New Railway To Connect Cambodia And Vietnam

It is part of the Singapore-Kunming railroad project, so it will be a key railroad for Cambodia to transport commodities to regional and global markets, especially in the framework of ASEAN-China Free Trade Area.

The feasibility study for the construction was implemented by the Chinese Railway Ministry’s Third Railway Survey and Design Institute since July 2009 with a cost about 3 million USD funded by China.

As planned, the railroad is 257 kilometers in length, starting in Kampong Speu Province’s Oudong District, pass by Kratie Province’s Snuol District and end at Vietnam’s Loc Ninh District in the Southern border Province of Binh Phuoc.

Experts have finalized the total cost for the construction of the Vietnam – Cambodia is about 686 million USD, according to a feasibility study for the construction begining from Kampong Speu Province (Cambodia) to the Southern border Province of Binh Phuoc (Vietnam).

However, this money is not including the settlement compensations for residents affected by the project.

“The project will provide huge economic benefits to Cambodia, especially on the development of agriculture and mineral resources, as well as tourism sector”, experts said. The study result will be submitted to Prime Minister Hun Sen to make decision.

The railway will be part of an intra-Asian railway that runs from Singapore to China via Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is expected to be complete within 30 months.

Source: vietnambusiness.asia

Vietnam Jeep Tours have tour offers to Cambodia. For more details about these tours, click here or contact via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com or hotline: +84 909 602 370.

25 Days Grand Adventure With Vietnam Jeep Tours

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 26 July 2011, Vietnam Jeep Tours (VJT) has launched grand adventure in Vietnam for the adventure passionate.

Almost a month journey starts in Hanoi capital and end at Saigon, covering most of exotic destinations of Vietnam, the mountainous Northwest with colourful ethnic tribes, ancient historical Hue and Hoi An of the centre and down to the Mekong delta discovering lives on the water and finally experience the bustling Saigon once named as pearl of the orient.

If one wonders what can be done in 25 day time the answer is all the activities you can think of and it is a long list of enjoyment: culture discovery and home stay at locals’ houses, adventure activities of all types: trekking, biking, cruising, kayaking, paddling, snorkelling, travelling on army Jeeps etc. all sort of things that we can hardly make it in our busy daily lives.

The trip is set to be a private and can be done at any time of the year.
Details can be found at 25 Days Vietnam Expedition or contact at adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com / phone: (+ 84) 8 629 06577 or hotline (+84) 909 602 370.

About Vietnam Jeep Tours (VJT)

Organizer of adventure tours in Vietnam, featuring various types of activities including Jeep, motor biking, cycling, trekking, and culture exploration in Vietnam.

VJT was the first company introduced used Jeep to international travellers, transforming the image of vehicles left from the war to a symbol of fun, friendly and active travel experience. Details of company and travel offers please visit www.vietnamjeeptours.com

New Sea Route Links HCMC To Vung Tau

An express ship service linking Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau city has been launched.

Duong Dong Express, with seating capacity of 250 people will depart from Sai Gon Passenger Port at 5 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4 of HCMC at 8am and at Cau Da Wharf in Vung Tau City at 3.30 pm every day.

The cruise ship has a restaurant, café, game area, internet services, and deck area for passengers can have a view of sceneries along the Saigon River, the Can Gio Mangrove Forest and the coastal city of Vung Tau.

More information about Duong Dong Express, click here or contact via phone: 08 - 3517 3917.

Golfing Events Organised For Binh Thuan This Summer

Vietnam’s golfing events are scheduled for the Central Binh Thuan Coast this summer.
In Phan Thiet, Ocean Dune Golf Club is gearing up for the Vietnam instalment of the Faldo Series Asia, scheduled for August 5-7. Regarded as the premier junior tournament circuit in Asia, the Faldo Series sees youngsters from around the continent vie for a place in the grand final at the Mission Hills complex in Shenzhen, China.

Ocean Dunes will also play host to the Vietnam Open on October 14-16, while Sea Links will host the prestigious 2011 Guide Awards on July 29. Here, 400 will attend the ceremony in the grand ballroom, which will be followed by a golf tournament the next day.

Earlier, on July 9-10, the Vietnam final of the Mercedes Trophy was organised in Mui Ne’s Sea Links Golf & Country Club. The event saw more than 4,000 players completing in order to secure a spot in the finale at Sea Links. On Sunday July 10, seven golfers from a field of 128 qualified for the Asian Final, scheduled for late August in Australia.

More related programs to Phan Thiet and Mui Ne:
Four Days Mui Ne Escape By Jeep
Phan Thiet Tour And Boat Trip Half Day
Sand Dunes Tour Half Day
Ta Ku Mountain And Boat Trip On Ca Ty River 

Conical Hat Maker Sustains Tradition

THUA THIEN-HUE - One of Hue City's most endearing images is that of the beautiful girl wearing an Ao Dai (traditional robe) and a conical hat, singing folk songs while floating down the Huong (Perfume) River on a wooden rowing boat.

For many people, Hue's conical hats have long been treasured symbols of the once imperial city (situated in Thua Thien-Hue Province), shields against sun and rain, and, for one particular woman, a personal "weapon' in times of distress.

Tourists visiting Hue City often prefer the conical hats made by disabled Tran Thi Thuy for her incredible handiwork.

Born into a conical hat making family, Thuy's future has always seemed inevitably connected to the tradition despite being born with a crippled hand.

When she was young, she usually helped her mother to make hats. She made it day by day as a basic game, with the first product when she was ten.

She hard working from the basic step to fluently, her mother said: “my daughter is the most skilful artisan in the family”.

When the former royal city was recognised as a World Cultural Heritage site by the UN cultural agency UNESCO in 1993, tourists began flocking to the city in drones, turning conical hats into favourable souvenirs.

Once upon visit Thuy’s workshop, an Australian tourist asked her to make him a hat with her name embroidered inside. Not long after, another tourist group also from Australia request their own hats with her name inside.

Since then, Thuy’s conical hats have become famous to the globe.

"Thuy, famous for making hats with only one hand, is known as one of the best hat makers in Viet Nam due to the extraordinary quality and craftsmanship of her work,"

Beside that Vietnam Travel Depot also offer a related tour Half Day Conical Hat Making & Ancient Bonsai Garden in Hue. For more information about Vietnam Travel Depot, click here or phone: +84 8 6290 6577 or hotline: +84 909 602 370.

More related programs to Hue:
3 Days - 2 Nights True Local Experience
World Heritages - Treasure Of Vietnam 5 Days
Hue - Paddling the Perfume River (3 days 2 nights)
Ancient Royal City Discovery (3 days 2 nights)

Rare Species Of Gibbon Discovered In Vietnam

The Conservation International (CI) has discovered a community of critically endangered northern white-cheeked crested gibbons in remote Vietnamese forests, near the Vietnam-Laos border.

Scientists from the CI said--that a substantial population of 455 critically endangered northern white-cheeked crested gibbons were found living at high altitudes and far from human settlements in the Pu Mat National Park in the central province of Nghe An.

The community represents two thirds of the total number in Vietnam and the only confirmed viable population of the variety worldwide.

"This is an extraordinarily significant find, and underscores the immense importance of protected areas in providing the last refuges for the region’s decimated wildlife," CI president Dr Russell Mittermeier told the AFP.

Gibbons, which are threatened across the world, are considered the "most romantic" of primates as they mate for life and serenade their partners with song.

Habitat loss and hunting for the pet trade, and the assumed medicinal value of primate body parts are among the major threats to the creatures in Vietnam, the CI statement said.

White-cheeked gibbon numbers are thought to have declined by as much as 80 percent in the last 45 years, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

Mittermeier, who also works with the IUCN, described the species as "on the brink of extinction".

They are believed to be functionally extinct in China and while there could be significant numbers in Laos, CI said a lack of research means the situation in the country is unclear.

But CI said, plans to build a road through the Pu Mat area to increase patrols on the Vietnam-Laos border pose a serious threat to the future of the rare primates.

"The major issue will be the hunting of these gibbons that were previously protected by the harsh terrain; so gun control will be vital," said primatologist Luu Tuong Bach, a consultant to CI who led field surveys for the research.

"Without direct protection in Pu Mat National Park, it is likely that Vietnam will lose this species in the near future."

Large Population Of Rare Gibbons Discovered In Vietnam

The lively morning calls of a rare species of gibbon has led to the discovery of the only known "viable" community of the talkative primates in remote Vietnamese forests, conservationists said Monday.
A "substantial" population of 455 critically endangered northern white-cheeked crested gibbons were found living at high altitudes and far from human settlements on the border with Laos, Conservation International (CI) said.

Researchers, who had previously found sparse groups in other areas, used the animals' "loud, elaborate and prolonged" calls to locate the creatures in Pu Mat National Park in Nghe An Province, Northern Vietnam.

The community represents two thirds of the total number in Vietnam and the "only confirmed viable population" of the variety in the world.

"This is an extraordinarily significant find, and underscores the immense importance of protected areas providing the last refuge for the region’s decimated wildlife," said CI president Dr Russell Mittermeier.

Gibbons, which are threatened across the world, are considered the "most romantic" of primates as they mate for life and serenade their partners with songs.

Habitat loss, hunting for the pet trade, and the "assumed medicinal value of primate body parts" are among the major threats to the creatures in Vietnam, the CI statement said.

Source: en.baomoi.com

Turkish Airlines Flies To HCM City Daily

Turkish Airlines has increased the number of its services to Ho Chi Minh City to seven a week just a half year after the launch of its flights from the Thai Capital of Bangkok to the Southern economic hub of Vietnam.

The carrier in HCMC told the Daily on the phone on Monday that it had added three more weekly flights to make its service daily from July. The airline still operates the Airbus A340 airplane configured with 270 seats, including 34 Business-class seats.

Turkish Airlines said it was cooperating with Vietnam Airlines for Hanoi-Bangkok service, giving those passengers departing from Hanoi an opportunity to enplane the flight operated by Turkey’s airline from Bangkok to Istanbul and beyond.

Previously, Turkish Airlines flew to and from Tan Son Nhat International Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and passengers who wanted to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Istanbul on the other days had to board the flights of Vietnam’s carrier and other airlines to Bangkok.

For more information about Ho Chi Minh City, click here or contact via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com or phone: +84 8 6290 6577 or hotline: +84 909 602 370.

More related programs to Ho Chi Minh City:
Saigon City Tour
Holiday in Saigon
4 Days Around Ho Chi Minh City
Good Morning Saigon & Vietnam Traditional Music

Beautiful Spot At Ta Cu Mountain Resort

With an area of more than 250,000 square meters, Tà Cú Mountain Resort has a diversifying ecological population with beautiful forest and mountain.

Tà Cú Mountain Resort is located near the Highway 1A, in Thuận Nam Town, Bình Thuận Province, at a distance of 30 kilometers from Phan Thiết City.

Recently, a modern system of suspension cable has been set up at Tà Cú. It is 1,600 meters long, 505 meters high. This system contains 35 cabins, which is closed and opened atomically and can serve 1000 tourists in an hour.

There are two terminals: one is for the under suspension cable and one for the above suspension cable. There is also a large square, and some supplementary zones that are all spacious, which provide tourists comfortable space.

Sitting on the suspension cable, gliding on the top of the trees, enjoying the fresh and cool air around and watching the beauty of the nature, tourists would totally feel relaxing and comfortable.

After the small mountain and the primeval forest has been left behind, a beautiful scene of Hàm Thuận Nam sea will appear, and right on the left hand side, there would be the 100 – year – old Ke Gà lighthouse, which is now still working.

At the above terminal, the air becomes cooler. Follow the path for several hundred meters, there is a collective of pagoda, tower, statue of Buddha and cavern.

Most noticeable is the “Song Lâm Thị Tịch” vestige. It is famous for the statue of Buddha achieving Nirvana, the biggest statue of this kind in South East Asia, and the statue of Trikaya (the three "bodies" of the Buddha-State), which is listed as a historical and cultural vestige of the nation.

In the primeval nearby, many orchids show off their pure beauty on the oil trees and crape myrtle trees. The campus of the pagoda on this mountain is commodious with many benches, from which tourists can enjoy the cool breeze coming from the sea.

It is also that interesting when the suspension cable goes down. From above, the view is very magnificent with beautiful gardens of blue dragon trees mix with the fresh red colour of the tile from some villages nearby.

Especially, tourists will be completely surprised and interested when realize that the whole resort just looks like a beautiful paintings in which a Vietnamese two – chord fiddle links to a big guitar by a pretty bridge.

In the recent years, the climbing mountain competitive festival is also held in Tà Cú Mountain, which has attracted young people to take part in.

With the group of vestige and beautiful spot, as well as the cool fresh air, Tà Cú is really an attractive tourist destination.


For more information about Phan Thiet City, click here or contact via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com or phone: +84 8 6290 6577 or hotline: +84 909 602 370.

Related programs to Phan Thiet City  please visit:
5 Days Southern Coastal Lines On Motorbikes
Full Day Mui Ne Kite Surfing
Phan Thiet Tour And Boat Trip Half Day
Sand Dunes Tour Half Day
Ta Ku Mountain And Boat Trip On Ca Ty River 
Four Days Mui Ne Escape By Jeep

More details about accommodation in Phan Thiet, click here.

Gifted Beauty Of Vietnamese Littoral

Quang Binh is just like an imposing picture with beautiful forest, sea and many other landscapes that are very famous as Ngang pass, Ly Hoa pass, Nhat Le seaport, Hac Hai, Cong Troi lagoon and Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.

Quang Binh is a Coastal Province in North Central part. It places in the narrowest land of Viet Nam. To the North, Quang Binh borders Ha Tinh Province by Hoanh Son mountain chain and borders Quang Tri Province to the South.

Towards the East, Quang Binh borders the East Sea and towards the West, it borders Kham Muon Province of Lao by Truong Son mountain chain.

There are not many places in Viet Nam that has such advantages for developing tourism like Quang Binh Province. With an area of 8,065 square kilometers, Quang Binh has three kinds of geographical terrains, including forests, hills and mountains, and coastal areas.

Quang Binh has a very long beautiful seashore of about 116, 04 kilometers with white sand and blue seawater. It definitely has a stable foundation to develop a tourism resort.

This beautiful coastal land features the particularity of the North Central part, where there are various ethnic groups reside. Therefore, it has plenty of traditional cultures.

Not only that, Quang Binh is also located in a diversified biology area – where there is a system of many plants and animals and especially, most of these species are from valuable and rare genes. These factors can absolutely help Quang Binh develop the ecotourism.

In January 2009, Dong Hoi and Phong Nha – Ke Bang of Quang Binh were listed in 29 tourist attractions by Los Angeles Times newspaper. Phong Nha – Ke Bang national park is also listed as one of the world’s natural wonders by UNESCO.

Quang Binh has some important transportation routes such as highway 1A, Ho Chi Minh road, railway line North – South. In addition, this province also has maritime traffic (Hon La and Gianh port) and air traffic (Dong Hoi airport). These strong points also help to make Quang Binh become more popular.


Further information about Quang Binh, click here or contact via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com or phone: +84 8 6290 6577 or hotline (+84) 909 602 370.

More details about Quang Binh accommodation, click here.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City Among Top Ten Asian Cities

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been named among top ten Asian Cities for 2011 by the US Travel and Leisure magazine.

In the list, the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok took the first place while Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi came seventh and ninth, respectively.

Additionally, this list also honoured Vietnam’s Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and Park Hyatt Ho Chi Minh City, among top ten out of 25 Asian best urban hotels.

Last year, the Capital City of Hanoi ranked seventh in the list of top ten Asian tourist destinations, voted by the online tourist magazine Smart Travel Asia.

Source: en.baomoi.com

Further information about Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, click here or contact via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com or phone: +84 8 6290 6577, or hotline: +84 909 602 370.

Related programs to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City please visit:
Local Experience of Vietnam
25 Days Vietnam Expedition
7 Days Southern Vietnam By Jeep
11 Days Motorcycling the Ho Chi Minh Trail - Half Challenge
Motorbike Tours in Hanoi and Saigon

More Tourists Visit Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta has attracted more than 10 million visitors since the beginning of the year, up 720,000 compared to last year’s period and earning a record high of VND 1,700 billion, said the Mekong Delta Tourism Association.

Can Tho City draw the most tourists in the region, followed by An Giang, Kien Giang, and Ca Mau.

The rise in tourist numbers is attributed to Mekong Provinces and cities’ coordinating for training the human resources, establishing tourism promotion centres, launching a website providing tourist information and diversifying and improving the quality of tourism products.

In addition, the region has invested hundreds of billions of VND to upgrade infrastructure for the industry and encouraged diverse economic sectors to invest in tourism.

The tourism sectors in Can Tho City and An Giang, Kien Giang, and Ca Mau Provinces are also cooperating to develop tourism in the Mekong Delta key economic zones for the 2011-2015 periods with a vision to 2020.

As the country’s leader in promoting orchard tourism, Can Tho has made great efforts to diversify its tourism products. The infrastructure of 20 ecological tourism areas has been upgraded and 154 new hotels have been built by different economic sectors to meet the demands of the growing numbers of visitors.

For more information about Mekong Delta , click here or contact via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com or phone: +84 8 6290 6577, or hotline: +84 909 602 370.

Related programs to Mekong Delta visit:
5 Days Deep into Mekong by Motorbike
4 Days Around Ho Chi Minh City
Deep Into The Mekong Delta - Boat To Phnom Penh 4 Days
Biking to explore My Tho (Mekong Delta)

Majestic Hotel To Expand New Hotel Complex

Saigon Tourist Company plans to invest VND1, 900 billion (US$92 million) in expanding the old Majestic Hotel in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City.

Two 24 and 27 storey buildings with a total of 353 rooms and four basements will form the expansion plan.

The old Majestic Hotel built in 1925 in French architectural style and recognized by the Viet Nam National Administration for Tourism (VNAT) as a 5-star hotel in 2007, will remain unchanged and will preserve its heritage status.

The old hotel has 185 rooms and along with 353 rooms in the new hotel complex, the majestic hotel will offer a total 538 guest rooms. The new complex will be fully operational by 2014.

For more information about the hotel, you can visit http://www.majesticsaigon.com.vn or contact Email: sales@majesticsaigon.com.vn.

An Giang To Build Airport

The Ministry of Transport has officially approved a plan to build a civil and military airport in the Mekong Delta Province of An Giang, the An Giang Province People’s Committee and Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) confirmed Thursday.

Under the plan, the airport will be built on a total area of 235 ha in Can Dang Commune, Chau Thanh District and cost about VND3.4 trillion (US$170 million).

The approval came despite a public concern that such an airport is unnecessary.

Vuong Binh Thanh, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, however said the airport would help boost the local tourism industry.

Of all Mekong Delta Provinces, An Giang receives the highest number of tourists every year and is attracting foreign investments in its economic zones, Thanh said. These visitors and investors will want to fly to An Giang and thus the airport is necessary, he said.

Source: oratrip.com

Lang Co Festival Takes Place At Weekend

The Lang Co Festival 2011 – the World Beautiful Bay will be held in the central province of  Thua Thien-Hue on July 9-10 to promote tourism and encourage investment in the Lang Co-Chan May economic zone.

This year’s festival aims to honour cultural values, landscapes and eco-environment and affirm position and prospects of the Lang Co-Chan May economic-tourist zone in the province’s socio-economic development orientations in the coming years, said Phan Tien Dung, Director of the Thua Thien - Hue Culture, Sports and Tourism Department.

It also aims to evaluate to what extent the Bay can contribute to promoting tourism development two years after it was recognised by Worldbays Club as one of the “World’s Most Beautiful Bays”, he added

The festival includes various and diverse activities such as exhibitions, cuisine fair, fish spraying festival, traditional rowing race and other sportive activities.
Lying between Da Nang and Hue cities, Lang Co Bay, Hai Van pass, Bach Ma Natural Reserve and an ancient fishing village in this area present a wonderful view of people living in harmony with nature.

Lang Co Bay has a 13-km long beach with white sand and blue water. It has Lap An lagoon, a brackish water lagoon extended to 1,500 ha with rich natural resources.

The Bay adjacent to Hai Van Pass lies in the central area, where visitors can reach four world cultural heritages in Vietnam, namely Hue relics, royal court music, Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son relics, within a radius of 70 km.

Source: en.baomoi.com

Vietnam Allows More Flights Between Vietnam, Australia

Air carriers from Vietnam and Australia are now allowed to 4 more flights per week from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to major Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

The carriers now can offer 14 flights a week (around 4,200 seats) in total from HCMC and Hanoi to these Australian cities, Vo Huy Cuong, head of Air Transport Department of the Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam said.

The carriers can also serve 7 flights a week (around 2,100 seats) to or from these four Australian cities if the flights stop at Adelaide, Darwin or Cairns.

Source: en.baomoi.com

Relaxing Days Off In Madagui

Madagui offers you not only nature at its purest and a cool forest surrounding, but also a journey to exhilarating adventures.

Madagui Forest Resort is located on Highway 20, at a distance of only 152 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. With the area of about 1.200 hectares, Madagui is situated in a fresh cool climate between the mountains with beautiful natural landscapes, and surrounded by an uninterrupted system of streams and caves.

Madagui Forest Resort is a part of the Nam Cát Tiên National Park. It is a place where tourist can also have picnic or camping and discover the wild.

The outstanding points of Madagui are the primeval forest with many kinds of animal and plant and a mysterious system of cave.

Coming to Madagui, tourists would be impressed by many beautiful landscapes such as the huge rocks lay besides the immeasurably high trees at Thạch Lâm Lake or some artworks on rocks at Thiên Phúc Cavern. A collection of nearly 50 sorts of bamboo and the plenty of about 100 fruit – trees with a gathering of over 50 sorts of banana will definitely keep tourists from leaving.

From 2006 to 2008, Madagui has marked the improvement with many new interesting things.

Camellia Flava Restaurant is designed as the communal house in the Vietnamese highland. This restaurant can serve about 400 customers. A large-scale system of villas, which are named after some kinds of fruit, would offer tourist comfort and convenience.

Not only that, there are some services that attain the international standard like pools, tennis yard, and billiard room… Among them, the pool is really an unique work. It is designed with three strata of fall in the middle of mountain and forest.

Madagui Forest Resort also satisfies other demand for tourist with many different services like the circus, cock – fighting, discovering caves, swimming, gongs performing, horse riding, fishing, shooting, riding bicycle, karaoke, steam-bath and massage.

Lately, Madagui has brought to tourist a new program, Madagui Feeling. This is like a kind of adventuring game, and people who join it will discover the Thần Núi Park, pass through the chain – bridge that hangs over Đạ Huoai River and then go into the Ắc Ó Maze.

The journey of finding the Madagui Feeling begins from Thiên Phúc Cavern, through the bamboo collection to the Death Cave with the depth of 15 meters. After that, the players will walk through the Forest of Tropical Rain and ride on the strong horses. Finally, the imposing scene of mountain, forest, stream and rock would bring the winners a wonderful and cheerful feeling.

Return from the journey, tourist would have a chance to enjoy some specialties that only have in Madagui forest. Especially, the Madagui Baking Corner will definitely attract any customers with delicious dishes.

All those features have brought to Madagui Forest Resort a special attraction that whoever comes to it will be able to dispel all stress or tiredness and enjoy a wonderful time.

Source: Saigon-gpdaily.com.vn

Cat Tien National Park is an important national park found in the south of Vietnam, approximately 150 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. It protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests left in Vietnam.

For more information about Cat Tien National Park you can visit their website: www.vietnamjeeptours.com or contact them via adventure@vietnamjeeptours.com