Tourism sector welcomes New Year
(VOV) - Tourist sites, entertainment venues, trade centres, hotels, and restaurants nationwide have been decorated in anticipation of welcoming 2013, while many cultural exchange programmes have been organised to serve international and domestic visitors.
In Hanoi, hundreds of lights sparkle in the gardens of luxury hotels, including Deawoo, Melia, Hilton, and Metropole.
A rotary market operated by ethnic minority groups has reappeared at the Metropole Hanoi Hotel. Running from December 23, 2012, to January 2, 2013, its proprietors include six Red Dao ethnic minority women from Ta Phin and Lao Chai villages in the mountainous northern Lao Cai province.
Other well-known destinations including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Dalat, Ha Long Bay, Sapa, and Phu Quoc Island will usher in the New Year with many activities destined to impress tourists.
According to travel agents, hotel rooms are still available in many of the country’s “hot spots”. However, the number of visitors registering for tours are sure increase during the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.
Saigontourist Travel Service Company has said it will welcome 15,000 tourists on 50 inbound and outbound tours during the Christmas and New Year holiday.
The company’s customers for December 31 2012 and January 1 2013 include tourists from France, Russia, China, Ukraine, Hong Kong, and China.
Saigontourist will also greet 3,000 tourists and crewmembers aboard the cruise liner SuperStar Aquarius on January 3. They will visit Ha Long Bay as part of a cooperation programme between the company and Star Cruises.
Star Cruises is expected to bring 130,000 foreign visitors and sailors to Ha Long Bay, Da Nang, Nha Trang and HCM City between November 2012 and April 2013.
Saigontourist reportedly welcomed 450,000 tourists in 2012, earning VND2 trillion in revenue.