The International Holidays Trading Travel Co. in Ho Chi Minh City was fined VND33 million ($1,421) and had its international tour operation business license revoked for a year. The company was found to have committed three violations: changing its working address without informing authorities at least 15 days in advance; having no written contracts with tourists; and not guiding tourists as per the contracts and tour programs, the HCMC's department of tourism announced Monday. The travel agency was responsible for creating itineraries and applying for visas on behalf of the Vietnamese tourists. It also failed to provide documents to prove its legal authorization for signing visa provision contracts with Taiwan-based ETholiday travel agency, which was responsible for receiving the tourists in Taiwan, and two other Vietnamese travel agencies, Golden Travel and Twin Bright, that organized the tour groups in Vietnam, the department said. Hanoi-based Golden Travel was fined VND48.5 million … [Read more...] about Travel agencies fined, licenses revoked in Vietnam
Vietnam cambodia holidays tours
Taiwan finds three of 152 ‘lost’ tourists, Vietnam investigates
Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA) says that it has found three of 152 missing Vietnamese tourists. They were found in the counties of Chiayi, Changhua and Hsinchu on Wednesday, according to an NIA statement which did not provide details. The Vietnamese tourists are being held to face investigation for violating the Human Trafficking Prevention Act, the Immigration Law, and the Employment Services Act, the NIA said. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s tourism ministry has ordered an urgent probe into the incident. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has been asked to work with the Taiwanese Tourism Bureau and police officials to clarify the incident. The HCMC Department of Tourism has been asked to inspect and report on the operations of HCMC-based International Holidays Trading Travel firm, which was responsible for completing the visa applications of the missing tourists. "This is a serious incident which could tarnish the reputation of Vietnam in the eyes of … [Read more...] about Taiwan finds three of 152 ‘lost’ tourists, Vietnam investigates
Outbound tours – choice of young Vietnamese during holidays
Singapre is a popular destination among Vietnamese tourists (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) - Young Vietnamese are increasingly choosing overseas tours during holidays since prices are getting lower. Just two or three years ago, a tour of the Republic of Korea cost 20 million VND (857 USD) or more and the cheapest tour of Japan was 30 million VND. Now trips to the RoK, Taiwan, Japan, and mainland China cost just a little more than to Southeast Asian countries, the manager of a travel company in HCM City said. A five-day visit to the RoK now costs 11.5-12 million VND while a four-day trip to Japan costs 21-22 million VND. Some travel firms even offer low-cost tours of the RoK and Taiwan at a mere 8-9 million VND. Choosing outbound tours has become a trend in Vietnam as local people’s incomes increase and their consumption habits are changing, said Nguyen Van Tuan, General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. According to preliminary statistics of the … [Read more...] about Outbound tours – choice of young Vietnamese during holidays
Vietnam among world’s best cruise holidays
The Hanoitimes - Caroline Hendrie, a British journalist, has picked up some of the best river cruises to book now. The British journalist of the Daily Mail, a UK daily middle-market tabloid newspaper, has named Mekong River Cruises in Vietnam and Cambodia the number one tour that a good choice for travelers who want to sit back and relax on a river cruise. A cooking cruise on the Mekong from Vietnam to Cambodia takes in locations such as Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dailymail.co.uk “Australian chef Luke Nguyen has some words that he will host a cruise on the Mekong from Vietnam to Cambodia in 2019. He will guide you around Old Saigon, where his parents used to live, then teach you some of his favourite dishes at his cookery school,” Daily Mail wrote On board luxury AmaLotus, he will take charge of the galley to create a welcome dinner. Over the next seven days you’ll see the differences between busy Vietnam and slower-paced Cambodia, exploring ashore … [Read more...] about Vietnam among world’s best cruise holidays
More outbound Reunification Day tours booked
Vietnamese people are opting for holidays overseas for Reunification Day on April 30 and International Labour Day on May 1 because of unattractive domestic tour prices. illustrative image Nguyen Van Khanh, head of Vietravel's Public Relation Department, said many people had booked tours. Vietravel expects to serve 24,000 customers this holiday, an increase of 20% compared to same period last year. Three to five-day tours are preferred thanks to the long holiday. For domestic tours, most customers have booked trips to Phu Quoc Island and destinations in the northern mountains and north central coast. Outbound tours to Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Japan and South Korea are attracting a huge number of customers. Saigontourist reported a high number of customers to the central coast, especially for tours to see the International Firework Festival in Danang. It expects to have 25,000 customers this holiday. At Viet Media Travel, tours abroad are selling faster than inbound tours. … [Read more...] about More outbound Reunification Day tours booked