Good Morning VIETNAM
With new direct UK fl ights from Vietnam Airlines, an improving high-end hotel stock and a host of operator options, agents have the ammunition to sell more of Vietnam, says Laura Gelder
more adventurous traveller, and usually grouped with neighbours Cambodia and Laos as part of an Indochina triumvirate, Vietnam now has standalone appeal. Not only has the country beaches
W
and islands, scenic rice paddies and war history but now there’s now a real choice of quality hotels across the country: think Hyatt, Novotel, Sheraton, Six Senses and Anantara. High-end cruises on the Mekong are increasing and river cruise operators like Avalon Waterways, AMA Waterways, Uniworld and Viking River Cruises are increasing capacity. Long and skinny Vietnam stretches
down from China in the north, with Laos and then Cambodia on its western flank. A huge coastline of white-sand beaches is relatively undeveloped and now's the time to push those clients who like to be first to discover a destination – because Vietnam is developing fast. A tour between Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City in the south is still the most popular option, but there's plenty to see along
the way – like Hue’s ancient citadel, royal
tombs and the
evocatively named Perfume
14 January 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
What’s New The most significant news for the whole Indochina region is that you can
atch out Thailand, Vietnam is hot on your heels! Once the preserve of the
River; the UNESCO-rated town Hoi An, with its ubiquitous tailor trade; the beaches around Danang, with a day-trip to the marble mountains, My Son ruins or the de-militarised zone for war buffs; and Nha Trang’s cosmopolitan nightlife and beaches. Hanoi itself can entertain for a few days. The Old Quarter’s higgledy piggledy buildings, markets and mad traffic contrast with the serenity of the emerald Hoan Kiem Lake while a cycle tour takes visitors to points of interest like the beautiful Temple of Literature, the austere Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh or a jaunty evening performance of water puppetry. Hanoi is also the gateway to the famous
Halong Bay and to the north, for
motorcycle tours of the
mountains or treks to meet the hill tribes of Vietnam around Sapa.
Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as many
still know it, is a beguiling mixture of high-octane Asian commerce and colonial indulgence. The War Remnants Museum is a fascinating, if shocking and one-sided look at the human cost of the war. French restaurants mingle with roadside pho (Vietnamese soup) stalls and there are plenty of bars in which to sip a Saigon beer. Outside Ho Chi Minh the Mekong Delta area is popular for its local floating markets and meandering tributaries punctuated by small villages and islands.
now fly direct to Vietnam from the UK after the launch of Vietnam Airlines' London- Gatwick service. The route cuts the
travel times to Vietnam to 12 hours. Flights connect from Gatwick to
Hanoi on Tuesdays and Fridays, leaving at midday and arriving at 06.30 the next day, returning on Mondays and Thursdays on an overnight flight which leaves at 23.40 and arrives at 06.20. Flights from Gatwick to Ho Chi Minh
City leave on Wednesdays and Saturdays at midday, arriving at 07.10 the next day and leave the southern city on Tuesdays and Fridays at 23.20, arriving the next day at 06.20. Vietnam Airlines flies to 28 international destinations and has convenient connections to many other Southeast Asian cities. Last November Halong Bay was named as one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature. Designated a World Heritage
Vietnam's beaches are undeveloped so push clients who like to be fi rst to discover a destination
This page: Vietnam has plenty of ruined cities, tombs and ancient pagodas for history buffs; local girl. Opposite: cyclo travel; Halong Bay
Selling Tip Head to Dalat in the Central Highlands, for cool temperatures and Easyrider motorcycle tours
LAURA GELDER
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