Travellers’ Notes
(20-06-2008)

Binh Dinh tourism festival to feature martial chops, kicks
Binh Dinh Province tourism authorities are preparing for the Tay Son-Binh Dinh Festival 2008 to be held in Quy Nhon from August 1 to 3.The culture-tourism event will feature traditional martial arts from the birthplace of Emperor Quang Trung.

There will be photography, traditional food, and crafts exhibitions while international and local competitors will compete in various martial arts. There will also be a special performance by Binh Dinh martial arts instructors.

Hai Phong to take part in France marine festival
Hai Phong will represent Viet Nam at the Brest 2008 maritime festival in France between July 11 and 17.It will participate in both offshore and onshore activities, the festival’s two main events. It will set up a typical Vietnamese fishing village with a welcoming gate and bamboo temple roofs.

During the event’s Viet Nam Day, traditional foods like pho (noodle soup), fresh spring rolls, crisp shrimp pastry, and sweet puddings will be offered to visitors. In the offshore category, Viet Nam will showcase some of its traditional sailing vessels – like the 17-tonne sailing boat and bamboo coracles rowed by leg.

The Vietnamese contingent will also display the craft of building basket-boats. Thirty sailors from Hai Phong wearing ancient costumes will row imperial boats. Held every four years in the city of Brest, the festival will attract competitors from 26 countries this time and millions of visitors.

Click Singapore makes tours of island more attractive
A photo contest called Click Singapore was launched by the Tiep Thi va Gia Dinh (Marketing&Family) magazine and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in HCM City last week.

The campaign, to last from June 16 this year to March 15, 2009, allows ample time and opportunities for visitors to take part in it, the chief representative of STB, Indochina, Ong Jin Chwen, said.

"Anyone can take part in the Click Singapore campaign – all they need is their imagination and a camera during their next visit to Singapore," he said.

There are two top prizes of Toyota Innova cars on offer.Affordable fares to Macau on offer till next week Budget carrier Viva Macau is offering one way tickets from HCM City to Macau at US$20 plus taxes until June 23.

A total of 1,000 seats are available and the trip should be undertaken by July 31. Tickets can be purchased through www.vietvisiontravel.com or Transviet Travel, the airline’s preferred sales agent for Viet Nam. The carrier flies four times a week between HCM City and Macau.

Cruise ship to serve Miss Universe contestants
Khanh Hoa Province authorities have given the Hoan Vu Joint Stock Company the nod to rent Jupiter, a Singaporean cruise ship, for the Miss Universe contest. The ship will anchor in Nha Trang during the 20-day Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to take place next month.

The cruise ship, with its 400 cabins, will not only provide rooms but also facilities like restaurants, spa, show lounge, etc.The contest will take place from June 20 to July 14. While certain events are scheduled for HCM City, Hoi An, Ha Long Bay, and Ha Noi, Nha Trang will host the main ones. — VNS