Summer travel fair to publicize southern Vietnam image

HCMC Department of Tourism’s Deputy Director La Quoc Khanh said despite tremendous growth in the tourism sector, local travel companies have yet to extensively promote the city’s uniqueness.

Khanh said the HCMC Tourism Day 2008, to run from April 18-20, would give travel companies an opportunity to market the image ofthe southern metropolis as “the country’s biggest tourism destination.”

As many as 157 travel companies, airlines, trade promotion agencies from 15 provinces – marking an increase from the 120 participants previously expected - will take part in the fair, to be held in District 11’s Dam Sen Park.

Under the theme, “Visiting the Southern Land,” the fair will feature a diverse choice of summer tours offered at various discount rates and payment plans.

Saigontourist plans to offer domestic tours at five to seven percent cheaper than its previous prices, while Ben Thanh Tourist will cut prices of its domestic tours by three to five percent and Viettravel will reduce its Central Heritage Route tour by VND300,000 (US$18.6)/person.

Thanh Nien Daily, Vietnam