The 31 Digital Issue (18 Aug) of Travel Weekly Magazine

19 Aug, 2010
06-07
Vietnam Golf Coast sets spotlight on
‘best courses in the country’
24-25
Eight events to be held
across Thailand
Africa
34
7 Taiwanese Customs to know
whenever visiting Taiwan
www.travelweekly.com.vn
19 Aug, 2010
06-07
Vietnam Golf Coast sets spotlight on
‘best courses in the country’
Dear Travel Weekly readers! 24-25

across Thailand
Africa
34
7 Taiwanese Customs to know
whenever visiting Taiwan
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Thursday 19.08.2010
VIETNAM NEWS 02 FEATURES

02. Hue plans to become a cultural, tourist
03
06 - 07
and festival city Vietnam Golf Coast
03. HCMC faces obstacles in waterway sets spotlight on ‘best
tourism development 04 courses in the country’
05. Central region to lure more Japanese Vietnam has made a bit of noise in the past with its
tourists 05 golf offerings but the quality of the golf in Danang, its
proximity to air hubs across SE Asia, and the proximity
09. Agreement to boost tourism ties of the golf to hotels (and the beach) makes Vietnam Golf
between Vietnam and China 06 Coast, a new partnership of courses and beach resorts
that launches today, something else again. Please see
10. Ministry calls for developing tourism below news about the Vietnam Golf Coast.
infrastructure 07
12. Vietnam remains attractive for tourists
and investors 08
13 . National Tourism Year 2011 - Paradise
for Sea and Island 09
1,000 YEARS OF
THANG LONG - HANOI 10
14. Thanh Hoa to hold Lam Kinh festival

11
to mark Hanoi’s birthday
15. Hai Phong’s tourism week to mark
the Hanoi’s giant anniversary
13
24 - 25 Eight events to be
held across Thailand
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 14 The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will organise
eight special events around the theme of the famous
18. Visa offers pre-paid card for Youth Thai smile in a bid to rebuild the good image of Thai
Olympics 16 tourism and facilitate the return to normalcy following
the recent political disturbances. Enjoy to read more
19. Ritz-Carlton hits new heights in HK detail programme.
17
20. Cambodia’s Royal Group Unveils
Master Plan
21. Swiss-Garden Hotel KL launches taxi

20
campaign
22. New Caledonia to host Melanesian

21
Arts Festival
23
AVIATION NEWS
27. THAI Airways announces winter 24
schedule
29. Air Mekong gets jets for October
31. Air China Becomes Strategic Partner

25
34 7 Taiwanese Customs to
know whenever visiting
of CIFIT
26 Taiwan
32. Korean Air achieves strong growth in Remember that you are a visitor in this country. At all
the second quarter times, respect their social customs and cultural differ-
29 ences. They may seem odd to you but they are a part
DO YOU KNOW of their life and culture. Particularly, in visiting religious
institutions, adhere to a semblance of protocol. Respect
30 their deities. Observe what others do and, wherever
BUSINESS ADVICE
possible, ask if you are not sure. Common sense rules.
35 - 37. How to Travel on a Very Limited 32
Budget
MEDICAL TOURISM 34
38 - 39. Understanding Culture in Medical 35

Tourism
DESTINATIONS 38
40 - 42. The simplicity of Thanh Toan tile
bridge 40
2 VIETNAM NEWS
Hue plans to become a cultural,
tourist and festival city
At the opening agenda of the Hue Party Congress for the
2010-2015 period, which opened in Hue on 9th August, issued
the plan to turn Hue into a cultural, tourism and festival city.
Nguyen Kim Dung, chairman of Hue city’s People’s Com-

mittee said that in order to fulfill its targets, the city needs
to build a comprehensive socio-economic infrastructure,
especially its urban infrastructure and train its human re-
sources to meet the demand for development during the
international integration process. It also needs to improve its
planning, public transport, and call for direct air route to Hue
city, finalise a project to build drainage and waste treatment
systems, upgrade the urban lighting system and turn Hue
into a first-tier city. In addition, it is necessary to improve the
banks of Huong, An Cuu, and Ngu Ha rivers to prevent floods
and ensure environmental hygiene. The city should put
forward detailed policies to facilitate the operations of busi-
nesses, economic sectors, develop cultural and eco-tourism,
organise attractive festivals to improve its competitive edge
and expand its tourism activities in both domestic and for-
eign markets. The city should also promote Hue’s tourism,
preserve the scenery landscapes along the Huong River as
well as the architecture of the old imperial city to improve the
quality of cultural and festival activities and develop tourism
sustainably.
Hue aims to welcome 2,5 million visitors by 2015 (including

40-50 percent international arrivals) with turnover from the
service sector increasing 25 percent and tax revenues reach-
ing VND3,000 billion by 2015, expected to achieve an annual
GDP of 14,5 -15 percent by 2015, raise average annual per
capital income to US$2,800-3,000 as well as tourism revenues
by 18-20 percent.
Malaysian culinary Malaysia targets Center for festival culture exchange

week in Hanoi Vietnamese tourists of ethnic minorities to be built
A Malaysian Culinary Week will be Malaysia’s tourism authorities are
held at the Melia Hotel, Hanoi, from stepping up promotions, expecting
26-31 August, showcasing typical to attract 200,000 travellers from
Malaysian foods and drinks. Two Vietnam this year. Akbal Sertia of
Malaysian chefs will make some of Tourism Malaysia told a Malaysia
their country’s iconic dishes like Golf and Youth Seminar in HCM
roti canai, satay, fried rice noodles City that his country welcomed
or laksa, nasi lemak, and teh tarik. 150,000 Vietnamese visitors last
Also at the event, Malaysian artists year but nearly 100,000 in the first
will perform traditional dances half of this year. Meanwhile, nearly
including court and folk dances 116,000 Malaysian visitors came to
played to the beat of drums. Vietnam in the first seven months, a
yearly increase of 19.4 percent.
HCM City to establish
yacht club Four-star Sai Gon - Phu
The HCM City Tourism Associa- Yen hotel unveiled
tion plans to set up a yacht club Saigontourist and Sai Gon-Phu Yen
later this year for yacht owners Tourism Joint Stock Company have According to the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong,
and sailing industry executives. recently opened the VND90 billion the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee has approved
Nguyen Huu Tho, director general four-star Sai Gon-Phu Yen hotel with
of building a center for festival culture exchange of ethnic
of Saigontourist Holding Co and 87 rooms, 14 villas. The hotel is part
chairman of the association, said of the joint investment strategy to
minority groups.
30 people, all yacht owners and diversify and improve the quality of The project will be carried out on an area of 30ha in Lat com-
businesspeople providing yacht tourism products, setting up service mune, Lac Duong District with an initial investment of VND40
and yacht-related services on the standards for tourist lines and billion.
Sai Gon River, have registered to destinations. Accordingly, the Sai The project is expected to be completed in late 2010 to help
join the club. There are more than Gon-Phu Yen Hotel will offer a 50% visitors study the culture of ethnic minority groups in locali-
30 yachts in the city and another 10 discount for tourists from now until ties and cultures of regions nationwide, preserve ethnic
yachts will arrive this year. 31st December. culture and promote tourism in these localities.
Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn
VIETNAM NEWS 3
HCMC faces obstacles in

waterway tourism development
HCM City has an interconnecting system foreign tourists like travelling on river. developing tourism, the investment will
of rivers and canals that go through the However, most of the firm’s waterways bring a big boost to the economy.
city and connect HCM City with prov- tours have been in the Mekong Delta, not
inces in the southern region. However, in HCM City. How to develop waterways tourism?
water tourism in the city has not yet
developed. From Cai Be, tourists go to Can Tho City The HCM City People’s Committee has
to see the floating market and orchards, approved a plan by the Culture, Sports,
Contemplating while traveling on the or they go farther to Chau Doc and Rach and Tourism Department to develop the
river? Gia. Meanwhile, in HCM City, the agenda waterways tourism industry. The city’s
for tourists is very simple: tourists have authorities have asked the department to
There are about 20 tourism ships and ca- dinner on ships, travel along the Saigon develop a route connecting An Giang and
noes operating in the Bach Dang port area River, and then at departure time prepare Cambodia. The department is also con-
in District 1. These include restaurants’ to return to Bach Dang wharf. sidering developing short-distance tours
ships that carry tourists to travel on the (Bach Dang wharf – Nha Be T-junction –
Saigon River at nights. When tourists demand it, the firm will painters’ village; Bach Dang wharf – Tau
charter a ship for half a day to carry tour- Hu canal).
In the past, travel firms once provided ists. Meanwhile, tourists only sit on the
tours so tourists could travel on the ships to enjoy the view of the banks of However, according to tourism com-
Saigon River and then be dropped in Can the river, and then return to the departure panies, the biggest problem facing the
Gio district. However, the firms stopped point. waterways tourism industry is the lack of
providing the tours because they had so docks where ships can receive clients.
few clients. Nowadays, ships only depart “Tourists nowadays do only one thing –
when they can gather enough people. sit and look into the banks of the river. Binh Quoi Tourism Village once planned
Honestly, there are fewer beautiful and on having more ships, but then it had to
The activities designed for waterways attractive landscapes on the river banks,” cancel its plans because the Bach Dang
tourists proved to be very simple. Tourists Tien said. dock was already full.
can have parties on the ships while they
travel along the river, or go to Binh Quoi However, Chiem Thanh Long, Director of Long stressed that the first thing that
village to watch traditional weddings. Binh Quoi Tourism Village believes that needs to be done is to build docks where
HCM City has great potential to develop ships can receive clients. After that, travel
According to Bui Viet Thuy Tien, Manag- its waterways tourism industry, and that firms will think of developing their fleets
ing Director of Asian Trails Company, if the city’s authorities pay attention to and cooperating with service providers.
4 VIETNAM NEWS
Hanoi develops tourism

in craft villages
according to Mrs Trinh Thi Hong Loan, Cooperation among the 244 craft villages
Head of the Management Office of Craft in Hanoi is not strong enough, said Nguy-
Industry under the Hanoi Trade and Indus- en Hoang Luu, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi
try Department said four pilot tours have Handicraft and Trade Village Association.
been launched in the craft villages of Van In addition, they still lack good tourism ser-
Ha Wood, Ha Thai Lacquer, Chuon Ngo vices and guides, while the cultural identi-
Painting, Bat Trang Pottery, Phu Vinh Bam- ties in these villages are fading away.
boo and Rattan Weaving and Quat Dong
embroidery. Officials of the city department also wor-
ried about the pollution in these villages
Earlier, the Hanoi Trade and Industry due to urbanization.
Department invited lecturers of the Ha-
noi Open University’s Tourism Faculty to Developing tourism in craft villages will
provide training for tourism services and not only help preserve their cultural identi-
culture preservation to 210 people in these ties but will also improve the living stan-
craft villages. dards of local residents in these villages.
China aims to
boost tourism in HCMC
A seminar themed “China – Vietnam In the past few years, a large number of exchange and set up business links.
Friendship Year, joining hands for tourism Chinese visitors have visited to Vietnam,
development” was held on 11st August vice versa, more and more Vietnamese La Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director of the
with the aim of boosting China’s tourism in people have a chance to travel to China HCM City Culture, Sports and Tourism De-
Ho Chi Minh City. The two sides signed a due to increasingly living conditions. partment, China now ranks sixth out of ten
memorandum of understanding (MoU) on leading market of Vietnam’s tourism sector.
tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Nguyen Manh Cuong, the Deputy Head In the previous year, the city welcomed
China in the 2010-2013 period. of the Vietnam National Administration of 140,000 Chinese visitors and is expected
tourism (VNAT) stressed the importance to receive nearly 200,000 tourists from the
The event, attended by tourism agents of the Vietnam-China friendship year 2010, neighbouring country in 2010.
from China’s Guangdong, Guangxi and which helps boost bilateral relationship
Yunnan provinces, Chinese Consul Gen- to a new height, including cooperation China is also one of the three favourite
eral in HCMC Xu Ming Liang affirmed in tourism. The year of 2010 is expected destinations of the city’s dwellers. It is
that it is a significant milestone to enhance to increase understanding between the expected that 60,000 of the city’s residents
tourism co-operation between Vietnam two tourism sectors and offer chances for will visit China this year.
and China. tourism agents of both countries to meet,

VIETNAM NEWS 5
Central region to lure

more Japanese tourists
H oi An ancient city will hold Vietnam
- Japan Cultural Exchange Days on
21 August and be expected to lure more
prompting the Japanese to visit the land
where their ancestors used to travel to,
Toshikazu Suzuki, Director of the Ja-
international arrivals, particularly those pan human resource training and con-
from Japan. sultancy institute in Vietnam, said at a
workshop themed “Central Vietnam - A
During the event, the eighth of its kind in destination for Japanese tourists, poten-
Hoi An, a series of programmes imbued tial and solution” held in Quang Nam
with the Vietnamese and Japanese cul- province last May.
tures will be presented such as perfor-
mances of folk dancing, traditional mu- However, poor services, which fail to
sic, dragon dance, traditional costumes, meet Japanese visitors’ demands, are
tea drinking ceremony and calligraphy blamed for the low number of Japanese
as well as a festival with flower garlands tourists, who account for about only four
and coloured lanterns on river. percent of the total one million foreign
arrivals to the central region.
Moreover, it’s also the first time the
Iwamikagura royal singing and danc- Also at the workshop, the three central
ing troupe and the Daisuwataiko drum localities of Quang Nam, Thua Thien-
group from Japan will join the event. Hue and Da Nang mapped out a plan,
aiming at attracting 1 million Japanese
Starting from 2003, the annual event is tourists to the region each year. The
to tighten friendship between Vietnam localities will accelerate tourism pro-
and Japan and offers an opportunity to motion in Japan, open their tourism of-
promote Hoi An, a world heritage site, fices in Japan and organise Japanese
to international friends, said Vo Phung, language courses for their small traders
Director of the Hoi An Culture and Sport and tourist guides.
Centre.
Japan and central Vietnam in general

and Hoi An in particular treasured a
time-honoured traditional relationship,
Vietnam Golf Coast
VIETNAM NEWS
sets spotlight on ‘best

courses in the country’

VIETNAM NEWS 7
T
he maturation of golf in Vietnam takes another step forward today with formation of
the Vietnam Golf Coast, a new partnership of golf and beach resorts in the Central
Coast city of Danang. The consortium’s web hub, www.vietnamgolfcoast.com, also
goes live today.
Vietnam’s standing as an up-an-coming golf destination is no secret, but establishment of
the Vietnam Golf Coast coordinates for tourists the country’s top new courses with its fin-
est hotels and beaches, all in one place. That place is a comely stretch of sand in Danang,
20 minutes from an international airport that sits within 2-hour flights of both Singapore and
Hong Kong.
Indeed, the first of 30 regularly scheduled charter flights to Danang out of Hong Kong on
Vietnam Airlines will commence Sept. 17, and will fly every Tuesday and Friday thereafter.
The founding members of The Vietnam Golf Coast are:
• Montgomerie Links Vietnam: Designed by sitting European Ryder Cup Captain Colin
Montgomerie and opened in August 2009, Monty Links was recently ranked 7th on the list
of top courses in all of Southeast Asia.
• Danang Golf Club: Crafted by legend Greg Norman and opened to wide acclaim in May
2010, the Dunes Course at Danang GC is “as close as you’ll come (in Asia) to the UK’s
great links courses,” according to Golf Digest Singapore.
• The Nam Hai: An ultra-luxurious, all-villa property, The Nam Hai is the most highly ac-
claimed resort in the country. It was named to Travel+Leisure magazine’s “It List” when it
opened in 2007, and won Best Resort in T+L’s design competition the following year.
• Life Resort Danang: The region’s newest 5-star hotel (it opened in March 2010), Life
Resort Danang is set on five hectares fronting beautiful Bac My An beach. Its nearby sister
property in Hoi An is on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List and won a Reader’s Choice
Award.
• Golfasian Vietnam: The leading golf tour operator in Southeast Asia, Golfasian Vietnam
has been named Official Tour Operator of the Vietnam Golf Coast.
Golfasian has arranged more than 17,000 golf trips to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam
since 2001, yet CEO Mark Siegel sees the emergence of Danang as something of a break-
through.
“The golf offerings in Danang are new, but a variety of factors have conspired to peg Dan-
ang as the top golf destination in the country, and one of the best in all of Southeast Asia,”
Siegel said. “For starters, I think Danang Golf Club and Montgomerie Links are the best
two courses in the country. There are several excellent courses in Ho Chi Minh City and
Hanoi, but they’re all at least an hour from downtown hotels or the airports.
Just south of Danang, 20 minutes from The Nam Hai and Life Resort Danang, sits the
UNESCO World Heritage city of Hoi An - with its extraordinary history, dining and shop-
ping. To the north lies Hue, the last imperial capital of Vietnam. Bathing the entire region
with its warm tropical waters is the East Sea, home to some of the country’s freshest sea-
food and top SCUBA locales in Southeast Asia.
It’s no accident that American armed forces chose Danang as the center of its R&R culture
during the Vietnam War.
“What you have here is a year-round beach culture that has, in the last five years, added
the sort of sophistication and amenities that have made the world take notice: 5-star hotels,
casinos, golf, and transportation infrastructure,” said Howie Roberts, general manager of
Danang Golf Club, which will add a second 18 in 2012.
In Danang, the golf and airline offerings appear to have come of age simultaneously. While
a new international airport will open in 2011, Danang already accommodates international
flights from Singapore and Guangzhou, in addition to regular connecting service from
both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Shanghai Airlines will soon commence a twice-a-week
charter service from its hub, Shanghai, to complement those Vietnam Airlines has sched-
uled from Hong Kong, starting in September.
8 VIETNAM NEWS
Quang Binh aims

to develop tourism
T
ourism sector pays an important role in improv-
ing the social-economic development in the
central province of Quang Binh. Also, the prov-
ince plans to develop tourism as a key industry with
huge investment in upgrading the infrastructure and
changing operational methods in the near future.
Over the last few years, Quang Binh has concentrated

on developing their transportation system. The prov-
ince has built a road along the coast linking famous
tourist sites, such as Nhat Le, Quang Phu and Da Nhay
beaches, to the Dong Hoi airport. In May, the province
started the construction of a new road, at a cost of VND
180 billion. Otherwise, the Dong Hoi airport is being
upgraded at the cost of more than VND 212 billion with
the aim at attracting more domestic and foreign tour-
ists. Furthermore, with support from the Ministry of
Transportation, the Quang Binh province spent more
than VND 1 trillion to upgrade a 300 km road from the
Cha Lo International Border Gate to the Hon La sea
port, and foreign tourists from Laos and Thailand can
now visit tourist sites in the province, along with cara-
van tours between Vietnam – Laos and Thailand. Ad-
ditionally, the Dong Duong Company is constructing
an 820 ha tourist area with VND 253 billion, near the
Bang Geyser. This is a high-grade tourist site connect-
ing other sites in the province.
Arriving in Dong Hoi city, tourists will have a chance to

visit the Nhat Le Bridge, and to stay at high-end tourist
areas, such as the My Canh – Bao Ninh eco-tourism
resorts and the VND 500 billion Sun Spa resort with
high-standard facilities, such as 4 star hotels, asports
complex and entertainment spots. Dong Hoi also has a
chain of hotels with more than 2,000 luxury rooms.
As the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park became

recognized as a World Heritage site, more domestic
and foreign tourists have visited Quang Binh.
In the first seven months of this year, the province wel-

comed nearly half a million tourists. This is a 20% in-
crease when compared to the same period last year.
In particular, the number of international tourists has
increased by 63.58%. The Phong Nha – Ke Bang Na-
tional Park received 7,000 visits a day on the occasion
of April 30th and May 1st alone. The province targets
to welcome 1 million visitors this year. The tour enti-
tled “Central Region’s Heritage Road” is expected to
attract a lot of tourist to Quang Binh.
To reach this target, the province needs to improve

promotional programs and quality of its tourism staff.
In addition, the province should work together with
travel agencies in other provinces to develop tourism.
VIETNAM NEWS 9
Saigontourist to
build new marinas
The Saigontourist Holding Company (Saigontourist) has planned to
build marinas at several localities nationwide with the aim at offering
a new model of tourism and diversifying its tourism products.
Nguyen Huu Tho, General Director of Saigontourist said “Marinas is
expected to build in Ninh Chu, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Nha Trang and Da
Nang in the near future.”
“A marina is currently under construction in Ho Coc in the southern
coastal Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. Some of our partners said that
they are willing to collaborate with us if we have new marinas”, Tho
added.
According to Tho, in addition to the plan to build marinas at the
localities, Saigontourist has been carrying out its project to build a
wharf in Nha Be district, Ho Chi Minh city, as well as launching vari-
ous activities to promote this kind of tourism in Vietnam.
Agreement to boost tourism ties

between Vietnam and China
Tourism leaders of Vietnam and China to show the needs of Chinese travelers to Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and
signed an agreement in Hanoi on August 9 Vietnamese travel firms. Tourism and China National Tourism Admin-
to tighten cooperation in a large swath of istration have also agreed to join hands in
areas from training and joint marketing to For marketing activities, the two sides will tapping the tourism potential of the Ban Gioc
development of new tourism products. join hands to promote tourism images on na- – De Tian fall in the borderline between the
tional televisions, and invite media to come two countries as soon as possible.
The agreement, signed between Vietnam’s and organize food festivals. CNTA will help
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Vietnam’s tourism to organize road shows in Hung said that the agreement was inked on
head of China National Tourism Administra- Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fuchien of China in next the working and promotion trip conducted
tion (CNTA), is aimed at increasing the num- month. by China’s tourism in the country.
ber of tourists visiting each other’s country
to three million a year, the source said. For the development of tourism products, the China National Tourism Administration
two administrations will cooperate to build on Monday organized a road show in the
Pham Quang Hung, head of the International tourist routes through the two countries to capital city of Hanoi to promote its tourism
Cooperation Division under the Vietnam woo both Chinese, Vietnamese travelers and image to Vietnamese guests. The event will
National Administration of Tourism, told that visitors from third countries. be repeated in HCMC on August 11.
tourism entrepreneurs of the two sides will
increase meetings to exchange information Hung said that the two sides shared the view China is the biggest market of Vietnam’s
and policies relating to their business. in developing sea tourism, and agreed to inbound tourism with nearly 512,000 arrivals
make survey trips for developing products reported in the seven months of this year, up
CNTA will teach the Chinese language for and the infrastructure system for this kind of 95.4% year-on-year. The figure is expected
employees of Vietnam’s hotels and res- tourism. to rise to one million this year.
taurants along with organizing seminars
10 VIETNAM NEWS
Ministry calls for developing

tourism infrastructure
The development of tourism in each country relies on the development of appropriate infrastruc-
ture, which services a tourist’s needs and encourages investment by the private sector in competi-
tive tourism product. Realizing the urgent infrastructure effects, The Ministry of Culture, Sports
and Tourism has submitted a plan to develop tourism infrastructure for the 2010-2015 period focus-
ing on localities that put on priority in the years to come.

VIETNAM NEWS 11
T
he Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has submitted to the central
Government a plan to develop tourism infrastructure for the 2010-2015
period focusing on localities that put on priority in the years to come.
On the ministry’s website also calls for investment from both the State
budget and private sources in order to enhance infrastructure in key
localities, Central Highlands provinces as well as 21 national tourism parks. Beside
key localities, neighboring provinces like HCMC, Hanoi, Hue and Danang are also in
key tourism centers.
The ministry has pointed out that big investments are needed to develop the coun-
try’s important tourist routes. The projects should include a section linking the North-
South railway with the trans-Asia railway, the international sea route through Quang
Ninh, Danang, Khanh Hoa and HCMC, the East-West tourism route via Lao Bao border
gate, the international route from China’s Yunnan to Lao Cai, Hanoi, Hai Phong, and
Quang Ninh.
In the list are also the waterway in the Greater Mekong Sub region that passes along
the Mekong River to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and China, Ho
Chi Minh trail, and the route of world heritage sites in the country.
According to the plan, the State Budget should cover around 80% to 100% of total
investment for infrastructure project in remote areas, and around 15% to 20% for proj-
ects in other tourism centers, therefore, the tourism industry needs to map out priority
projects in each year to call for investors, with the State Budget targeted as the major
source of investment.
The ministry mentioned some other investment forms like Build-Operate-Transfer

(BOT), and “land in exchange for infrastructure” among others.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said Vietnam has attracted 2,91
million international tourists from January-July. The country is expected to welcome
seven to eight million visitors by 2015 and 11-12 million by 2020 as envisaged in the
tourism development strategy for this decade.

12 VIETNAM NEWS
Vietnam remains attractive

for tourists and investors
According to a report of Research and Market Company said trends of foreign investment in Vietnam, taxation issues, and bank-
major changes over the past three decades have made Vietnam ing system. It also provides details on legal basis, forms of foreign
become an attractive destination for tourists, investors, and busi- investment, merger and acquisition, regulation and licensing in
nesses worldwide. telecommunications, privatisation and liberalisation of the telecom
market, and the new telecommunications law.
In July 2010 report on Vietnam Investment Environment, the lead-
ing supplier of international market research and market data, Recently, U.K. newspaper, the Financial Times ranked the South-
added that Vietnam is a developing and an ambitious country. In east Asian country as a promising market for foreign investors
the summary report posted on “http://www.researchandmarkets. thanks to its cheap and abundant labor costs and political stability.
com”, the company is in the opinion that it is worth risk taking for
making investment or doing business in Vietnam. Vietnam licensed 533 foreign-invested projects totaling $8.4 billion
and allowed 137 existing projects to add their capital by $715 mil-
Vietnam’s renewal process since 1986, which is considered as the lion between January and July. Foreign investors disbursed a total
greatest transformation of the country from its reunification, makes of $6.4 billion in the country during the period.
foreign investors understand about Vietnam. In 2007, Vietnam’s This year, the Southeast Asian country expects to attract $25 billion
entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2007 has helped and disburse $11 billion in FDI this year, up 16.38% and 10% on-
facilitate the Southeast Asian country’s global integration. year, respectively.
The company provides details on key macroeconomic indicators,
Fifteen tour guides battle

it out for top award
Fifteen tour guides have gathered to won the best dubbing award thanks to his
compete in the final round of the second presentation on Hoi An Town.
National Tour Guide Competition held in
Hanoi on August 15. Runners-up Nguyen Hong Nguyen from
Hanoitourist and Nguyen Quynh from the
The 15 shortlist contestants were selected Saigontourist won 4 million VND cash
from 50 candidates from 14 cities and prizes and a trip for two people to Malay-
provinces nationwide. They have per- sia and Singapore.
formed in a range of categories, includ-
ing video tape dubbing, questions and Vice general director of the Vietnam Na-
answer session, and foreign-language tional Administration of Tourism Nguyen
speaking contest. Manh Cuong said the competition aimed
to honour tour guides and reward those
Tour guide Huynh Cong Hieu from the who excelled at their job, helping contrib-
Saigontourist won first prize, worth 5 ute towards improving the Vietnamese
million VND and a tour package for two tourism industry.
people to the Republic of Korea. He also
VIETNAM NEWS 13
Asian music, and the 17th Viet Nam Film
National Tourism Year 2011 - Festival. The provinces will also launch 12
other events as part of the National Tour-
Paradise for Sea and Island ism Year.
Phu Yen province has 77 accommodation

sites with 1700 chamber, of these, 800
chambers offer the same service level
as three-star hotels and daily flights from
Hanoi – Tuy Hoa and Tuy Hoa – HCMC in
five flights per week.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tour- from March to November next year and
ism in co-ordination with the Phu Yen be co-organised with several neighbour-
People’s Committee held a meeting to ing provinces (i.e. Quang Nam, Quang
discuss activities for National Tourism Ngai, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan,
Year 2011 in the central coastal province. Binh Thuan, Da Nang and Central High-
land provinces), featuring events such as
The National Tourism year themed Para- climb Da Bia Mountain, Viet Nam-Korea
dise for Sea and Island Tourism will last cultural exchanges, traditional Southeast
Ha Long Bay ranks 2nd

in world wonders voting
Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay won second larg- and Tourism has worked with the Ha Long
est number of international votes over the Bay Management Board to open a photo
past four weeks in the campaign voting for exhibition in New York City of the US from
the world’s seven new natural wonders. 11-18 August.
The information was released by the In the coming time, a wide range of activi-
NewOpenWorld on its website www.new7- ties to vote for Ha Long Bay will continue
wonders.com on August 16. to take place in many countries across the
world.
The voting for Ha Long Bay has achieved
satisfactory results in several countries To vote for Ha Long bay, twice recognised
like Japan, the Republic of Korea, France by the UNESCO for its landscapes and
and Mexico. geological values, please visit the web-
site www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/
Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports vote_on_nominees
days to come 1,000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi
Thanh Hoa to hold Lam Kinh festival to mark Hanoi’s birthday

According to the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Commit-
tee, Lam Kinh festival – the biggest festival of the province
will be held in the framework of a programme to mark the
1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.
The festival, currently, has not been officially announced
but is expected to take place in late September or early
October.
The festival commemorates the national hero Le Loi, who
defeated Chinese Ming invaders and brought indepen-
dence to his people, becoming the first king of the Le dy-
nasty with the title Le Thai To 580 years ago.
Construction of the Lam Kinh citadel, also known as Tay
Kinh (West citadel) began in 1433. The citadel is located
in Xuan Lam Commune, approximately 50 kilometers from
Thanh Hoa City, in north-west Vietnam.
The citadel is both an original imperial temple of the latter
Le dynasty and the historic location of the Tay Son upris-
ing. Lam Kinh sits in a stately manner on the Chu River,
with Chu Son mountain in the distance and with its back
to Dau mountain. It lays a leisurely arm on Phu Lam forest
and Ngoc mountain on the eastern side, and another on the Huong and Ham Rong range of mountains on the western side. While the citadel
still enjoys the natural scenery of hills and rivers around it, many architectural works inside have been destroyed.
However recent preservation projects have restored some of the more significant artifacts, such as the main palace, tombstone houses, King
Le’s temple, the temple of national hero Le Lai and King Le Hien Tong’s tomb and stele, to name a few.
Lam Kinh citadel covers an area of more than 86,000 square meters.
According to Ho Quang Son, cities and 37 outstanding cor-

Chairman of the Inter-Asso- porations, enterprises and in-
ciation of Lam Kinh Culture dividuals nationwide.
Heritage, said 100 bronze The drums are reproduc-
drums has been casted to tions of Quang Xuong, Hoang
mark the anniversary of 1,000 Ha, Ngoc Lu and Dong Son
years of Thang Long – Hanoi bronze drums, after its com-
and will be showcased at the pletion, each drum weighs
Temple of Literature on the 60kg with a diameter of 60cm
occasion of Vietnam’s Nation- and height of 48cm. The big-
al Day (2nd September). And gest drum has diameter of 1
then, these bronze drums will meter and a height of 79cm
be performed during the cel- and it is carved 1,000 drag-
ebration of the 1,000 years of ons.
Thang Long – Hanoi. Casting the 100 bronze drums
The handout ceremony of 100 for the occasion of the 1,000th
kettledrums to the National anniversary of Thang Long-
Steerage Board of the 1,000th Hanoi is a social project,
anniversary of Thang Long- which is co-organised by the
Hanoi and the biggest drum National Steerage Board of
carved 1,000 dragons to the the 1,000 years of Thang Long-
Hanoi People’s Committee Hanoi, the Vietnam Associa-
will take place on August 29th tion of Historical Science, the
at the Temple of Literature. Vietnam Association of Heri-
According to the plan of the tage, the Inter-Association of
Organizing Board, when the Lam Kinh Cultural Heritage
great festival ends, the 100 and the Thanh Hoa Associa-
bronze drums will be pre- tion of Antiques.
sented to 63 provinces and

days to come 1,000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi
1,000 metre long kite to welcome the 1,000 years of

Thang Long - Hanoi
The 1,000 metre long kite made by craftsman gained the first prize at the kite competition
Nguyen Thanh Van will fly at the great cel- in India.
ebration of Thang Long – Hanoi. “I spent all my life playing kites, not because
Nguyen Thanh Van has had over more than of fame and fortune but because it is passion,
half a century of strong attachment to kites it’s like a second “partner”. I didn’t think this
and many times he obtained the glory at do- game of little children has followed me for
mestic as well as international competitions. the years. And now, it is sudden that my kite
He attended six kite competitions in Hue. In flies so far,” he said.
2006, his dragon kite, which was 100 metres “I thought of making a special kite to mark
in length and 1,7 metres in width, became the the nation’s giant celebration for three year
first recorded kite in the Vietnam Guinness ago,” he added.
Book of World Records. During the past three years, he designed a
At the kite competitions in China in Septem- reasonable for this kite, and the idea of mak-
ber 2009, his traditional flute kite gained the ing 1,000 meters kite has been formed. The
second prize. special kite will fly in the Hanoi sky in the up-
In February 2010, the Phuong Hoang kite coming great anniversary.
Hai Phong’s tourism week Cuban Granma newspaper highlight-

ed Hanoi’s celebration
to mark the Hanoi’s giant
anniversary
The Cuban Granma newspa- can avoid bombs of the US im-

per on 9th August published perialism.
an article entitled “Hanoi – the Instead there are images of
city of the Past and Future” spacious and large bridges
written by famous female re- and new urban areas. Tens
porter Marta Roja on the occa- of projects, important in both
sion of the 1,000 th anniversary economic as well as social
of Thang Long-Hanoi. fields, will be inaugurated to
The article opened with Ha- celebrate the great festival.
noi’s history 1,000 years ago Specifically, Visitors to mod-
when King Ly Thai To moved ern Hanoi will be pleasantly
the capital from a mountainous surprised to see a colourful,
region in Ninh Binh province 6-km long ceramic mosaic mu-
to the Red River Delta, where ral along the Red River which
he decided to establish the has been created by Vietnam-
capital named Thang Long ese and foreign artists during
(Ascending Dragon). recent years. It is a great art
Vietnam has chosen the day work which lasts several ki-
Illustrated picture
of October 10th, which liber- lometers and has been con-
ates Hanoi from the yoke of ducted by Vietnamese artists
The northern port city of Hai Phong will organise the first Culture, French colonialism in 1954, to and international friends over
Sports and Tourism Week from 28th September to 2nd October organize the 1,000th anniver- several recent years. The work
in response to the grand ceremony of the 1,000th celebration of sary of Thang Long-Hanoi. In has created new colors and a
Thang Long-Hanoi. the autumn days, Hanoi streets beautiful area for the long sub-
will become more radiant with urban route.
The city’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department said the week, splendors of grass, flowers Journalist Marta Roja, a close
which is expected to be held annually, aims to encourage service and colors of sparkling lights friend of the Vietnamese peo-
and tourism businesses to expand production and diversify and on nights. ple, affirmed that Hanoi, with
raise the quality of their products. The author, who recently visits legend of Sword Lake and
ited Vietnam, wrote that Hanoi resilient struggles against for-
The week will include the second lion dance contest, a gastronom- now no longer shows shelter- eign invaders, will be remem-
ic festival, an artefacts, drinks and tourism exhibition, water puppet pits on pavement so people bered forever.
shows, folk games and other traditional art performances.

VIETNAM NEWS

VIETNAM NEWS

18 INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Visa offers pre-paid card

for Youth Olympics
Even before the first medal has been awarded, history was made
as an estimated 25,000 spectators enjoyed easy entry into the
inaugural Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony venue by
using the world’s first all-in-one Visa Prepaid card that combines
event ticketing, payment and transit functions.
Those attending the Youth Olympic Games Opening and Closing

Ceremonies have been issued with the all-in-one Visa Prepaid
card which serves as the entry ticket into Marina Bay Floating
Platform venue. The card also allows ticket holders to purchase
food, beverages and souvenirs at Youth Olympic Games venues
and enjoy free public transport1 to and from the venue.
Visa is the official payment services sponsor and the only card
accepted at this inaugural Youth Olympic Games. As a world-
wide sponsor and partner of the Olympic Games since 1986, this
is the 14th Olympic Games supported by Visa.
This is the first time spectators to any Olympic event are using
a Visa Prepaid card as an entry ticket. Chan said: “Visa worked
closely with the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Organiz-
ing Committee, DBS Bank, EZ-Link and Watchdata to develop
this truly innovative technology. It’s a landmark moment which
we’re proud to share with some 25,000 spectators from around
the world.”
The all-in-one Visa Prepaid cards are issued by Singapore 2010

Youth Olympic Games partner DBS Bank and will function as a
reloadable electronic payment prepaid card and transit pass
during and after the Youth Olympic Games. Cardholders can
load value on the card at all DBS ATM kiosks, through DBS’s
online banking website, selected SingPost branches and at AXS
stations across Singapore.
JAL’s quarterly traffic

declines
Xi’an picked to host
China’s next Expo
Japan voted world’s
JAL Group has announced its inter-
national passenger traffic results
Xi’an has been picked to host the
2011 International Horticultural
third safest
for the quarter ending 30 June 2010, Exposition. The 183-day Expo will
The Land of the Rising Sun has been ranked the third most
with traffic declining 2.6%, to 2.36 be held from 11 April to 11 October
million passengers. Demand, mea- in Xi’an Chanba Ecological District. peaceful country in the world, according to the recently
sured in revenue passenger kilome- Xi’an is the third Chinese city to released 2010 Global Peace Index (GPI) compiled by the
tres (RPK) fell 3.3% on the back of a host the event, following Kunming Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
19.3% reduction in capacity, leading and Shenyang. The 418-hectare
to a much improved load factor of Expo Park features garden designs Japan was ranked only behind New Zealand and Iceland
72.1%. Domestic passenger num- by master gardeners, expected to in the fourth annual GPI, which comprised of 23 peace
bers dropped 0.4% year-on-year, attract some 12 million people. indicators including safety and security in society, and
with load factors averaging 58.0% 32 related factors including civil liberties and hostility to
for the quarter. IHG profits rise in first foreigners/private property.
half of 2010
Sofitel launches new Renowned for its high level of safety and low levels of
The InterContinental Hotels Group
wine programme (IHG) has announced its results for crime, Japan has some of the most honest people in the
Sofitel Luxury Hotels has launched the first half of 2010, with operat- world, too. Figures recently released by the Metropolitan
new series of wine tasting discov- ing profits increasing 22% yearly to Police Department said that 2,332,904 items were handed
eries around Asia Pacific. ‘Voyage US$219 million. Revenue rose 6% in as ‘found items’ in Tokyo in 2008. Among the most com-
du Vin’ has seen Sofitel partner to US$772 million. The hotel group mon items were umbrellas, clothing, wallets, ID cards
some world-renowned wineries, added a net total of 65 hotels in the and mobile phones. The amount of cash among the lost
including the Catena Zapata from first half, taking its total inventory property totaled 2.7 billion yen which equates to approxi-
Argentina, Nederburg and Fleur to 656,661 rooms (4,503 hotels),
mately AU$34.5 million. The 2010 GPI ranked 149 nations of
du Cap from South Africa, Howard up 4% from the same period last
Park from Australia, Perrin & Fils year. In Asia Pacific, IHG’s revPAR the world by their peacefulness, finding that the world has
from France, Frescobaldi from Italy, increased 13.0%. GreaterChina was become slightly less peaceful during the past year. The
and Delicato Family Vineyards from the strongest performing region three least peaceful countries according to the Index were
the US. with RevPAR growth of 29.4%. Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 19
Ritz-Carlton hits new heights in HK Ritz - Carlton Dove Mountain Tucson
T
he Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C at 50sqm for a Deluxe Room, and reaching ing rooms, the total of 1,300sqm of meeting
will make a magnificent return to an incredible 365sqm for the magnificent space will become the new social centre for
Hong Kong when it opens the world’s Ritz-Carlton Suite, all rooms provide state- Hong Kong and will set the benchmark for
highest hotel in the city in the first quarter of of-the-art technology including WiFi, iPod events in the region.
2011. docking stations and stylish flat screen TVs.
In addition, Club room guests will enjoy the For those wishing to relax and indulge, the
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, which will panoramic Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge with ESPA located on 116th floor and consisting
occupy floors 102 to 118 of the International complimentary food and beverage presenta- of 860sqm of treatment rooms and relaxation
Commerce Centre (ICC) in Kowloon, will tions 24 hours a day, as well as a dedicated area, will re-define the urban spa experi-
be a stylish and thoroughly modern hotel Club Concierge, work stations, meeting ence in the city and across Asia. Featuring
that truly reflects the sophistication, style rooms and WiFi throughout. nine deluxe treatment rooms and three
and elegance of the Ritz-Carlton brand in a couples’ suites, every treatment room offers
contemporary way. One of the unique aspects of the hotel, floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic
which reflects a move to more casual el- views where a world-class team of profes-
“Hong Kong is one of the world’s great cities egance of The Ritz-Carlton brand, will be its sional therapists ensure a spa experience
and we are delighted to be returning with bars and restaurants, which have been styl- like no other. The hotel also features a fully
such an iconic and dynamic hotel,” said ishly designed by Japan’s Spin Studio and equipped fitness centre and an indoor pool
Simon Cooper, president and COO of The Wonderwall. With six dining venues starting on the 118th floor with a 28m x 7m LED
Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. “Occupying on the 102nd floor, including state-of-the-art screen on the ceiling that can display im-
the top 16 floors of the ICC tower in Hong designer Chinese and Italian restaurants, ages. In the podium of the ICC tower, the
Kong is a truly unique location for a hotel, and lobby lounge, the alfresco rooftop bar 1,000,000sqm Elements shopping mall offers
offering panoramic views across Victoria will be a truly stunning venue at 490 meters some of the finest shopping in Hong Kong
Harbour and Hong Kong Island. Modern in above sea level with outstanding views over with luxury brand names featured through-
design, the hotel will be the heart and soul Hong Kong. Asian-style tapas and contem- out this world-class location. The ICC will
of Hong Kong and will attract visitors from porary cocktails will be served on the roof also host an Observation Deck on the 100th
all over the world for its world-class style, terrace, where fire pits and casual seating floor and offer direct connections to Hong
design, service and its landmark loca- will create an atmosphere of stylish luxury. Kong International Airport in 20 minutes and
tion.” With interiors by Singapore’s LTW The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong will boast Central Hong Kong in five minutes. The Ritz-
in a building developed by Hong Kong’s one of the largest ballrooms in the city at Carlton, Hong Kong will be very much at the
premier developer Sun Hung Kai Properties 930sqm. Elaborately decorated with a sea heart of the city and will become a must-see
working with New York architects KPF, the of crystal chandeliers, the décor is suited tourist attraction when it opens in the first
hotel will offer 312 guest rooms all providing to weddings, meetings and gala events. quarter of 2011.
spectacular city and harbour views. Starting Complimented by an additional four meet-

Koh Rong Island - Cambodia
Cambodia’s Royal Group

Unveils Master Plan
The Royal Group of Cambodia has A working seaport will service island’s demand for food produce
unveiled its visionary Master Plan ferries, equipment and supply ship- - and provide employment for the
to transform the pristine island of ments, and roll-on, roll-off opera- island’s indigenous fishing com-
Koh Rong into an environmentally tions. munity, estimated at around 300
planned resort destination. families.
A separate marina will accommo-
A 6-month study was conducted by date pleasure boats, yachts and This includes the possibility of an
MAP Architects of Hong Kong and cruise ships, with a boardwalk of international university-style educa-
Focusing on
environmental consultants Scott high quality,
boutiques, restaurants, bars and tional project dedicated entirely to
Wilson. sustainable guesthouses. environmental sustainability.
tourism, it
details how
With a 5-year timetable for the first the “next Asian
Three golf courses are ultimately Koh Rong features an abundance of
phase, and ultimate completion Riviera” – fol- envisaged in the long-term, with natural attractions including coral
in 25 years, the plan is one of the lowing Phuket, the initial phase of development reefs, tropical palms, rainforest, wa-
Koh Samui and
most far-sighted visions in global Bali – will be
planned to include a small 9-hole terfalls, sparkling turquoise waters
hospitality. created from option. and 28 pure white sand beaches
scratch. – including one of the most spec-
The Master Plan has identified lo- To meet demand for fresh water, tacular in the region stretching 6
cations for a range of 3-star to 5-star environmental consultants Scott kilometres.
properties. “Although the island is Wilson explored a number of op-
mostly a luxury destination, there tions – from small reservoirs and The Royal Group, one of Cam-
will be something for everybody,” dams to tapping spring water from bodia’s largest corporations with
said Mr Clarke. a deep aquifa well beneath the substantial interests in property and
island. “It will also be compulsory infrastructure development, has
An international airport in the centre for developers to trap rainwater on been granted a 99-year lease by the
of the island will allow international their roofs,” said Mr Clarke. Cambodian government to develop
flights by aircraft such as the A320 Koh Rong.
Airbus, operated by charter airlines The sustainability vision extends to
and carriers like Air Asia, Thai Air- organic farming and fish-husbandry
ways and Bangkok Airways. projects to meet much of the
Swiss-Garden Hotel KL
launches taxi campaign
Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Kuala Lumpur inaugurated a
new brand element with the recent launch of the taxi campaign.
The campaign was initiated to introduce the new residences,
slated to be ready by early 2011, alongside with the Ministry of
Tourism’s effort to enhance service standards. A collaboration
effort with Bonus Tours & Travels and Limo Cab, the taxi cam-
paign was successfully held on the 10th of August 2010 at the
hotel drive way.
More than 30 taxi drivers lined the hotel driveway while Ms Lily
Chiok, Vice-President of Business Development of Swiss-Garden
International and General Manager, Mr Rayan Komatt installed
the car stickers onto the taxis. The event followed with distribu-
tion of goodie bags to the taxi drivers as a token of appreciation
by Operations Manager, Mr Samuel Wong.
“We believe taxi drivers are the best brand ambassadors as they
have daily interactions with guests and the tourists alike”, said
Mr Rayan Komatt, General Manager of Swiss-Garden Hotel &
Residences Kuala Lumpur. He also added that taxi drivers are
the perfect spokesperson due to their mobility and accessibility
Swiss - Garden hotel - Kuala lumpur around Kuala Lumpur.
New fee for visitors from US

Visa Waiver countries
According to the Department of Homeland Security announced trav-

ellers visiting the US from visa waiver countries, such as Singapore,
Japan, South Korea and Australia, will now have to pay USD$14 from
8th September 2010. The fee will be charged when they apply for an
Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).
The new levy is to help fund the Corporation for Travel Promotion,
created when the 2009 Travel Promotion Act was signed into law by
President Barack Obama earlier this year. Commerce Secretary Gary
Locke said: “Creating a tourism promotion programme to encourage
international visitors to vacation in America will help spur economic
growth and create more jobs.”
The initiative has the potential to create 40,000 new jobs and gener-
ate US$4 billion in new visitor spending, predicts think tank Oxford
Economics. Should this happen, the Congressional Budget Office
believes the federal budget deficit will shrink by US$425 million in
the next 10 years.
Travel and tourism is the top services export for the US, totaling
US$120 billion and supporting more than one million American jobs.
Overseas visitors spend an average of US$4,000 per person per trip
in the US.
F
or the first time in its history, New Caledonia
New Caledonia to host Melanesian Arts Festival

will host the Melanesian Arts Festival, cel-
ebrating the traditional and contemporary arts
from all the countries of the region.
Ten years after holding the 8th Festival of the Pacific

Arts and on the eve of the 2011 Pacific Games,
hosting the Melanesian Arts Festival promises to be
a cultural, technical and economical challenge for
the entire country and its people.
Every festival, since the very first event was held,

has always been organized around a particular
theme that expresses the spirit in which the host
country wishes to greet its visitors.
From 12-24 September 2010, a thousand festival at-
tendees from New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands,
Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu will come to
share their talent and experiences with the public.
The great innovation for the 2010 event will involve

four ‘outrigger canoes’ that will travel from the
village of Kone, through the entire length of New
Caledonia, passing through the eight customary
land tenures of the Territory to finish their trip on 24
September 2010, in Noumea on New Caledonia’s
citizenship celebration day.
The Festival Opening will be held on 12 September

2010 in Kone, on account of the economic and sym-
bolic significance of this community. Indeed, it was
on the beach of Lapita, near Kone, where the first
remnants of the Lapita civilization were found: the
original and historic connection linking the different
populations of Melanesia.
Following this first stage of the event, the festi-

val attendees will be divided into four groups of
‘outrigger canoes’ composed of members of each
delegation. They will travel to the four following
destinations:
• One outrigger canoe to Hienghene and Canala,

• One outrigger canoe to Bourail and La Foa,
• One outrigger canoe to Lifou, Mare and Ouvea
• One outrigger canoe to Noumea.
After spending about three days at each location,

all the outrigger canoes will head back to Noumea.
The following activities will be held in each hosting

communities:
• Performing Arts: concerts, dance, modern the-

atre, traditional expressions (choir, music, dances,
songs, instruments ...) etc.
• Visual Arts: contemporary visual arts, cinema,
video art etc.
• Handicrafts and traditional knowledge: fash-
ion, food, games, hunting and fishing techniques,
medicinal plants, etc.
• Workshops and forums: Music and Copyright
(symposium with the South Pacific Commission),
language and identity (with the Kanak language
academy), policies and custom (with the Custom-
ary Senate).

Willard Intercontinental Hotel - Washington DC with most markets seeing rate growth
towards the end of the first half. The eco-
nomic environment does remain uncertain,
however, with short booking windows and
limited visibility,” Mr Cosslett said.
The growth was driven by strong occupancy

rates, with business travellers returning in
greater number. Efforts during the economic
downturn to reduce costs, drive revenue
and build the strength of IHG’s system and
brands helped to accommodate this growth,
according to Mr Cosslett.
“In the first half we signed 130 hotels and

opened 148, despite the tough financing
environment. The quality of these new hotels
Greater China drives is exceptionally high, particularly in China
where both our pipeline and system of open
IHG’s half year results hotels are skewed towards more upscale
developments.”
Total gross revenue from all hotels in IHG’s
system was $8.9bn, up nine percent at con-
The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) leading the recovery with Greater China re- stant currency.
has released its financial results for the half porting RevPAR up 29.4 percent in the half,”
year to 30 June 2010, with solid performance Chief Executive of IHG, Andrew Cosslett Recent additions bring IHG’s total system
due to their leadership position in Greater said. to 656,661 rooms across 4,503 hotels, an
China. increase of four percent. IHG also signed a
Greater China’s strong regional perfor- further 19,126 rooms over 130 hotels, taking
“Trading strengthened as the first half pro- mance was boosted by the Global Expo in the pipeline to 197,431 rooms across 1,302
gressed with global Revenue per Available Shanghai where RevPAR grew 48.4 percent. hotels.
Room (RevPAR) up 3.9 percent overall and
7.4 percent in the second quarter. Asia is “Rates are now stabilising across the world,


across Thailand
T he Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will organise eight special events around
the theme of the famous Thai smile in a bid to rebuild the good image of Thai
tourism and facilitate the return to normalcy following the recent political distur-
bances.
Ms Pensuda Priaram, the TAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business,
said these activities is designed to help restore the liveliness of the Thai capital and
the provincial areas, rebuild confidence among foreign tourists and promote domes-
tic tourism. Details of the events are as follows:

“Smile@Siam” was held from 14 to 15 August 2010 during 10.00-22.00 hrs at Bang-
kok’s Siam Square shopping district and adjacent areas. It was a golden opportunity
for shoppers to purchase brand name products at discounted prices.
The first Smile in the Park (Musical in the Park) will be held from 21 to 22 August
2010 during 11.00-21.00 hrs at Lumpini Park, Bangkok.
International Taste 2010 Amazing Thailand will be held from 10 to 12 September 2010
at Fountain Courtyard, Siam Paragon and Bangkok.
“Smile@Khao San Road” which will be held from 11 to 12 September 2010 during
16.00-24.00 hrs at the popular backpacker area Khao San Road and Soi Rambudtree,
Bangkok.
The second Smile in the Park (Musical in the Park) will be held from 18 to 19 Sep-
tember 2010 during 11.00-21.00 hrs at Benjakitti Park, Bangkok.
Thai Tourism Festival @Udon Thani will be held from 27 to 29 August 2010 during
11.00-23.00 hrs at UD Town, Udon Thani province.
Thai Tourism Festival @Surat Thani will be held from 3 to 5 September 2010 during
11.00-22.00 hrs at Surat Thani Cooperative Office, Punpin district in Surat Thani.
Thai Tourism Festival @Suphan Buri which will be held from 24 to 26 September
2010, during 10.00-22.00 hrs at Suphan Buri Provincial Stadium in Suphan Buri.
The events in the three provinces are aimed at boosting domestic tourism between
the regions and contributing to a better distribution of tourism income across the
country.
TAT expects that these events will help both domestic and foreign tourists further
enjoy their shopping, entertainment and sight-seeing experience.
28 AVIATION NEWS

AVIATION NEWS 27
Vietnam Airlines offers online check-in services
Passengers must present their self-printed boarding

passes for confirmation at least 45 minutes prior to
departure time.
Le Hoang Dzung, Vietnam Airlines spokesman, said
in the trial run the service was implemented suc-
cessfully in domestic flights from Hanoi, Da Nang,
and Ho Chi Minh City. From August 16, the service
will be applied for international flights which depart
from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane in Laos,
Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia, Seoul
and Pusan in the Republic of Korea and Kuala Lum-
pur in Malaysia.
THAI Airways announces THAI Airways’ winter schedule sees the addition of new
daily flights to Tokyo’s Haneda airport, increased fre-
winter schedule quency to Nagoya from daily flights to 10 weekly and to

Fukuoka from five weekly flights to daily services.
The airline will also boost its Indian services, bumping
up flights to Kolkata from five flights weekly to daily ser-
vices and to Mumbai from daily to twice daily flights.
Other service upgrades cover four extra weekly servic-
es to Sydney to go up to 18 flights weekly; two additional
weekly flights to Oslo to go daily; and one extra flight to
Moscow going to four flights weekly.

28 AVIATION NEWS
Etihad
introduces All-Economy-Class Aircraft on Short-Haul Routes
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Air-

ways is introducing a number of
all-economy-class aircraft into its
short-haul fleet, for the first time.
In October, Etihad Airways will
introduce two Airbus A320s with
single cabins configured to car-
ry 162 passengers, an increase
of 42 from the current economy-
class capacity in its two-class
A320s.
The all-economy-class aircraft,
commencing in October, will
initially operate to destinations
with a low demand for premium
traffic. The airline identified Al-
exandria in Egypt, Colombo in
Sri Lanka, Damascus in Syria,
Doha in Qatar, and Calicut and
Thiruvananthapuram in India as
the markets with a high demand
for economy traffic.
The airline has plans to expand
the all-economy fleet to 10 air-
craft and involve more existing
Etihad destinations.
Etihad Airways CEO James Ho-
gan said: “Our all-economy
aircraft will allow us to offer a
more competitive product in
key markets in Asia, the Middle
East, North Africa and the Indian
Subcontinent, while maintaining
the high standards of service we
have become known for.”
As well as the service, the airline
said that the product will remain
unchanged, with all-economy
flights including seat back in-
flight entertainment screens and
hot and cold meals and beverag-
es. Each seat in the all-economy-
class aircraft will have a 32-inch
pitch.
Etihad Airways currently has 15
A320s in its fleet, with 35 more on
order from Airbus.

AVIATION NEWS 29
Tiger Airways Increases Distribution Channel in Malaysia

Tiger Airways is expanding its distribution network in Malaysia by powerful combination of low fares, convenience, and useful options
more than 14,000 times with the introduction of e-pay. such as Luggage UpsizeTM and boardmefirstTM.
Customers in Malaysia now have a convenient way to pay cash for Payment for Tiger Airways flights between Malaysia and Singapore
their Tiger Airways flights. can now be made using e-pay at the 4,000 Petronas kiosks across Ma-
laysia. Over the next few months, this payment option will be rolled
Rosalynn Tay, Managing Director of Tiger Airways Singapore, said, out to the remaining 10,000 e-pay outlets in convenience stores, phar-
“Our customers in Malaysia have been great supporters of our low, macies, and other retail outlets. After making bookings online, cus-
low fares. With e-pay, we bring a cash payment mode right to their tomers in Malaysia only need to select e-pay as the preferred pay-
doorsteps, making it more convenient for them to buy Tiger flights. ment method, and make payment at an epay outlet within 6 hours.
We look forward to serving more passengers from Malaysia with our
Air Mekong gets jets for October
Vietnamese startup carrier Air Mekong received four Canada-made SkyWest, the parents company of SkyWest Leasing Inc., says it already
planes chartered by US-based SkyWest Leasing Inc., another step to- invested US$7 million in a 30% stake of Air Mekong. SkyWest adds it has
ward the private airline’s launch of domestic services this October. personnel on site to provide technical expertise.
The 100% Vietnamese carrier plans to launch operations with domes- Air Mekong says it has recruited more than 40 pilots and is training 50
tic flights on October 10. It is set to sell ticket as of mid-September. flight attendants.
The planned services include Hanoi-Phu Quoc, Hanoi-Hochiminh City, The carrier was set up in 2009 as the third private airline in Vietnam
Hanoi-Phu Quoc, and flights from Hanoi to Danang, Nha Trang, Dalat after Indochina Airlines and VietJet Air. Indochina has stopped opera-
and routes from HCMC to Danang, Nha Trang, Dalat, Con Dao Island, tions due to losses, while VietJet does not fly yet. Currently operational
Buon Ma Thuot, Hai Phong and Vinh. airlines in Vietnam are national carrier Vietnam Airlines, its subsidiary
The carrier is waiting for approval from the Civil Aviation Administra- Vietnam Air Service Co. (VASCO), and Jetstar Pacific.
tion of Vietnam. Air Mekong has not announced its fares yet.

30 AVIATION NEWS
New United Airlines Vietnam Airlines re-launches

announce new brand identity HCM City-Nagoya air route
After a halt of more
than two years and
a half due to global
economic downturn
Vietnam Airlines
resumed its direct
flights between Ho
Chi Minh City and
Japan’s Nagoya.
The national flag
United Airlines and font, joined with the UNITED name on the carrier operates two
Continental Airlines global mark which fuselage. weekly flights on
revealed refinements has represented Both airlines have Mondays and Friday,
to the visual branding Continental’s brand earned strong brand using Airbus 321.
for the new global image since 1991. recognition in one of With this re-launch-
airline that will result the world’s most vis- ing, the corporation
from the proposed A corresponding up- ible and highly com- expands its Japan
merger between the date of the combined petitive businesses. network to eight
two airlines. airline’s aircraft liv- The new visual iden- routes connecting
ery will adopt Conti- tity builds upon the Vietnam’s Hanoi and
The new logo dis- nental’s livery, colors significant value of Hochiminh City with
plays the combined and design, includ- each airline’s current four major cities in
company’s brand ing its blue-gold- brand, while advanc- Japan namely Tokyo,
name in capital let- white globe image ing the combined Osaka, Nagoya and
ters (UNITED) in a on the tail, combined airline’s future brand Fukuoka, with 45
custom sans-serif with the new-style image. flights weekly in all.
Tiger Airways Reports Strong passenger volumes in July 2010

Tiger Airways reported strong passenger volumes and load
factors in July 2010.
From August 2009 to July 2010, a total of 5.4 million passengers
chose to fly with Tiger Airways, an increase of 51% over the 3.6
million passengers who booked in the preceding 12 months.
Average Load factors increased by 5 percentage points to an
average of 86% of seats being filled from August 2009 to July
2010 compared to 81% in the previous 12 months.
The number of passengers in July 2010 grew 42% over last year
to 523,000. The average load factor across both airlines in Asia
and Australia for the month was a very strong 89%.

AVIATION NEWS 31
Air China Becomes Strategic Partner of CIFIT
Air China became the only airline partner of

the 14th, 15th and 16th China International Fair
for Investment and Trade (CIFIT). From 2010 to
2012, Air China will provide sponsor resourc-
es, the value of which will exceed RMB10 mil-
lion, and will include cash and free tickets for
international/domestic Air China flights.
The China International Fair for Investment

and Trade, approved by the State Council of
the People’s Republic of China, will take place
on 8-11 September every year in Xiamen, Chi-
na. CIFIT focuses on national and international
issues, investment negotiation and investment
policy promotion, coordinated development
of national and regional economies, and eco-
nomic and trade exchanges across the Taiwan
Strait. CIFIT is currently China’s only interna-
tional investment promotion event aimed at
facilitating bilateral investment. It is also the
largest ever global investment event approved
by UFI.
The 14th CIFIT will be staged simultaneously

with the 2nd World Investment Forum, and in-
clude 18 project matchmaking symposia and
30 forums and seminars. With its strong net-
work and quality service, Air China will pro-
vide airline carrier service to the 50,000 do-
mestic and foreign merchants who will come
from over 120 countries and regions, as well
as 1,300 journalists from over 300 media.
Air China deputy director of the business de-

partment, Mr. Zhu Songyan, said: “With the
themes ‘Introducing FDI’ and ‘Going Global’,
CIFIT reinforces China’s comprehensive
strength and international influence to the
world. As China’s only flag carrier, Air China
will help to promote economic and trade ex-
changes around the world, with our first-class
network and services.”
About Air China

Air China is China’s only national flag carrier
and a Star Alliance member. Using a fleet of
256 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, Air China runs
245 routes, serving 30 countries and regions.
Thanks to the airline’s strong network, Air Chi-
na’s route network is able to place 1172 desti-
nations in 181 countries within its reach.

32 AVIATION NEWS
Beijing Capital Airport ranked world’s third busiest hub

Beijing Capital International Airport is now ranked as the world’s third-
busiest airport, overtaking Chicago, Tokyo and Paris.
The latest report by the Geneva-based Airports Council International

has put Beijing Capital behind Atlanta and London’s Heathrow in terms
of domestic and international passenger numbers in 2009.
Passenger traffic grew 16.9 percent year on year to 65.37 million last
year, helping the facility jump five places to nudge Chicago from the
third slot. And there is a possibility that it could also replace Heathrow
in the number two slot later this year.
In the first six months of the year, Beijing processed 35.5 million pas-
sengers, up from 30.1 million in the same period last year. Meanwhile,
Heathrow – due to the British Airways strikes and volcanic eruption in
Iceland – shrank 3.5 percent year on year to 30.1 million.
Korean Air achieves strong growth in the second quarter

Korean Air, South Korea’s flagship airline, announced its financial results and 36% of the operating revenue respectively. Operating profit of the air-
for the second quarter of 2010 ended 3 June 2010, which hit high-record in line returned to the black from a loss of 127.3 billion KRW in the second
terms of the operating revenue. quarter of 2009 to a surplus of 352.1 billion KRW during the reporting pe-
riod. Profit margin was 12.4%, a significant year-on-year improvement and
Thanks to the global economic recovery which spurred demand for both another historic record.
international passenger travel and cargo traffic, the airline posted an
operating revenue of 2,836.4 billion KRW in the second quarter of 2010, For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the airline recorded operating
a year-on-year increase of 36.7%, the highest second-quarter growth in revenue of 5,435.4 billion KRW, up 25.3% year-on-year, while operating
Korean Air’s history. International passenger and cargo businesses re- profit reached 572.3 billion KRW, up from a loss of 120.7 billion KRW com-
mained the major revenue contributors for the airline, accounting for 47% paring with the first half of 2009.

AVIATION NEWS 35

34 DO YOU KNOW
1 Gift Giving
4 Removing Shoes
Giving and receiving gifts is cus- You will be expected to remove

tomary in Taiwan. The Taiwanese your shoes when you enter a Tai-
appreciate gifts that connote so- wanese home. The reason is more
phistication and prestige. Instead of practical than traditional, since it
buying baseball caps for your new helps to keep the inside clean.
friends, chocolates or cigarettes Slippers will sometimes be avail-
might be a better choice. able, but if you have large feet, they
Also, since it is considered rude to won’t be an option. Always wear
open a gift immediately, don’t be presentable socks when invited to
surprised if your gift is put aside someone’s home for dinner.
until the recipient can open it in
5
private. Ti p p i n g
2 Business Cards
You should tip service people such
as porters and hair stylists, but don’t
Business cards, or mingpien, are tip taxi drivers or in restaurants.
an important part of everyday life in
Taiwan. Most businesses, schools,
7 Taiwanese Customs Larger restaurants will add a 10
percent service charge and a 5 per-
and individuals have cards, and
people exchange them like hand-
to know whenever cent value-added tax to your bill.
visiting Taiwan
6
shakes. English teachers find cards Boasting vs. Modesty
helpful in obtaining new private
clients. If you can’t read Chinese,
make a note on the back as to It is considered very impolite to
each card’s origin, or you’ll soon boast in Taiwan. Always make sure
find yourself with piles of illegible to compliment people on anything
mingpien. Mingpien are ideal for that are worth noting. Conversely,
finding shops or night spots that are when receiving a compliment, you
located in confusing areas; simply are expected to play down your at-
get in a cab and point at the ad- tributes and prowess. When some-
dress on the card. one compliments your language
ability, for example, have a standard
3 Paper response ready.
Always use two hands when hand-

ing paper to someone (including
business cards). It is considered
7 Death
Death is a taboo subject in Taiwan,

rude to offer paper with one hand, so avoid it. Also, white, not black as
especially if the recipient is a in the United States and Canada, is
superior. the color associated with death.

BUSINESS ADVICE 35
Totally broke and dying to get out of town? Looking for some adventure without breaking the bank? This article will explore some
ideas for how you can travel as cost-effectively as possible, perhaps even for free. The key is do some research and be flexible!
1, Choose a mode of travel that fits within your budget and

which you are comfortable with. Here are your options, from
the cheapest to the most expensive:
• Hitchhiking: It’s generally safe if you do it during the day

• Canoe: If you have one and the weather is good.
• Take a bicycle ride. You don’t move as far as a car in one day, but you
cover more territory than walking, see the countryside up close and meet
interesting people.
• Motorcycle or scooter: If you have one already, it’s just about the cheap-
est way to propel yourself over long distances. If you don’t have one, look
into the cost of renting and compare it to the next few options.
• Buses and trains: You’ll need to check the fares for the trip you have in
mind to determine how cost-effective it is.
• Driving: If you don’t have a car, you’ll have to rent one, which can get
pretty pricey. However, there are several ways to push down the cost of
driving:
- Sleep in your car: This will save you money on lodging, unless you were
going to secure free lodging anyway.
- Hyper mile: If you follow the techniques carefully, you can save plenty of
money on gas.

36 BUSINESS ADVICE
2, Plan where you will sleep

• Sleep in your car: Many interstate rest areas allow over-
night parking. Vans, pick-up trucks with camper tops, and
even small hatchbacks with the rear seat folded down can
make comfy beds.
• Go camping: In state and national parks in the US,
campsites are often cheap, or even free.
• Look for hostels: This dorm-style lodging is usually
cheaper than motels.
3, Plan how you will eat:
Generally, the less prepared food you buy, the better.
4, Brainstorm ways to make money on the road, if you need to
• Can you play an instrument? An

afternoon of busking on a busy city
street may get you some cash to
buy a meal or gas to get you to your
next destination.
• Panhandle: Please note that pan-
handling is illegal in some places.
• Farm labor: Go to websites that
list farms and farm work opportuni-
ties and look for operations in the
areas you plan to travel through.
Call in advance and ask if you can
work for a full day. If they can’t give
you cash, maybe they’ll give you
food and/or lodging.

BUSINESS ADVICE 37
5, Bring helpful tools and supplies
• A comfortable bag: You might need to do a lot of walking, so choose

a back pack and make sure it has support straps across your hips and
shoulders, and the straps should be padded.
• A folding bike: A portable bike could be a sensible investment for
if you need to travel from your campsite or the place you’re staying to
a local grocery store, or so you can explore areas easily when you’re
not hitchhiking.
• Baby wipes: You may not have daily and immediate access to a suit-
able shower. Baby wipes will allow you to freshen up easily.
• Camp stove: This is handy for making your own food anywhere.
6, Scour freebie websites before you leave.
• Most major cities have all types of free entertainment and services; which can be found, depending on where you
live:
- Museums are free on certain days of the month or if you have a student id.
- You can see free movie screenings if you know where to look and how to sign up.
- Sign up for free coupon offers and take the coupons with you on your trip.
- There are free medical clinics in many major cities.
• Free food coupons can be found.

38 MEDICAL TOURISM
g Culture in Me
din dica
ts a
n l
Tou
der
Un
rism
T he understanding of cultural issues in Medical Tourism (Global Healthcare) is a two way process argues Dr
Prem Jagyasi, a renowned Medical Tourism expert and consultant. Several Medical Tourism organizations be-
lieve that Understanding Culture in Medical Tourism is a one way process, and that they only need to understand
patient’s cultural beliefs and behaviors. However, it is also necessary for a patient to understand the culture and
behavior of the destination. The provider should take the responsibility of making cultural documents related to
their destination available to patients.
By Dr. Prem Jagyasi
What is Cultural Diversity?

In simple language, cultural diversity can be understood in many different ways. It is often referred to as the mixture of dif-
ferent human groups, societies, or cultures in a specific geography, or in the Globe (as a whole). The diversity could also
be understood by differences in race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or language among various groups within a community,
organization, or nation. Individual values, beliefs, customs, traditions and backgrounds also bring cultural diversity.
Why Patient and Healthcare Provider Need Cultural Understanding?

The ultimate objectives of cultural understanding in Medical Tourism are to: creating a better outcome which minimizes gaps,
understanding and building awareness of applications, avoiding any miscommunication or misunderstanding arising from
cultural disbeliefs and providing more positive results with a higher satisfaction rate. Such processes requires meticulous
understanding about what impact cultural disbelief could have on a healthcare practice and understanding patient needs and
delivery of healthcare services.
One of the key challenges in Medical Tourism is language barriers. It has always been my belief that instead of a general lan-
guage translator to interpret medical related jobs, it is necessary to have a translator that understands medical terminology.
The use of medical jargon can easily -- and unknowingly -- lead to misinformation and incorrect Interpretations that may have
an adverse impact on a patient’s health. Avoiding medical jargon is essential to ensuring the concise exchange of information
between patients and physicians. When a patient does not understand the jargon, the quality of that patient’s care may be jeop-
ardized and the comprehension of the physician’s message is diminished. The responsibility to ensure that patient and physi-
cian understand one another rests with the physician. It is often pointed out that physicians with wonderful bedside manners
and poor outcomes are sued less frequently than physicians with poor bed-side manner and wonderful outcomes.(MJCC)
For instance, let’s understand the cultural needs of Muslim patients.
41
Food Services
All catering staff should be aware that only halal meat (i.e. meat
slaughtered according to religious requirements) must be given
to Muslim patients. They should also be aware that Muslims do
not eat pork or any other pig meat and its byproducts. Also, hand
washing before and after meals is particularly important to Mus-
lims.
Clinical or Nursing Care

It is preferable for a female Muslim to be cared for by females
and a male Muslim by males. This is most important during con-
finement when strict privacy is very essential. Only female health
workers should be present and exposure should be kept to a
minimum.
Alcohol
Alcohol and any other intoxicating substances are pr ohibited
in Islam. Where a choice exists, medicines containing alcohol
should not be used. In emergencies, this rule does not apply if
an alternate drug is not available, but this should be explained
to the patient. If the medication is necessary, then Islam permits
its use.
Maternity Services after Delivery

The placenta should be offered to the parents for disposal by
burial in accordance with Islamic tradition.
Understanding Complex Cultural

Needs
Today, there is great receptiveness towards Medical Tourism.
When patients are travelling overseas, there is an emergence of
new consumers and they show a completely different behavior
pattern. As a result of developments in communication tools, in-
formation technology, and increased social media exchanges,
they have been exposed to different cultures and developed new
ideas and viewpoints.
Today’s consumer has been exposed to different cultures, devel-
oped new ideas and cultivated modern viewpoints. They have
multiple demands, often borrowed from other cultures, seasoned
with personal beliefs. The new self-sufficient consumer has be-
come more individualistic and requires more customized and
highly developed services; greater choice, quality, and variety
and good value. Today’s consumers truly have become global;
their demands have multiplied because of broad cultural expo-
sure.
Such complex needs require customized solutions; the ‘one size
fits all mottos’ can’t work here. There should be a comprehensive
system in place to educate patients as well as healthcare provid-
ers about cultural beliefs, dissimilarities and needs.
Conclusion
Globalization across all sectors has brought complex cultural
needs, in an already culturally diverse world. Understanding cul-
ture and behavior was important in healthcare to provide com-
prehensive care with a delightful experience, but it has certainly
become essential in Medical Tourism as patients arrive with
different cultural beliefs and from different geographies. Under-
standing of Culture in Medical Tourism is a two way process as
the patient needs to understand the destination’s cultural beliefs
as much as providers need to know and understand the patient’s
cultural beliefs.
History of the bridge

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19 Aug, 2010

Dear Travel Weekly readers! 24-25

Welcome to the 31 Issues of Travel Weekly! www.travelweekly.com.vn

Add: #130 Pho Duc Chinh Str.,

VIETNAM NEWS 02 FEATURES

14. Thanh Hoa to hold Lam Kinh festival

21. Swiss-Garden Hotel KL launches taxi

22. New Caledonia to host Melanesian

29. Air Mekong gets jets for October

31. Air China Becomes Strategic Partner

38 - 39. Understanding Culture in Medical 35

Nguyen Kim Dung, chairman of Hue city’s People’s Com-

Hue aims to welcome 2,5 million visitors by 2015 (including

Malaysian culinary Malaysia targets Center for festival culture exchange

HCMC faces obstacles in

Hanoi develops tourism

Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

Central region to lure

Japan and central Vietnam in general

sets spotlight on ‘best

Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

Quang Binh aims

Over the last few years, Quang Binh has concentrated

Arriving in Dong Hoi city, tourists will have a chance to

As the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park became

In the first seven months of this year, the province wel-

To reach this target, the province needs to improve

Agreement to boost tourism ties

Ministry calls for developing

Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

The ministry mentioned some other investment forms like Build-Operate-Transfer

Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

Vietnam remains attractive

The company provides details on key macroeconomic indicators,

Fifteen tour guides battle

Paradise for Sea and Island ism Year.

Phu Yen province has 77 accommodation

Ha Long Bay ranks 2nd

Thanh Hoa to hold Lam Kinh festival to mark Hanoi’s birthday

According to Ho Quang Son, cities and 37 outstanding cor-

Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

1,000 metre long kite to welcome the 1,000 years of

Hai Phong’s tourism week Cuban Granma newspaper highlight-

The Cuban Granma newspa- can avoid bombs of the US im-

Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

Visa offers pre-paid card

Those attending the Youth Olympic Games Opening and Closing

The all-in-one Visa Prepaid cards are issued by Singapore 2010

JAL’s quarterly traffic

Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

Ritz-Carlton hits new heights in HK Ritz - Carlton Dove Mountain Tucson

Thursday 19.08.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

Cambodia’s Royal Group

New fee for visitors from US

According to the Department of Homeland Security announced trav-

New Caledonia to host Melanesian Arts Festival

Ten years after holding the 8th Festival of the Pacific

Every festival, since the very first event was held,

The great innovation for the 2010 event will involve

The Festival Opening will be held on 12 September

Following this first stage of the event, the festi-

• One outrigger canoe to Hienghene and Canala,