Tien Cultural Park in HCMC’s District 9 to enjoy the month-long Southern Fruit Festival 2012 beginning on June 1. With the participation of travel firms, the festival’s organizers expect that the number of visitors this year would increase strongly compared to 1.6 million arrivals recorded last year. Many foreign travel agencies have also included this fruit festival into their tour programs. “We have announced the festival program early so that travel firms can add it to their tours. Besides, we have promoted the festival to foreign tourists who are visiting HCMC and attracted a large number of tourists,” said a representative of the organizers at a conference introducing the festival on Tuesday.

Buryatia opens direct air route to Vietnam

Nordwind Airlines of Russia's Republic of Buryatia has inaugurated a new air service linking the country’s capital city of Ulan-Ude and Vietnam’s coastal central city of Cam Ranh .  The first flight on the new route on May 28 used a Boeing 767-300 aircraft. Nord wind Airlines has opened many direct routes to meet travel demands of visitors to popular touri sm sites in China and Mongolia after Baikal International Airport in Ulan-Ude was expanded and upgraded. Next month, the firm will begin two new direct flights to Antalia in Turkey and Bangkok in Thailand . It also plans to develop similar flights to Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Hoi An to host 3rd International Choir Festival

The ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam has been chosen to host the third International Choir Festival from June 19-22 next year. The event will be organized jointly by the Quang Nam provincial People's Committee and Interkultur Foundation of Germany, and directly managed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.