Vietnam’s sea tourism potential will be under the spotlight at a festival scheduled to take place in Paris from April 28-29.

The festival, the first of its kind in France, will be jointly organised by Vietnam Airlines and the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and aims to introduce the country’s premier landmarks and tourist sites to foreigners, and realise the government’s goal to maintain economic growth, stimulate demand, and boost consumption and service exports.

Twenty-five tourism management agencies from sea tourism-rich provinces and cities, such as Khanh Hoa and Danang, will join leading hotel, travel and coastal resort businesses at the festival.

The France Chamber of Commerce and Industry and hundreds of investors and travel agencies from France and other European countries are expected to attend the event.

Local visitors will have the opportunity to better understand the traditional culture, land and people of Vietnam through a variety of performances, exhibitions and handicraft product displays, as well as activities featuring the daily life of coastal residents.

The festival is an invaluable opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to seek European partners, and particularly for BIDV to cooperate with the leading financial institutions of France and Europe

BIDV will host a seminar calling for investment in tourism projects in Vietnam. The bank has arranged more than USD2 billion for nearly 20 projects in popular coastal cities around the country, including Danang, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Haiphong and Quang Ninh.

Vietnam Airlines General Director Pham Ngoc Minh says the event will help promote Vietnam to the European community, thereby increasing investment efficiency and the number of visitors to Vietnam.

In early February, Vietnam Airlines participated in the annual Brussels Tourism Fair in Belgium, where experts forecast that Asia, and Vietnam in particular, remain attractive destinations for European travelers.

The festival “Vietnamese Craft Village 2009” will take place from March 24-29, 2009 at 29/3 Park in the central city of Da Nang, gathering 60 typical craft villages in Vietnam.

The festival will be divided into specific areas, including an area for craft villages and area for food.

The zone for craft villages will display traditional products of famous craft villages in Vietnam, such as stone-made fine-art products from Non Nuoc village in Da Nang, sedge mats from Cam Ne village, fish nets from Tho Quang village, pottery products from the villages of Bat Trang, Chu Dau and Bau Truc, bronze-made products from Phuoc Kieu and Phu Xuan villages, lacquer products from Thach That, Thu Dau Mot, wood products from Dong Ky, Kim Bong and Tien Son, silk from Van Phuc and Ma Chau, rattan and bamboo-made products from Ha Nam and Tra Vinh, brocade from Dong Giang and northwestern provinces, folk paintings from Dong Ho and Sinh villages, palm-leaf conical hats from Chuong, Go Gang, ornamental trees from Nam Dinh, horn-made products from Ha Nam province.

Traditional cuisines will be introduced in the area for food. Visitors will be able to taste wine from Van village, sesame cakes from Cam Le village, me xung from Hue, coconut girdle cakes from Binh Dinh province, coconut candy from Ben Tre, fried shrimp paste from Sa Dec, fish from Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, noodles from Nam Dinh, vermicelli and beef from Hue, steamed rolled rice pancakes from Thanh Tri village, etc.

The most special feature at the festival will be the performances of artisans who will make pottery, carve wood, cast bronze, weave silk, etc. on the spot.

A workshop entitled “Each village a trade” will be held by the Association of Vietnamese Craft Villages.

(Source: VNN)

Danang International Firework Competition 2009 will take place in the central coastal city of Danang on March 27 and 28 with participation of Spain, Australia, China, the Philippines and the home team Vietnam. Saigontourist is offering a three-day tour to the firework festival as well as other attractions in Danang City.

The event is expected to lure many local and international tourists and promises to delight viewers with amazing and talented performances against the backdrop of the poetic Han River. The shows are all around 21 minutes long and are titled as follows: Australia - “The Southern Stars”; Philippines - “Danang-new epoch”; China - “Freedom for love”; Spain – “Happy Melodies”; and Vietnam will express the beauty of the nation as well as the friendliness of Vietnamese people via “Han River’s Echoes”.

Visitors to the fireworks competition will also have a chance to enjoy cultural and artistic activities and sport games including flower garland and flower ship festivals, boat races, water sports, culinary programs, music shows, circus and exhibitions.

The tour also includes splendid destinations in the city such as Son Tra Peninsula, Da (Stone) River, My Khe and Tien Sa ports, Non Nuoc Beach and Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) as well as two world’s cultural heritage sites. The first is Hue Ancient citadel and the extravagant architecture of the Royal Palace, Thai Hoa Palace and the very famous Thien Mu Pagoda, built during the Nguyen Dynasty and well-known for its unique architecture and elegant style with ancient bronze cast statues and antiques.

The second is Hoi An City, known for outstanding ancient pagodas and temples such as Ong Pagoda and Pagoda Bridge. Tourists will get lost in the illusionary world of shimmering, diverse colored lanterns hanging on the streets and over the Hoai River.

The tour departs on the morning of March 27 and is priced between VND1.780 million and VND2.310 million including flight, or VND1.635 million per person not including flight.

(Source: SGT)