I've always dreamed a thread like this,please post your pictures plus extreme comments about your experiences here. :D

Cape Varella – where sunlight seeps into Vietnam
....where visitors can catch the first sunlight into the country as the Cape lies at the easternmost point.

----- http://thanhniennews.com/images/newsimages/mui-kega-140.jpg ----- http://ngoisao.net/News/Choi-gi/2005/03/3B9B091D/dl.jpg ----- http://www.htv.com.vn/data/news/2005/2/48189/muikega150.jpg -----

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/multimedia/pictures/asia/vietnam/scenery/dailanh.jpg

Locally known as Dien, Dai Lanh or Ke Ga, visitors can capture the beauty of sunrise at Cape Varella where the sea color changes from dark purple to pink and then into a brilliant light after the sun slowly rises.

At the heart of Cape Varella is the splendid lighthouse built in 1890. The lighthouse is 26.5 meters tall.

At the foot of the lighthouse is Mon beach. Visitors will find it hard to resist the warm local hospitality. In fact, one couple who owns a small restaurant takes visitors by boat to buy fresh shrimp, fish or cuttlefish on shipping boats far from land, giving visitors the authentic local experience.

Besides the magnificent sunrise, visitors cannot miss the night view when the sea is lit by fishing boat lanterns and the lighthouse to resemble thousands of sparkling stars. Tourists can also camp on the beach to enjoy nature.

From Tuy Hoa city, visitors can travel 40 kilometers south of National Highway 1A to reach Cape Varella.

Tuy Hoa is the capital of Phu Yen, a coastal province in south central Vietnam where the Truong Son Mountains blend into the East Sea. Endowed with charming landscapes, Tuy Hoa is filled with poetic views and historic places.

some photos from my last trip:
sorry for the quality but my lens was broken in Nha Trang.

Central Vietnam
- during my ride to Hue/ luc trong oto
http://img87.echo.cx/img87/1189/vietnam109sc.th.jpg (http://img87.echo.cx/my.php?image=vietnam109sc.jpg) http://img87.echo.cx/img87/2601/vietnam125xb.th.jpg (http://img87.echo.cx/my.php?image=vietnam125xb.jpg)

Hue
-sightseeing tour by boats/ ngam canh o tren tau be (?)
http://img87.echo.cx/img87/6240/vietnam61ii.th.jpg (http://img87.echo.cx/my.php?image=vietnam61ii.jpg) http://img87.echo.cx/img87/1792/vietnam70zz.th.jpg (http://img87.echo.cx/my.php?image=vietnam70zz.jpg)

Nha Trang
http://img87.echo.cx/img87/2759/vietnam173um.th.jpg (http://img87.echo.cx/my.php?image=vietnam173um.jpg) http://img87.echo.cx/img87/7788/vietnam228sg.th.jpg (http://img87.echo.cx/my.php?image=vietnam228sg.jpg)
I enjoyed my stay on the beach and at the VinPearl Hotel...it was just awesome. Bien Nha Trang va Khac San VinPearl dep qua.

Ha Long - Tuan Chau
http://img87.echo.cx/img87/474/vietnam41xf.th.jpg (http://img87.echo.cx/my.php?image=vietnam41xf.jpg) http://img87.echo.cx/img87/2222/vietnam210ze.th.jpg (http://img87.echo.cx/my.php?image=vietnam210ze.jpg)
http://img87.echo.cx/img87/9509/vietnam54ij.th.jpg (http://img87.echo.cx/my.php?image=vietnam54ij.jpg)
Everything in Tuan Chau was great and cool from the "Laser Show" (just wow, I didn´t know before that VN was able to have that) to the food and the architecture was interesting, too, especially the asian area with all the small rivers and beautiful pavillions.
But there was one think I didn´t like - the beach was a little bit dirty to me but it seems that many people don´t care about it - but hey fun is the most important thing on vacations. :)

If the journey never has been realized to me last year so maybe I wouldn´t write into that forum. Now I´m more interest into the country than before. Maybe addicted about Vietnam... ;-). Khi nao khong duoc ve Vietnam nam ngoai thi co khi ban bay gio khong viet vao trong forum nay duoc. Sao khi biet nhieu thu ve Vietnam hon, thic Vietnam lam.

this is old photo of Halong , should be 3yrs ago......so by now the skyline of Ha Long should be very off....as I read there are 3 tall buildings to be built in Halong in 2004 along.
for anyone who doesn't care about ha long skyline, ya should remember that by the early 90s it's just a small town.....very poor town
http://img202.echo.cx/img202/7617/halongdkj9xw.jpg

U mean Hai Phong right? Hai Phong has a lot of potential for tourism and economic power...hope it will be very developed soon

I was very impressed of my last visit to Ha Long when I saw all the new high-rises, clean streets and urban areas.
In my opinion they should make Ha Long, Cat Ba and Hai Phong to the vietnamese version of "Las Vegas".... :).
"Tuan Chau" in Ha Long has already the flair of "big entertainment"....:colgate:.

Halong is ~4-50 miles from Hai Phong,generally the Halong bay is the city's waterfront so big potential for tourism.Cat Ba has some casinos thou.

http://www.halong.com/halongcom/maps/v_pages/hanhchinh/i_map/zoom_quangninh.gif

Some hotels there:

Halong Dream
http://www.vietnamtourism.com.vn/hotels/Data/110517044753249800.gif

Halong Plaza
http://www.vietnamtourism.com.vn/hotels/Data/109461277825513700.gif

Mithrin
http://www.vietnamtourism.com.vn/hotels/Data/109487841058975900.gif

CongDoan
http://www.vietnamtourism.com.vn/hotels/Data/109471793749921700.gif

Moonlight
http://www.vietnamtourism.com.vn/hotels/Data/109504105643270700.gif

Saigon-Halong
http://www.vietnamtourism.com.vn/hotels/Data/110206454237450600.gif

some information about future plans/project in Tuan Chau:

US$1.5 billion: Vietnam – US biggest tourism joint-venture
On January 26th, 2004, in Hanoi, Vietnam’s Au Lac Co., Ltd. and the US’s Dye Vietnam Co., Ltd. signed an agreement to establish Ha Long Bay Joint-venture Co., Ltd., The joint-venture is funded US$1.5 billion and its legal capital is US$882.450 million.

Au Lac Co., Ltd and Dye Vietnam Co., Ltd. contributed 51% and 49% of the capital respectively.

Being the biggest joint-venture company in Vietnam, Ha Long Bay targets at improve and exploit economic advantages of Vietnam’s Ha Long bay and other places of tourist interests.

According to the agreement, big constructions will be built in Tuan Chau Island. They are Andy Dye gold field, resort with a 140-room hotel, many luxurious villas, a channel, a beach, a helicopter airport, an ecological tourism zone, a water entertainment and so on.

Gold fields, resort with many splendid hotels and villas will also be built in Yen Trung (Quang Ninh), Nha Trang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Director Dao Hong Tuyen of Ha Long Bay Co. said his company has started land clearance for constructions in Tuan Chau.

source: vneconomy.com.vn

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=171026&page=2&pp=20
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=137174&page=1

I very like this project
http://www.archetype-asia.com/photos/n/200503161106421713199.Jpg http://www.archetype-asia.com/photos/n/2005031611070274601381.Jpg

----
DisneyLand Phan Thiet?

http://vietnam-tourism-news.com/News/Economy_Business/Disneyland-style_park_set_for_reality_4.html
http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/vet/?param=print&id=1748

It´s that true...someone knows more information about it?

i've heard of the Disneyland Phan Thiet project since last year...but nothing ever happened yet!!!

i've heard of the Disneyland Phan Thiet project since last year...but nothing ever happened yet!!!
They're building a Disney Land theme park in Vietnam!?

i've heard of the Disneyland Phan Thiet project since last year...but nothing ever happened yet!!!
Nah dude it's just a huge amusement park project. Got nothing to do with Disneyland.

Seven US investors want to build a Disneyland-style theme park and resort in the coastal town of Phan Thiet, 300 kilometres north of Ho Chi Minh City.South Fork Development Company has applied to develop a $1 billion resort in the town.

The company was to begin with registered capital of $25 million. “But that is just the start-up capital,” South Fork Director Le Thi Dung said. “In the next five to seven years, six large American companies would bring in some $1 billion to develop the project if the investment licence is awarded.”

The six American investors include many of the world’s biggest names in film, entertainment and amusement parks. Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney, Disney’s California Adventure, MGM, Warner Bros and Hong Kong Disney are all slated to become involved.


The investors expect to attract ‘five-star’ visitors from around the world by transforming Phan Thiet into a world-class resort.
The project document has already been submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).
“The project is undergoing an appraisal process,” an official from the MPI’s Foreign Investment Agency said.
The project will cover 600 hectares, encompassing five coastal resorts with about 900 rooms, two 18-hole golf courses and a 6,000-seat international conference centre.
A central area named ‘Downtown Asia’ will feature cultural specialities from Asian nations, a leisure area modelled on Disneyland and a park.
“The five resorts will be built with different architectural styles and all will be designed to top international standards. The American investors behind the project do not want to see mid-level products,” Dung said.
She said the two golf courses were planned to be designed by USA Nicklaus Designs, an international reputed golf course designer. The facilities will cover nearly 200 hectares of land with $4 million to be invested in each one.
“Construction will start soon after the investment licence is awarded,” Dung said, adding that the investors see no problems in land clearance as the area is virtually unoccupied and the local government has provided them with full support.
The first facilities to be built will include the international conference area, the golf courses and the resorts and are expected to be inaugurated after 30 months. The remainder are scheduled to finish in some five years.
Dung said the project had been initiated three years ago and received strong support from the US government.
“It is a typical investment of US investors in Vietnam with the participation of several American names,” she said.
She added that the investors had been contented by the working manner and support of the Vietnamese government officials at both central and local levels.
“Vietnam today is viewed as one of the most secure destination for investors around the world,” Dung said.
The MPI’s Foreign Investment Agency official said the project had mirrored the increasing interests of America’s “top brands” in the Vietnamese investment environment.
It was also a good sign pointing to a promising year for foreign investment attraction to Vietnam, he said.

source: Vietnam tourism

"Vietnam: Destination for the New Millennium" has been the tourism industry’s catch-cry for a few years, but many feel the time is well overdue for

It has been an appropriate and successful slogan, but the millennium is hardly new any more. Furama Resort General Manager, Paul Stoll, has proposed "Fantastic Vietnam" as a replacement, but tourism authorities have yet to approve any suggestions.

Although they understand the need for a change, they are still trying to find those magic words that will grip the imagination and draw tourists in their droves. Vietnam is opening up to the world and trying to attract as many international tourists as possible. Tourism is regarded as a ‘spearhead’ of the economy, and hopes are high that it will have growth rates of 11 to 12 per cent annually to attract 3.5 million foreign visitors in 2005 and 6 million in 2010. At the regional level, Vietnam’s tourism potential is considered richer than most, and yet its present development lags far behind. The lack of a decision on a new and attractive slogan to head up aggressive promotion campaigns is just one example of the inertia of local tourism authorities.

Thailand and Malaysia have each spent tens of millions of dollars to promote their ‘Amazing Thailand’ and ‘Malaysia: Truly Asia’ campaigns, both of which have helped these countries attract more than 10 million foreign tourists a year.

Meanwhile, Vietnam spent an estimated $1.1m on overseas tourism promotions last year, or just 1.4 per cent of Thailand’s expenditure, says Nguyen Thang Long, deputy head of tourism economy department at the Institute for Tourism Research and Development.

Cash shortage has certainly hindered the effectiveness of promotional campaigns. Not many tourists know about Vietnam as a destination, a fact reflected in last year’s number of 2.4 million tourists, much lower than Thailand and Malaysia’s figures. Dr. Pham Tu, vice chairman of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), accepts that Vietnam has only just started to truly compete with other regional countries. Good public relations services would help, and would create business opportunities for travel agents, hotels and workers. Several foreign companies have expressed interest in carrying out promotions for Vietnam but their demand for high fees has thrown a spanner into those works. Instead, tourism authorities, travel agents and hotels have tried to wage promotion campaigns on their own. These are often diluted by aggressive and expensive offensives by regional countries. Authorities and travel agents have also not tried to promote Vietnam as a whole as a destination. Each wants to promote his or her own products, thus mitigating the effectiveness of promotion. Another example of VNAT’s inertia is its continuing refusal to commit to approving an agreement to contract Martin Yan, a well-known international chef, to advertise the country’s cuisine art via international television channels. Saigontourist and Vietnam Airlines, two of the plan’s financial sponsors, have been waiting for the administration’s feedback for ages, but authorities are extremely reluctant to spend big money on such a promotion. Hoteliers have asked authorities to step up promotion campaigns. Unlike during the early 1990s when the country did not have enough luxury hotels to accommodate the increasing number of foreign tourists and businessmen, Vietnam now has numerous upmarket hotels which can provide services as good as many regional countries. The country now has 74,300 hotel rooms; 4,751 of them are five-star, 4,511 four-star and 6,873 three-star. But high quality rooms are not necessarily available where they’re needed. All high-class hotels are located in big cities while areas rich in tourism potential such as Sapa, Cat Ba, Tam Dao, Ba Be Lake and Phong Nha Grotto have very little international-standard accommodation. But this problem is being addressed as numerous hotels projects are under way in Halong Bay, Nha Trang, Hoi An and Phan Thiet. Vietnamese-operated establishments usually rely on their competitive prices due to lower labour costs to compete with foreign rivals, while their service quality, operation and management abilities are generally lower. Small and medium-sized Vietnamese hotels will face on-going difficulties competing with their foreign opponents during international integration. Travel agents are also unable to confront the challenges created by a more open economy and the higher number of visitors to the country. Nguyen Thi Bich Van, director of VNAT’s legal department, says local travel agents are now protected since foreign-backed joint ventures are not allowed to provide outbound and domestic tours, and foreign tourist companies cannot set up branches in Vietnam. Even under the BTA, American tourist companies can only operate under as joint ventures with a maximum stake of 51 per cent. Van says almost all travel companies depends on tourist feeder sources. In order to bring tourists to Vietnam, travel companies have to contract foreign tour companies and therefore enjoy only 30 per cent of tour prices. "If foreign companies are allowed to directly take tourists to Vietnam in the future, local companies will be in danger of having no customers," she says. In the long term, if these companies want to compete internationally, they should have appropriate business strategies in terms of markets, products, human resources and competitive capacity. These are the areas in which Vietnamese companies are really weak. "Very few companies spend on market research and development and set up long-term development strategies,Ó says Van. The weakness of local tourist and hotel companies is also reflected in their small investment in technology. Companies like Saigontourist which has bought Volvo buses to transport tourists, or Xuan Huong Tourist Company which has invested in a modern cable car system in Dalat, are very rare. Using software in hotel management has been common in foreign countries for years but only 60 to 70 per cent of three-star hotels in Vietnam do so. The automatic room reservation system is only available in four and five-star hotels, but it has not been accompanied by an inter-banking payment system. The global booking system is an advanced technology but it cannot be applied in Vietnam since there are few e-payment and on-line service systems. Vietnam’s hospitality industry also has poor associated services leading to short stays and little possibility of tourists returning to the country. Vietnam does not have giant entertainment complexes such as Sentosa in Singapore or Pattaya in Thailand, although Au Lac company is building a large entertainment complex in Tuan Chau island in Halong Bay while a group of American investors are exploring the opportunities to develop a Disneyland-styled theme park and resort complex in Phan Thiet town. But another problem is that many people do not strictly follow regulations on landscape and environment protection allowing various tourist spots to deteriorate, thus diminishing their attractiveness. Souvenir vendors are also rampant in most places, annoying tourists and hardly encouraging them to come back. But even when foreign tourists do flock in, the industry’s labour force is not well-prepared to service increasing demand. The services they deliver are therefore below expectations, leaving a poor impression on tourists. Given all of this, a good slogan or aggressive promotion campaigns would be a waste of time and money. More effort must be exerted to improve tourist services if Vietnam wants to catch up with Thailand and Malaysia. Only that way will it not have to wait for another ‘millennium’ to become a ‘destination’ for travellers from around the world.

source: Vietnam Economic Times

Sorry,I havn't read everything but that's definately a "Disney-style" theme park,not the Disney corporation.

http://www.saigontimes.com.vn/daily/HinhMH/2447/22.gif
Center employee Ngo Tu Nha Khanh (L) tells Canadian photographer Sean Francis Martin where to go and what to visit in Vietnam

(SGT-HCMC) Seventy to 100 tourists a day are already flocking to Son Kim Ltd.'s tourism information center in HCMC's District 1, although the company will officially open it only in mid-June.

The center at 4G-4H Le Loi Boulevard provides free information about traveling, tours, hotels, resorts, restaurants, banks, exchanging money, schools, health care services, visa procedures and special events.

It also gives free advice on doing business in the hospitality industry, together with information about the culture, history and investment opportunities everywhere in Vietnam, according to center manager Vu Thanh Tung.

The center finances its operation by leasing space out to its partners and charging for advertisements.

Of the 10 sections for lease, four have already found tenants, including a bank and travel company. In addition, the center has signed a deal to get US$50 per month for providing the 50-by-50-centimeter electronic billboard space.

http://www.saigontimes.com.vn/daily/HinhMH/2447/61.gif
Hon Tam (silkworm island) in Nha Trang Bay is the perfect place to relax

Saigontourist Transport Co. has just launched some new package bus tours from HCMC to pretty spots on the tourist trail.

Dalat, the City of Flowers

The four-day tour to the Central Highlands town of Dalat departs at 6 a.m., making brief stops at the Dau Giay intersection in Dong Nai Province and in Bao Loc Municipality in Lam Dong Province.

In Bao Loc you visit the Madagui Ecological Tourist Park before lunch at the Muong Xanh restaurant. You then continue your trip on the newly built Mimosa road, also called Prenn Pass 2, and sightsee Thien Vuong Co Sat Pagoda in Dalat.

On day two you tour the Mong Mo Hill Tourist Park, Domain de Marie Church, Linh Quang Pagoda, the summer palace of Vietnam’s last monarch Bao Dai, Yersin Park, the Dalat Flower Garden and Than Tho Lake.

The third day includes trips to Suoi Vang (golden stream), Suoi Bac (silver stream) and Dankia Lake, as well as excursions to the campgrounds at the foot of Lang Biang Mountain, Mimosa Hill and Tram Nam (hundred years) Valley. In the afternoon, shopping at Dalat Market is on the program.

On the fourth day you take a cablecar from the top of Robin Hill, which offers visitors a panoramic view of Dalat, to Phuong Hoang Hill. There you tour around Thien Vien Truc Lam, the largest Zen monastery in Vietnam, and Tuyen Lam Lake.

On the way back to HCMC, a stop for coffee and tea at Bao Loc is scheduled. The tour costs VND850,000 to VND1.9 million, depending on the accommodation you choose.

Ta Cu Mountain and Phan Thiet

The two-day tour to the central coast province of Phan Thiet also starts early at 6 a.m. and takes a first break at Dau Giay.

Heading along National Highway 1A, the bus goes first to the 649-meter-high Ta Cu Mountain that is famous for its streams, scenery and views of the coast.

Close to the mountain’s summit is Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda with its 49-meter-long and 18-meter-high reclining Buddha statue. After the pagoda, the tour takes you to Phan Thiet Municipality to relax on the beach and in the sea.

On the second day you visit Tre (bamboo) Stream, the sand dunes and the Ponashu Tower of the Cham people.

Before returning to HCMC, the bus stops at Phan Thiet Market. The tour goes for VND598,000 to VND1.4 million.

Nha Trang - Doc Let and Hon Tam

The four-day tour to the seaside city of Nha Trang once again leaves at 6 a.m. and stops at Dau Giay. Lunch is at Ca Na Beach.

After that you drop by Tu Van Pagoda in Cam Ranh Municipality before continuing the journey to Nha Trang, the capital of the central province of Khanh Hoa.

On the second day you go to the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanology before taking a boat to Hon Tam (silkworm island) to swim. Refreshed you move on to the Thap Ba Hot Spring Tourist Park where it is time for more relaxation in mineral mud baths and with water massages.

The third day encompasses a drive to Doc Let Beach, some 50 kilometers north of Nha Trang. Doc Let is among the province’s most popular beaches because of the glistening white sand, the shallow blue water and the lush vegetation along the beach’s edge.

Doc Let is so named because if you want to reach the sea, you have to cross high sand dunes, or doc in Vietnamese, and if you are not strong enough, you will get stuck in the sand and get late (let means “lag” in Vietnamese).

The next stops are Chong Island, the Cham Towers of Po Nagar, known locally as Thap Ba, and Dam Market.

On day four you will visit Long Son Pagoda at the foot of Mount Trai Thuy, northwest of Nha Trang. There the highlight is the naturally lit image of Buddha and a 14-meter-high statue of Buddha sitting on a lotus pedestal.

Before returning to HCMC, the bus stops at Phan Rang, the capital of Ninh Thuan Province. The tour costs VND1 million to VND1.6 million.

Nha Trang, Ninh Chu and Dalat

Alternatively, you can also book a five-day tour that allows you to see Nha Trang, Dalat, as well as Ninh Chu.

The first two days in Nha Trang take in Tu Van Pagoda in Cam Ranh, the Institute of Oceanography, Tam Island and Thap Ba Hot Springs in Nha Trang.

The third day includes a drive from Nha Trang to Ninh Chu, one of Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches, and Poklong Garai, a famous Cham tower, both in Ninh Thuan Province.

You then head to Dalat. The tour is priced at VND1.3 million to VND2.2 million.

Saigontourist Transport Co., 25 Pasteur Street, District 1, HCMC. Tel: (08) 914 1889. Email: transport@saigontourist-stt.com. Website: www.saigontourist-stt.com.

wow...Tuan Chau...

Construction underway

- Seaside villa and hotel area with 50 international standard rooms, a private beach, swimming pool, tennis court, symphony hall and a European-Asian food restaurant.
- Tuần Châu Rural Market: including over 30 stalls selling traditional handicrafts produced by craft villages from all over the country. There are also rural mobile vendors with their shoulder poles and baskets containing goods for sale. Here tourists will see model of a typical rural market.
- Zoo circus performance and Botanical and Zoological Garden.
- Hotels on hill with over 300 rooms.
- Tuần Châu Water Park.

Prospective Projects and Potential for investment co-operation

Prospective Projects
- Underwater way connecting Tuần Châu Island and Thiên Cung Grotto.
- Hanging cable network linking Tuần Châu and Cát Bà.
- 18-hole golf course.
- Helicopter pad.
- Hotel, floating restaurant.
- Casino, ecological tourist village.

Potential for investment co-operation
The Tuần Châu International Resort is developing at a very rapid pace, turning Tuần Châu Island from a deserted, impoverished area into a modern resort that will contribute to making Hạ Long more attractive in the 2003 tourist season. At present, there are many prospective projects in Tuần Châu with considerable potential for long-term investment co-operation with enterprises and individuals at home and abroad.
To see the current successes and future potential of the island at first hand, Âu Lac Company cordially welcomes tourists to the Tuần Châu International Resort.

Những công trình đang đưa vào hoạt động
- Khu biệt thự khách sạn ven biển với 50 phòng nghỉ đạt tiêu chuẩn chất lượng quốc tế, có bãi tắm riêng, bể bơi, sân tennis, phòng hòa nhạc, nhà hàng ăn Âu, Á.
- Khu chợ quê Tuần Châu: bao gồm hơn 30 gian hàng với các mặt hàng thủ công truyền thống đến từ các làng quê khắp mọi miền đất nước. Cùng những gánh hàng rong mang phong cách dân dã, thôn quê… tại đây du khách sẽ bắt gặp một mô hình chợ quê xưa điển hình.
- Rạp biểu diễn xiếc thú và thảo cầm viên.
- Khu khách sạn vườn đồi với 200 phòng.
- Công viên nước Tuần Châu.

Những dự án trong tương lai
- Đường thuỷ cung nối liền đảo Tuần Châu với động Thiên Cung.
- Hệ thống cáp treo nối Tuần Châu với đảo Cát Bà.
- Sân golf 18 lỗ
- Sân bay trực thăng
- Khách sạn, nhà hàng nổi
- Casino, làng du lịch sinh thái

source: halong.com

Amazing...nothing which can´t be build on Tuan Chau Island....even a "Quiet Winter Zone" (maybe for Snowboarding too??? :colgate: ), an international School, an University, a Hospital, an Underworld, a botanic garden and many more are planed.
-------------------
It seems that Tuan Chau (and the other near areas) will really turn into the Las Vegas of Vietnam.

By the way there are currently just two casinos in the entire country.
(I´m right?)

Do Son Casino Hotel (Hai Phong)
http://www.meetingsvietnam.com/activities/Haiphong%20activities/Casino.jpg
photo: meetingsvietnam.com

Royal International Gaming Club (Ha Long)
http://www.royal-gaming.com/images/with-sculpture.jpg
photo: royal-gaming.com

I like casino projects, but make sure Vietnamese nationals are banned from such places.

why should they be bannes from casinos? yeah of course Vietnamese love playing on those kind of games, some will be ruined if they go in casinos, but however, i think this policy is a bit inapropriate... morever now, cause some Viet are quiet rich, they should be able to go in such places.... they allow Vietnamese to go to clubs (where some spend some amazing amounts), golf courses, and so on...

Vietnameses are more interested in games such as đá ga`,bau cua,tai xiu,tiến lên...:D j/k.....

Yes,hope the policy will change in the future.Like Sg'pore has just allowed casinos now.

Heard of Tuan Chau alot but I've never been there even I used to live in Hanoi, where just more than 100 km away

Shike....uh....are you vostl in ttvnol.com? :D

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism is seeking more investors to build 10,000 more standard hotel rooms here in the next five years, and will join a mission abroad soon to promote the scheme, a tourism office said.

Le Nhut Tan, deputy director of the department, said the city's tourism body would have a trip to Europe from June 6 to June 15 to this regard.

"The city is facing a shortage of standard hotel rooms, and needs 10,000 more rooms in the next five years, so we are calling for more investors to come and invest in the city's hospitality industry," he said.

The trip abroad, known as the Trade, Investment and Tourism Promotion Programme, is to be organized by the HCM City government in three European countries.

Many activities will be staged to promote trade, investment, tourism and culture in Italy on June 6-7, Spain on June 8-9, and France on June 15.

The city now has over 9,500 standardized hotel rooms including 4,000 five-star rooms in addition to around 5,500 low-end hotel rooms.

Tan said the city welcomed about 1.58 million international tourists last year, but during the high season, international arrivals number some 200,000 a month.

The average occupancy rate at three- to five-star hotels reaches around 80% to 90% in the high season. Some five-star hotels, however, have reported full occupancy in the high season.

"The hotels in the city are not enough to cater to tourists," he said, adding the city expected to welcome around two million international guests by 2010. "Therefore, the city needs around 4,000 five-star hotel rooms in the next five years," he said.

Many tour operators have sometimes found it difficult to arrange rooms for their guests.

"Now, if tour operators arrange a group of 200 MICE visitors who travel on business, it is impossible for them to find enough rooms for their guests," Tan said.

According to Tan, during the promotion trip, the city's Department of Tourism will also look for potential investors to co-operate with the city's partners to build a port for tourist cruise ships in District 7 and develop a high-class entertainment park for tourists. Besides, the department will also promote Meeting -Incentives -Conventions/Congresses -Events/Exhibitions (MICE) tourism in HCM City to European guests.

This year, the department will organize the Vietnam-German Culture Day in October and the Vietnam-Korea Culture Day in November in HCM City to promote its image to tourists in these two countries.

SGT

Shike....uh....are you vostl in ttvnol.com? :D
:) dat rite, TTVN is always the biggest VNese 4rum ever, how come you knoe it, i'm not really active in ttvnol these days

Hey, now Vietnam has a own slogan!

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/2005-10/17/Photos/Logo-Du-lich.jpg

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01CUL171005

Quang Binh

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/4613/picture0130yq.jpg

Phong Nha Ke Bang
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/9357/picture0589au.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/1315/picture0630zk.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/4166/picture0647nm.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/5347/picture0652by.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/6207/picture0673ii.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/9145/picture0687mw.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/5647/picture0693nb.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/6131/picture0702kp.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/1535/picture0712wx.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/7395/picture0724ru.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/7589/picture0740lc.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/227/picture0776ku.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/826/picture0797ie.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/7734/picture0817ju.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/9181/picture0858kf.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/2585/picture0885qv.jpg


Dong Hoi

Masterplan of a Sinh Thai
http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/2231/picture0452ar.jpg

Sun Spa Resort
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/9687/picture0479xw.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/935/picture0911jp.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/7721/picture0938gg.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/2918/picture0947tz.jpg
http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/516/picture0950ho.jpg

Hey, now Vietnam has a own slogan!

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/2005-10/17/Photos/Logo-Du-lich.jpg

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01CUL171005


This is the slogan? not really interesting...the slogan is too literal representation of vietnam...i mean a slogan for vietnam is 'vietnam'...i dont like this design at all...we can do better than this... :sleepy: boooring

i like it... well its the best we have

Vietnam doesn;t need a slogan, we're too cool, cool people don't need slogan

bang u made me laught out in the middle of the internet cafe....:(

This is the slogan? not really interesting...the slogan is too literal representation of vietnam...i mean a slogan for vietnam is 'vietnam'...i dont like this design at all...we can do better than this... :sleepy: boooring
I think the complete slogan is "Vietnam, the hidden charm" just like "amazing Thailand" which also contain "Thailand". I heard that, this slogan was the winner of a competition held by the Administration of Tourism . However I prefer the one which came in the second place:"Vietnam, the beauty of simplicity" , simple as it is and you might feel the rhythm within it.

These houses just kill the scenery. Concrete doesn't mix well with natural scenery.


http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/7395/picture0724ru.jpg

well in this case...then these buildings sure destroy the landscape...but in term of concrete and environment...its depends...some case the concrete material exist harmoniously with nature.

Love this thread. I'd love the beauty of markets in Vietnam. They are going to announce the top 100 markets in Vietnam, hmm, that's sooooo great!

Top Specialised Markets In Vietnam



The Vietnam Records Book Center (Vietkings) has just recognized 100 specialized markets across the country that major in selling certain goods including bizarre ones like mice, hats and even love.
http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Khau-Vai-love-market.gif

This is as part of a project called S100 to list 100 tourist destinations, 100 specialized markets and 100 famous markets.

These are specialized markets that any tourist desires to visit, including those selling annimals: Pak Nam market (in Bac Kan province, selling buffalows), Xuan O market (in Bac Ninh province, selling chickens), Binh Long market (in An Giang province, selling field mices), Meo Vac market (in Ha Giang province, selling cows), Si Ma Cai market (Lao Cai province, selling horses) and Muong Khuong market (in Lao Cai province, selling birds).

http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Xuan-O-chicken-market.gif
http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Binh-Long-Mice-market.gif
http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Meo-Vac-market.gif
http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Si-Ma-Cai-horse-market.gif
http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Muong-Khuong-bird-market.gif

There are markets selling arts and crafts such as Go Gang market (in Binh Dinh, selling hats), Dinh Yen market (in Dong Thap, selling sleeping mats); those specialised in foods like Am phu market (in Dat Lat), Nha Trang market.

http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Go-Gang-hat-market.gif
http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Dinh-Yen-mat-market.gif
http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/am-phu-market.gif

Khau Vai, Moc Chau and Sa Pa love markets (where youths seek their other halves on a voluntary basis) in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, Son La and Lao Cai, accordingly, were also listed.

http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Khau-Vai-love-market.gif
http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Moc-Chau-love-market.gif
http://vietnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Sapa-love-market.gif

Famous floating markets are Cai Rang, Phung Hiep and Long Xuyen.

Besides, S100 also lists markets selling straws (Tra Thon market) and hairs (in Nghe An), wedding market (in Vinh Phuc), Yin and Yang market (in Bac Ninh).

The list is expected to add diversity to the destination selection of Vietnam travel tour (https://travel.com.vn). Last month, the center recorded 100 Vietnamese food specialties. It also plans to seek 200 more food and fruit specialties across the country in an attempt to promote specialties to tourists. Under the plan, Vietkings will gather opinions from food distributors and exporters in 63 provinces in Vietnam to search for 100 dishes cooked by local people as well as consult fruit research centers in recognizing a further 100 natural specialties.

Source (http://vietnamon.com/news-events/news/top-specialised-markets-in-vietnam/)

nice post on vietnam markets....thanks.:okay:

Má ơi từ 2005 roài mà còn đào mộ nó lên nữa :nuts::nuts::nuts::nuts::nuts:

i like du lich viet nam (https://travel.com.vn/du-lich-viet-nam.aspx) then
Heard of Tuan Chau alot but I've never been there even I used to live in Hanoi, where just more than 100 km away