The new InterContinental Nha Trang opens in Vietnam

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the doors of the brand new InterContinental Nha Trang in the coastal city of Nha Trang, Vietnam. The 279-room hotel overlooks the pristine coastline and waters of the Nha Trang Bay and includes 56 luxuriously furnished suites.

The hotel is a 40-minute drive from Cam Ranh International Airport and is surrounded by a host of shopping and entertainment options. It also offers guests the opportunity to go island-hopping or visit attractions such as the Thap Ba Hot Spring, Nha Phu Lagoon or some of Nha Trang's famous scuba diving spots in the Hon Mun Marine Protected Area.

Guests looking for unique culinary experiences in Nha Trang can find what they are looking for right at the hotel, which has a number of dining options. The hotel's main restaurant Cookbook Cafe offers live interactive cooking stations with seafood, char grilled meats and authentic Vietnamese specialties, while poolside bar Aqualine provides guests with the best views over the bay as they enjoy light bites. Those looking to unwind can enjoy signature drinks prepared by the hotel's resident mixologist at the Lobby Bar.

Colin McCandless, General Manager, InterContinental Nha Trang said; "InterContinental Nha Trang is the epitome of a luxurious beachfront retreat and it is situated along one of the most stunning coastlines in Vietnam. From its fantastic location offering the view of the pristine Nha Trang bay to the world-class facilities in the hotel, InterContinental Nha Trang has been designed to provide contemporary luxury experiences for both leisure and business travelers when they stay, dine or hold an event with us."

InterContinental Nha Trang is a haven for rejuvenation with three outdoor swimming pools and a fully equipped Fitness Centre, while Spa InterContinental offers guests the latest holistic modern and traditional treatments, equipped with a luxurious couple suite, sauna and Jacuzzi, among others. The hotel also caters specifically to the youngest members of the family with its own Kid's Club which has a range of child friendly activities, games and supervised events that allow parents to get some much deserved time off on their own.

In addition, InterContinental Nha Trang boasts the largest pillar-less grand ballroom in the city, with extensive meeting facilities and the latest technology to deliver seamless corporate or social events such as conferences, business meetings, parties and weddings.

Clarence Tan, Chief Operating Officer, South East Asia and Resorts, IHG, said "InterContinental Nha Trang is our first hotel in Nha Trang and joins a stellar repertoire of three other award-winning InterContinental properties in Vietnam. We have high expectations for this new property and are confident that all our guests will enjoy an authentic local experience at the hotel."

IHG currently has six hotels open in Vietnam under the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Crowne Plaza brands, with another seven in the development pipeline. InterContinental Nha Trang joins the family of 12 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in South East Asia, with another seven due to open in the next three to five years in the region.

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Plan for friendly cycling in Hanoi

The city authority says around 250 cycles will be available for rent for just US$0.19 per hour that will be launched soon in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.

Hanoi is among the five major cities in Vietnam that will introduce bike rentals.

The four other cities are Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Danang and Can Tho.

Ministry of Transport’s Transport Department head, Khuat Viet Hung, told local media that over the last two years, the number of cyclists in Hanoi had increased.

“In the downtown areas, such as the old quarter in Hanoi, where the traffic flow is dense, bicycles are very appropriate,” he said.

Initially, the bikes will probably be rented by local residents for short commutes in the Old Quarter, but the long-term objective is to attract visitors to use rental cycles.

Dong Xuan Joint Stock Company general director, Do Xuan Thuy, who is the developer of the bike rental programme in Hanoi, said bicycles are suitable for the Hanoi.

“This type of vehicle will help solve environmental problems and traffic congestion in the city and rentals are cheap.”

The company will offer 250 bicycles in Hoan Kiem district and paid for by electronic cards. They will be parked at bus stops or tourist attractions, especially the Old Quarter.

“Within three years, the number of people using bicycles will be very significant and will also appeal to tourists,” he said.

This year, the city targets 15 million domestic tourists and 2.8 million international visitors. By 2020, the city targeted to reach 3.2 million foreign arrivals and 20 million local tourists.

Last year, there were 2.58 million international tourists and 14 million domestic tourists visited Hanoi.

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Vietnam preserves ethnic minorities via tourism projects

To strengthen Vietnam’s tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will speed up projects that help to preserve and develop ethnic minority culture.

Deputy Minister Huynh Vinh Ai told local media that the ministry plans to build a set of cultural development indicators for ethnic minority groups by 2020.

According to the plan, it will create an inventory of ethnic minority cultural heritage, support cultural development of at least 16 ethnic minority groups and repair 300 relics.

This year, it hopes to upgrade grassroots culture and sports institutions, while raising the profile of ‘Cultural Family’ and the ‘Cultural Village’ concepts.

Ethnic minority festivals have been organised in line with the party’s guidelines and state laws.

Last year, the ministry successfully organised the Vietnam Ethnic Minority Cultural Day 19 April and implemented three projects to preserve villages, hamlets and communes linked to ethnic minority groups.

It also built entertainment sites for children in remote, mountainous and island areas in Lai Chau, Dak Nong, Lao Cai, Quang Nam and Dien Bien.

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ASEAN Considers Single Visa

ASEAN’s may have embarked on a mission to establish a so-called “common visa”, but there is still a considerable distance to cover to make it a reality, according to assessments made during tourism minsters’ press briefing Monday.

It warranted a mention in the minsters’ progress report, outlined at a media briefing, but only to say ministers were “working closely with relevant agencies on the development of a common visa for non-ASEAN nationals and its possible implications on tourism.”

Relevant agencies in this instance are immigration bureaus, national security and police. Ministers admitted privately there are still considerable hurdles to overcome to turn it into a reality.

The subject gains an airing at the annual ATF usually in the minsters’ report card on activities and discussions that confirm it is still on the radar, although not an urgent must-do project before the ASEAN Economic Community kicks in 2015.

On the sidelines of the ministers press briefing, Monday, Indonesia’s minister of tourism and creative economy, Dr Mari Elka Pangestu, said 2014 would see Myanmar sign off on visa free entry for all ASEAN member-country citizens. It is the last of the 10 countries to introduce visa-free travel for the region’s citizens.

“That will be significant progress, we are not sure when Myanmar will complete bilateral agreements on visa-free travel, but we have been assured it will happen before ATF 2015.”

Myanmar has signed bilateral agreements on visa-free travel with Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam. Thailand was supposed to be next, but Thai caretaker prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, postponed her trip to Myanmar last November when she was scheduled to sign off on the agreement.

In addition, it is understood that Myanmar has still to negotiate bilateral agreements on visa-free travel with Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

“Once that process has been completed,” Indonesia’s tourism minister explained, “the next logical step would be to look closely at the Thailand-Cambodia single visa project that is now a pilot project… it could be extended to five of the six Mekong Region countries that all members of ASEAN.”

If that project could be extended smoothly to include all five Mekong Region countries to offer a single visa for non-ASEAN nationalities, the minister believed it would become a sound platform to build an ASEAN-wide common visa.

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Tam Dao Provides Free Wi-Fi

Tourists, who visit Tam Dao, 86 km from Hanoi, can enjoy free Wi-Fi access according to the Provincial Department of Information and Communications.

The provine invested around US$700,000 in its free Wi-Fi project in an effort to lure more tourists to the region.

Various destinations in Vietnam are improving Wi-Fi access for visitors believing it is an essential service that will ultimately improve Vietnam’s ability to attract more international tourists.

According to the department, visitors and residents will enjoy free Wi-Fi service until 2019. After that they will have to pay for the service.

“The free Wi-Fi project will help visitors to research information on the region on the spot making it easier to explore attractions and that helps us to draw more foreign tourists,” an official explained.

Due to mountainous terrain, Wi-Fi hotspots have been placed at hotels, or high buildings in the centre of Tam Dao town.

Tam Dao tourist area is located in Tam Duong district, 86 km from Hanoi, covering Ban Thach, Thien Nhi and Phu Nghia mountains.

Vietnam has introduced free Wi-Fi for visitors in Hoi An, Danang, Halong, Hue, Da Lat, Cat Ba and at Saigon Railway Station.

Over the next two years Quang Ninh province will provide more free Wi-Fi at economic and tourist hub cities such as Uong Bi, Cam Pha, Van Don and Mong Cai.

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New Services to Danang by Dragonair

Dragonair, a Hong Kong-based subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, will raise its weekly flights between Danang and Hong Kong from four to seven starting 18 December.

The airline launched the route late March, this year, making Danang is the airline’s second destination in Vietnam after Hanoi.

During the past nine months, the airline has transported more than 30,000 passengers, mostly from Hong Kong to explore major tourist attractions in central Vietnam.

Dragonair said the central region of Vietnam, especially Danang, the gateway point for beach resorts and the heritage coastal village of Hoi An, are becoming popular destinations with visitors from Hong Kong.

The central region is noted for its UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Sites of My Son Sanctuary, Hoi An ancient town, and Hue’s imperial palace complex, as well as many other cultural and historical sites.

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Vietnam Holidays To Be Bloomed

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism estimates the country attracted 628,695 international visits in October representing an increase of 15.1% over the same month last year.

Thailand’s outbound trips to Vietnam ranked in eighth spot with 21,263 up 4.4% from last year.

China continued to lead the field with 176,852 trips improving 30.6% followed by South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the United States.

 All of the country’s top markets are in the Asia/Pacific region with the exception of the US (fifth), Russia (seventh), the United Kingdom (ninth) and France (10th).

The bulk of arrivals in October (478,318) passed through two main aviation gateways Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

For January to October, international tourist arrivals reached 6,118,969 increasing 10.4% over the same period last year.

VNAT updated its data on its website, Monday, sourced from the government statistic office.

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New Routes in Vietnam by Jetstar

Jetstar Pacific airline will open two new domestic air routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc starting 15 December.

According to the airline, the new domestic routes will meet growing travel demand between the destinations.

An Airbus A320 will fly the route from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc daily.

Jetstar Pacific will purchase an additional two Airbus A320s in early December this year and late January 2014 to cope with increasing numbers of passengers.

The Jetstar Group operates up to 3,000 flights a week to around 64 destinations and carried more than 23 million people in 2013 fiscal year.

Jetstar Group is made up of Jetstar Airways in Australia and New Zealand (subsidiary of the Qantas Group), Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Pacific in Vietnam, Jetstar Japan in Japan and from 2013  Jetstar Hong Kong.

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Plan For Walking Street In Sapa

North Vietnam’s Sapa will soon have its own walking street after the People’s Committee of Lao Cai province said it would limit vehicle access to Sapa’s main street at the weekends.

 The idea is to give space for folk culture and entertainment on weekends on Sapa’s main street which has in the past has been limited to shopping for handicraft and souvenirs.

Most of the tourists are from Hanoi but Sapa also attracts foreign tourists who are interested in ethnic minority groups.

Limiting vehicle assess to the street will give more space for entertainment and folk performance s and make the town centre more attractive to visitors.

Sapa is a small town perched on a hillside and is a popular resort town for visitors from Hanoi who want to enjoy a cool climate and study ethnic minority lifestyles in the area. It is a popular base for treks and close to the border town of Lao Cai that stands at the foot of the hills on which Sapa stands. It is home to Hmong, Dao (Yao), Giay, Pho Lu, and Tay ethnic minority groups. Lao Cai is on the border with China and is the last main train junction for rail services to Hanoi.

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Rosewood Phnom Penh plans to launch in 2015

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been appointed by Cambodia-based property developer Vattanac Properties to manage Rosewood Phnom Penh, scheduled to open in 2015. This latest signing is Rosewood's seventh management agreement in Asia. Rosewood Phnom Penh will join the upcoming network of Rosewood ultra-luxury hotels in the region that will also include Beijing, Chongqing, Bangkok, Phuket, Jakarta and Bali.

The hotel will occupy the top 14 floors, with dedicated high-speed elevator access, in the 188-meter-high, 39-storey Vattanac Capital Tower One. Prominently located in the heart of the capital's Central Business District along Preah Monivong Boulevard, this world-class commercial complex will also include Grade-A offices and Cambodia's first luxury retail mall.

Rosewood Phnom Penh will offer a panoramic view of the city and the fabled Mekong River from its position within the tallest building in the capital, whose architectural form takes the fluid shape of a rising dragon oriented towards the East. The Royal Palace, National Museum, Central Market and Phnom Penh's other most fascinating historic landmarks will be within easy reach.

Rosewood Phnom Penh will feature 148 rooms and suites which will be amongst the largest hotel guestrooms in Phnom Penh. Also offered will be an additional 27 luxury serviced residences for long-stay visitors to the Cambodian capital. Dining options will include a 120-seat bistro, a 60-seat lobby lounge, two specialty restaurants and a sky bar on a cantilevered terrace. Recreational facilities will feature Rosewood's signature Sense(R) spa with five treatment rooms, a 20-meter swimming pool on the 33rd floor and a fully equipped fitness center. Meeting facilities will include The Pavilion residential-style meeting and function space and multi-functional meeting rooms.

Guided by Rosewood's A Sense of Place philosophy, the property's interior will be designed by Indonesia-based Jaya International Design for the public areas and guestrooms together with Japan-based Bond Design Studio for the food and beverage spaces.

"We believe that Rosewood's A Sense of Place(R) concept of embracing local history and culture throughout the property will be beautifully expressed in this exotic and vibrant country," says Sonia Cheng, chief executive officer of Rosewood Hotel Group. "We are honored that Vattanac Properties has given us this opportunity to introduce Rosewood to Cambodia and provide a window into this fascinating world for visitors."

"Vattanac Capital is an important landmark development in the Kingdom of Cambodia," says Sam Ang Vattanac, executive director of Vattanac Properties. "We are excited and proud to bring the ultra-luxury Rosewood to our capital. This collaboration will redefine ultra-luxury hospitality in the kingdom, whilst reaffirming the upscale positioning of Vattanac Capital as Cambodia's most exclusive commercial complex. We look forward to welcoming international investors and travellers to this hotel in Phnom Penh."

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Special air deals by THAI Airways International

THAI Airways International cuts economy class fares for the remainder of November on selected domestic routes.

It will suit THAI’ loyal customers who need to make a last-minute trip before the end of the month, but the fares are still considerably higher than Nok Air and Thai AirAsia. Nok Air has frequent discounts campaigns with one-way fares of around Bt1,200 to Bt1,400.

The “Colourful November” promotion sells a one-way fare exclusive of airport taxes ex- Bangkok to northern destinations — Chiang Mai starting at Bt1,700 and Chaing Rai at Bt2,000.

Fares to the northeast are: Bt1,350 to Udon Thani; Bt1,450 to Ubon Ratchathani; and Bt1,500 to Khon Kaen.

To South Thailand, fares sell at Bt1,700 to Surat Thani, Bt2,000 to Krabi, and Bt2,100 to Phuket and Hat Yai.

A Bt3,600 fare is on offer for the Phuket-Chiang Mai route.

The promotion is valid on THAI and THAI Smile online at www.thaiairways.com.

Ticketing and travel date are open until 30 November except for the Loi Krathong festival weekend.  The fares save up around 10% to 15% off the standard fares.

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New service to Udon Thani with special fare

Bangkok Airways sells a promotional start-up fare on its new service to Udon Thani due to start 29 November.

The airline will operate two flights daily to Udon Thani, an important commercial town, just 80 km short of the Thai Lao border at Nong Khai. Travellers fly to Udon and then board mini-bus for transfers to the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge to pass through immigration. Vientiane the Lao capital is just 20 km up river from the checkpoint.

The overall cost of the domestic fare and bus transfers is less than half of the roundtrip fare Bangkok-Vientiane. It takes four hours to complete the entire journey.

A one-way fare exclusive of airport taxes costs Bt450 in B Class and Bt990 in G Class.

Passenger can book the fares until 30 November to travel 29 November to 31 December this year. Passengers travelling G Class can use the tickets until 31 January 2014.

The early morning flight, PG351 will depart Bangkok at 0725 and arrive in Udon at 0830, while the return flight will depart Udon at 0915 and arrive in Bangkok at 1020. An evening flight, PG355, will depart Bangkok at 1845 and arrive in Udon at 1950 and depart Udon at 2035 to arrive in Bangkok at 2140.

Nok Air has the highest frequency to Udon Thani with six flights daily, while Thai AirAsia offers three daily flights.

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Myanmar Visa Exemption To Be Speeded

Myanmar’s government says it hopes to secure bilateral visa exemption agreements with all ASEAN member countries by the end of this year to enable citizens to enjoy visa-free travel for up to 14 days.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy chief administrator, U Sein Oo, was quoted by local media as saying agreements were needed to enable as many people as possible to attend the Southeast Asian Games that will be held mid-December.

However, with just four weeks to go it will be difficult to reach that goal. The Thai premier is expected to sign a bilateral agreement during her official visit linked to  the opening of the Games.

The country already has vias-free travel privileges with Vietnam.

“The government wants to have visa-free travel for all ASEAN nations in 2014, when Myanmar will chair the 10-nation group,” he said.

Yet some countries are still working on the terms, while Singapore and Brunei have not yet responded to proposals according to reliable sources in Yangon.

Agreements with Laos and Indonesia are already at the stage of signing and could be firmed up by the start of the Games. That would leave agreements with Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines and Cambodia still to negotiate.

The Union Myanmar Travel Association representative, U Naung Naung Han, said visa-free travel would present a substantial business opportunity for both inbound and outbound travel.

On 22 October, the Thai Cabinet approved a draft agreement on visa exemption but it still needs to be signed by the two premiers.

Once the bilateral accord is signed the visa exemption will apply to departures and arrivals at 23 airports in Thailand.

The airports are: Suvarnabhumi; Don Mueang; Chiang Mai; Chiang Rai; Hat Yai; Phuket; Nan; Phitsanulok; Mae Sot; Mae Hong Son; Khon Kaen; Nakhon Ratchasima; Udon Thani; Ubon Ratchathani; Krabi; Trang; Narathiwat; Ranong; Surat Thani; Hua Hin; Samui; Sukhothai; and U-tapao.

The agreement could also be suspended for security and public health reasons by informing the other country at least 15 days in advance. It can be annulled by either country through a notice presented through diplomatic channels at least 60 days in advance.

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Thailand - Cambodia Checkpoints Extend Working Hours

The Thai Cabinet has given the green light to extend working hours at five border checkpoints with Cambodia from 0600 to 2200 to boost trade and tourism between the border provinces.

The government spokesman, Teerat Rattanasevi, said the cabinet last Tuesday approved a Ministry of Interior proposal to extend working hours at five border checkpoints with Cambodia.

Checkpoints:

• Ban Laem in Pong Nam Ron district of Chanthaburi;

• Ban Phak Kat in Pong Nam Ron district of Chanthaburi;

• Ban Hat Lek in Klong Yai district of Trat province;

• Ban Klong Luek in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaew province;

• Ban Chong Chom in Kap Choeng district of Surin.

Up until now checkpoints were open 0700 to 2000.

It will require more immigration officials and some checkpoints may continue with the present opening hours until the staff shortage is resolved. Travellers should check in advance.

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Visa-free Travel To Myanmar For Thailand

Thai government spokesman, Teerat Ratanasevi, says Thailand and Myanmar will sign an agreement on visa exemption between the two countries, this December,which will give citizens of the two countries a 14-day visa-free stay.

Mr Teerarat said the Cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft agreement on the visa exemption.

“The draft will now be presented to the premiers of the two countries to sign when Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visits Myanmar this December.”

The Thai PM will visit Myanmar, 11 and 12 December, to participate in the SEA Games opening ceremony.

He added: “The draft agreement was submitted to the Cabinet for approval in line with Article 190 of the Constitution, but does not have to be approved by Parliament.”

Under ASEAN membership rules all 10 countries are supposed to allow visa-free travel for the group’s citizens. Myanmar is the last of the member countries to comply with the rule.

However, ASEAN rules are based on voluntary participation and in the case of visa-free travel, bilateral agreements need to be ratified first that comply with national immigration laws.

Once the bilateral accord is signed the visa exemption will apply to departures and arrivals at 23 airports in Thailand.

The airports are: Suvarnabhumi; Don Mueang; Chiang Mai; Chiang Rai; Hat Yai; Phuket; Nan; Phitsanulok; Mae Sot; Mae Hong Son; Khon Kaen; Nakhon Ratchasima; Udon Thani; Ubon Ratchathani; Krabi; Trang; Narathiwat; Ranong; Surat Thani; Hua Hin; Samui; Sukhothai; and U-tapao.

Airports in Myanmar have yet to be identified.

However, the two countries reserve the right to deny entry to certain citizens, or reduce their stay without having to inform them of the reasons, he said.

The spokesman cited that the agreement could also be suspended for security and public health reasons by informing the other country at least 15 days in advance. It can be annulled by either country through a notice presented through diplomatic channels at least 60 days in advance.

Earlier this month, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh signed a bilateral agreement in New York to allow Vietnamese travellers, the first in ASEAN, to gain visa-free entry to Myanmar.

Visa-free travel between the two countries applied 26 October this year.

According to the visa exemption pact between Vietnam and Myanmar, citizens need to have passports valid for a minimum of six months, and their stay must not exceed 14 days, without any facility to extend.

Myanmar authorities have also granted pre-arranged visa-on-arrival for visitors from 48 countries. It requires pre-approval from authorities. Once the traveller has confirmation that the visa on arrival has been approved they take a flight to Yangon and have the visa stamped into their passport on arrival.

The visa-free entry between Thailand and Myanmar will be limited to airline travel only, which excludes travellers who might want to travel over the border at Mae Sai in Chiang Rai province and then fly from Tachilek airport to Yangon, Mandalay or Bagan. They will still need a visa to pass through the overland checkpoint.

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Special Discounts From Nok Air

Nok Air sells discount fares on domestic routes and its regional routes to Myanmar, but the booking window closes 6 November.

The one-way  all inclusive fare is pegged at Bt1,099 departing Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) to Phitsanulok, Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, and Surat Thani.

The fare is also applicable on the Chiang Mai–Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai–Mae Sot routes.

A higher fare Bt1,199 sells to Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Sot, Nan, Phrae, Sakon Nakhon, Buri Ram, Roi Et, Loei,Hat Yai, Phuket, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Chumphon, Hua Hin, Ranong, including Chiang Mai–Udon Thani.

Services to Krabi will begin 1 January 2014.

On regional routes, the fare sells at Bt1,590 from Bangkok to Yangon and Mae Sot to Mawlamyine and Yangon.

For Fly’n Ferry and Fly’n Ride routes promotion will be apply to air ticket content only.

Booking can be made until 6 November for travel 26 November to 25 October next year.

The fares save around 10% to 30% off standard fares. However, the airline has been offering frequent discounts on domestic fares that were pegged at Bt1,200 one way.

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Seaplanes Serving Halong Sightseeing

Seaplanes could be recruited to add a new dimension to Halong Bay’s attraction options according to the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The department’s director, Ha Quang Long, said the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam’s (CAAV) was mulling over the idea of seaplanes that could be used to offer sightseeing trips over Halong and Bai Tu Long bays. They would take off from a spot close to where tourist boats anchor and have the flexibility of landing on the sea close to scenic spots in the bay if required.

“We think it is a great idea to use seaplanes for the development of tourism in Quang Ninh,” the director added.

The bays have more than 250 km of coastline and attract thousands of tourists annually drawn by the natural beauty of the World Heritage site.

Before the project can fly, it will require approval from the  government and possibly some changes to some aviation regulations to ensure security or safety regulations are not compromised when a seaplane is used for commercial passenger travel.

CAAV deputy director, Dinh Viet Thang, admitted seaplanes would be a new kind of tourism service for Vietnam.  They are relatively popular in the US and Canada where most of the small seaplanes are privately owned and used for recreational purposes, or as transport to holiday homes built on islands or next to remote  rivers and lakes.

Technically, the project will not use a seaplane, but what is correctly termed an amphibious aircraft that can use both conventional runways and water.

In ASEAN seaplanes are commonly used by governments and military for rescue or reconnaissance. They are fitted with floats and some have retractable landing gear for use on conventional runways.

An experiment in the use of amphibious aircraft commercially in Thailand failed first in Pattaya with a small airline called Yellow Birds and later in Phuket under different name Tropical Air. The venture used two Grummen G111 Albatross.

Thailand’s Civil Aviation Department was reluctant to issue an operating license for the aircraft claiming the technology was out-dated. There were also security considerations.

If the Vietnam plan is approved, amphibious aircraft could be operating commercially by late 2014, Halong Bay. Initially, Hai Au Company will import two planes, but the company would need to ensure there were enough pilots trained to operate the craft that require a different certification.

The company is most likely to use Cessna Grand Caravan 208B EX aircraft with a flight crew of two and seating for 12 passengers, that officials say could be used on both conventional and water runways.

The Grand Caravan was introduced in 1994 and with the upgrade to the EX model in 2012 the manufacturer says the Grand Caravan EX can be “modified for amphibious missions with floats provided by the US firm Wipaire Inc.”.

Actually Vietnam has its own seaplane, the A41 Factory VNS-41, that has been in service since 2005. It was the first amphibious microlight aircraft made in Vietnam built by the A41 Factory (officially Aircraft Repairing Company A-41) under the Air Force and Air Defense Department (Ministry of Defense) based on the Russian Che-22 “Korvet”.

It can carry two or three passengers with a flight range of four hours at a maximum height of 3,000 metres. It requires 200 to 300 metres of space to take off on water and just 50 to 70 metres on land.

The VNS-41 is used by the forestry department, but will also be marketed for sport, travel and commercial applications in the future.

Halong Bay officials gave no further details on the estimated cost of the sightseeing flights, length and scenic routes. Travel firms would need some time to factor the flights into their 2014 tour programmes and the company would need to negotiate commission and sales terms with the trade to make it a success in international markets.

During January to September this year, tourist arrivals to Quang Ninh province reached more than 6 million, a year-on-year rise of 10% including more than 1.8 million foreign tourists, up 20%, with over 2.9 million tourists staying overnight, up 24%.

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