vietnam
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M
ore UK fl ights, a new expressway and new cruise ship easing touring within the destination should all
be key selling hooks for Vietnam in 2015. Vietnam Airlines will be adding a fi fth frequency from July 3, meaning three fl ights into Hanoi and two into Ho Chi Minh City per week. Both routes will also gain Dreamliners. Regional fl ight developments are also signifi cant,
with Vietnam Airlines’ new service between Angkor Wat gateway, Siem Reap, and holiday island, Phu Quoc, making Vietnam ‘more of a regional hub’, according to Jack Bartholomew, Khiri Travel’s Regional Director for Indochina. On the ground, the opening this autumn of an expressway from Hanoi to Sapa’s gateway, Lau Cai, has halved transfer times to the mountainous region. “The journey time is cut to approximately fi ve hours instead of an overnight train ride which makes this a more realistic option for those on a two- or three-week holiday,” explains James Mundy, Marketing Manager for InsideVietnam. “The area is home to ethnic communities, villages, trekking and breathtaking scenery.” Mundy also welcomes the 2015 opening of
even take tourists up to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. It is this broad appeal that makes the destination so appealing, says Lesley Wright, General Manager Commercial UK for Travel Indochina. “The country offers such a variety of different travel experiences, with beautiful and diverse scenery, fantastic cuisine, culture and history, adventure and an amazing coastline. We are seeing strong demand from the 45-plus sector, many of whom mix cultural visits with relaxation.” Good agent relations have helped Travel Indochina see a “sustained period of growth,” says Wright. The operator has
“Vietnamese food is so fresh. Try local delicacies at markets and don’t miss Pho (noodle soup)”
EMILY ANDREWS, MARKETING EXECUTIVE, WENDY WU
noticed demand for unique experiences and greater awareness of Vietnam’s beaches. A recent BBC series,
The Mekong River with Sue Perkins, helped highlight Vietnam and its neighbours. Meanwhile
international celebrity chef Bobby Chinn, the man behind London restaurant House of Ho, was this summer appointed Tourism Ambassador for Vietnam in Europe. Among other operators, Khiri Travel has shifted
the world’s longest three-rope cable car up South East Asia’s highest peak, Mt. Fansipan. Tourists will take 15 minutes rather than three days hiking to reach the peak. For luxury travellers he highlights a new seaplane service from Hanoi to Halong Bay that from 2015 will depart from West Lake in the city centre. A new smaller ‘Suite Ship’ from Avalon Waterways will meanwhile cut transfers for Mekong cruises. “Our customers can join the cruise in Ho Chi Minh City harbour instead of taking a lengthy coach transfer to embark further along the river,” explains UK General Manager, David Binns. Avalon’s Mekong sales are up 50% year-on- year thanks to forward sales for the vessel. Vietnam also boasts long white-sand beaches with Danang, Nha Trang and the islands of Phu Quoc and Con Dao the key resorts. Six Senses is among international brands already established. Most Brits still combine beaches with touring, however, typically visiting the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) and UNESCO heritage town Hoi An, which is close to Danang. Longer itineraries, offered by operators such as
Travel Indochina, include the ancient capital Hue, with its Forbidden Purple City and tombs and rural mountainous Sapa which is a jumping-off point for treks to see the local hilltribes. Cruises are popular overnight on spectacular island-studded Halong Bay, or on the Mekong River Delta for its fl oating markets and picturesque backwaters. Tours can
sellingtravel.co.uk
focus to multi-centre Indochina itineraries, lasting from two-and-a-half to three weeks. Demand for multi-centres is also strong for Wendy Wu, which has added more for 2015, though its Vietnam-only tours were up this year. InsideVietnam’s Mundy points out Danang has
evolved from an ‘airport city’ to a fully-fl edged resort in the last few years. The opening of more four-star hotels in the region can only help Vietnam’s profi le as a beach destination grow.
What’s new Operators: New ‘Insider Experiences’, like
a coastal Hue to Danang train ride, a stop at a local ‘Bia Hoi’ in Hanoi to enjoy a glass of beer or a stay at Topas Ecolodge near Sapa where
Main picture: Rice terraces in northern Japan Above: The emerald waters of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site
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