VIETNAM
THE LAND OF THE RISING STAR
Vietnam’s star is on the rise as travellers take advantage of expanded operator programmes that make use of more fl ight options and growing awareness of the country’s attractions, says Debbie Ward
and more fl ights on the cards. “Etihad is poised to announce Vietnam fl ights, while Vietnam Airlines is adding another frequency, coming in May, to test the market for the ultimate goal of a double- daily service,” says Travel Indochina’s co-founder and Managing Director Paul Hole.
V
Other operators have moved to cash in on the interest: Emirates Tours added Vietnam for 2013, Indus produced a dedicated Indochina, Thailand & Burma brochure last year and Travel Indochina, previously sold by agents through Travel 2 only, has been trade-focused since November. “We had our best-ever trading month in UK history in January,” says International Sales and Marketing Manager Lesley Wright. “We have seen agents produce a higher booking value than direct clients. Our business development
ietnam’s fortunes continue to look rosy, with programme enlargements by operators
team has been wearing out car tyres to get round as many as possible.” Vietnam tours typically include the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), heritage town Hoi An and nearby beach, a cruise on Halong Bay and perhaps the waterways and markets of the Mekong delta. Vietnam has a long, fabulous
coastline plus “relevant contemporary history, a burgeoning economic powerhouse, a culture as diverse as it is rich and an eclectic cuisine that refl ects all of the above,” says Indus Tours’ Indochina Tours Manager Shawn Hendricks. New for 2013, the operator has trekking in the scenic northwest highlands of Sapa, linked with the architecturally-rich capital city Hanoi. Funway enjoyed a bookings surge
over the winter. “One of the main reasons is
Right: a typical rural scene of rice paddies and accommodation at Six Senses Con Dao in the south
“An overnight cruise on Halong Bay gives a more relaxed appreciation than a day trip, which does not include sunrise or sunset”
LESLEY WRIGHT, INTERNATIONAL SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER, TRAVEL INDOCHINA
www.sellinglonghaul.com
April 2013 35
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