Vietnam is expected to welcome the six millionth international visitor in late December, marking a successful year for the country’s tourism, according to the National Administration of Tourism. 

The Quang Nam provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 13 hosted a workshop to launch a tourism promotion project in its disadvantaged areas. 

The Sao Mai Tour Company is the first tourism enterprise in southern Binh Thuan province which has been granted an international traveling business licence by the Vietnam Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

The first phase of the Ho Tram Strip project, to build a top-notch beach resort in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, has been completed and is expected to open the door to tourists in early 2013.

Vietnam Airlines launched its first direct flight to the UK's London Gatwick Airport, on December 9.  

More than 50 delegates from domestic and foreign travel agents and European tourism magazines gathered at a seminar in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province on December 2 to discuss promoting Vietnam sea tourism in Europe.

A tourism programme called “Return to the Roots” has attracted large numbers of visitors, contributing to the industry’s annual revenue growth of 16.7 percent.  

Travel agents are offering many attractive tours for Christmas and New Year holidaymakers.

In preparation for the 2012 National Tourism Year, the Hue Festival will open on April 7 next year.

The Spanish government will provide 400,000 euros in non-refundable aid for a project to help Vietnam raise the capacity of its tourism sector from now until 2020, with a vision for 2030.

A conference on promoting tourism in southeastern Vietnam was held in Tay Ninh province on November 26.  

Archi Invest Joint Stock Company inaugurated a new resort by international standards, called Nine Ivory Eco Resort & Country Club in Hanoi’s outlying Ba Vi district on November 24.

Hue Festival 2012 will coincide with the National Tourism Year for the north central coastal region, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced at a press briefing in Hanoi on November 23.

The Korean Tourism Administration organized a roadshow in HCM City on November 22 to introduce the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s tourism potential.

The Super Star Aquarius cruise ship, bringing 2,100 foreign tourists, from Hong Kong, China docked at Chan May port in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on November 14.

The central province of Thua Thien–Hue has so far attracted 43 projects in tourism with total investment of more than VND50 trillion.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) together with nearly 30 domestic businesses attended the World Travel Market Exhibition in London from November 7-10.

The Saigontourist Travel Service has coordinated with Vietnam's Permanent Mission to the United Nations to organize a festival to advertise HCM City tourism in New York.

An Bang Beach in Cam An ward, Hoi An City, has been listed among the world’s top 50 most beautiful beaches by CNNGo Asian tourism magazine.

Since early this year, Vietnam has welcomed more than 4.8 million foreign arrivals, up 15.8 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Vietnam Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

Costa Classica cruise ship is scheduled to dock at Ha Long Bay at 8am on November 1, bringing 2,200 foreign tourists to Vietnam.

A seminar on linking tourism initiatives across the provinces of Lao Cai, Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh and Hanoi city was held in Hanoi on October 27.

More than 40 Japanese travel agents and Vietnamese tourism businesses attended a seminar on marketing for Japanese tourists in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25.

A new cave described as very beautiful and mysterious with a complex series of grottos has been discovered in the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan.

Every visitor to Can Tho will inevitably spend at least a morning at Cai Rang floating market, a vibrant, colourful and revealing symbol of the Mekong Delta’s largest city.

Many travel experts keep saying that along the central coastline, the next big thing is Phu Yen – a seaside town blessed with beautiful scenery and an untouched shore.

A ceremony was held by Vietnam Airlines in Nagoya city, Japan on October 11 to introduce “Four nations –one destination”-a new program on Vietnam’s land, people, culture and tourism.

The central city of Danang attracted 25,000 foreign visitors in September alone, up 25 percent against the same period last year, said the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Ho Chi Minh City has launched different programmes to develop its tourism sector, including “river tourism”, “HCM City- 100 interesting things” and standard tourism with art performances.

Vietnam’s Vietravel tourist company will be presented the title of Best Travel Agent for Asia at an awards ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 6.