Vietnam launches new promotions

A new set of tour programmes are in the pipeline to support the celebrations to mark the “1,000-year anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi,” next year.

Thang Long is the old historical town on which today’s capital city was founded. It was chosen by Ly Thai To, founding king of Ly Dynasty, as the capital of Dai Viet Kingdom (now Vietnam) in the Autumn of 1010.

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism reported that the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is building seven tourism programmes to coincide with the anniversary celebrations that will continue throughout 2010.

Tours will provide visitors with insights into the history of the capital city, as well as showcase the latest tourism and public infrastructures projects.

One of the tours, “Journey to Vietnamese ancient capital cities,” will take visitors from Hanoi to Phong Chau in the northern province of Phu Tho where the nation’s legendary founders – the Hung Kings – set up their capital, and then to the old seats of government of past dynasties including Ho, Le and Nguyen.

Another tour will focus on Buddhism and the Ly Dynasty, which played a major role in popularising the religion in Vietnam. The tour covers famous pagodas, including Luy Lau ancient citadel, Yen Tu, Huong, Tay Phuong and Thay pagodas.

The city’s tourism industry is working on programmes that cover a variety of museums in Hanoi that highlight history, fine arts, military history, ethnology as well as traditional craft villages and heritage villages and citadels.

There is even a plan to establish martial arts tour and visits to a recently established ecotourism area in Ba Vi.

VNAT also reported that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to spend US$250,000 on a two-month publicity programme, featuring Halong Bay on an international TV news channel and cable news network. The report stated it was likely that the deal would be signed off on in September, subject to budget approval of the Ministry of Finance.

In late 2007, the country’s booked advertising on CNN for the first time. The 30-second spot mainly promoted the World Heritage site of Halong Bay, plus other major attractions such as the ancient town of Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and the former capital city of Thua Thien-Hue. The campaign costed US$290,000 funded from the state’s budget.