Festival Hue 2004

On 8^th April, 2000, Hue organised its first large-scale festival, in order to promote the ancient capital city as a centre of culture and tourism. It received over 20,000 foreign and domestic visitors. This year’s biennial Festival Hue, held from 12^th to 20^th June, is expected to draw in even more tourists and further cement the city’s reputation as the 'Festival City of Vietnam.'

A ceremony at Ngo Mon Square will mark the beginning of the festival with colourful musical arrangements reflecting Hue history and culture. Planned activities, held at the Royal Citadel and other locations around the city, include a feast that will showcase Hue cuisine, a fireworks display from Pierre Alain Aubert, a concert from the National Theatre and artists from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, the Highlands and Viet Bac, dance routines courtesy of the Vietnam Dance Training School, a fashion show featuring traditional ao dai dresses from designer Minh Hanh, and a production of traditional royal dancing and music called 'Melody of Vietnam.'

Not to be missed: an opera show by the French Atlantique Ballet troupe and circus performances by Artiste d’Origine du Cirque at Duyet Thi Duong Theatre, China’s Circus and Lion Dance team, Russia’s Folklore Music and Dance group, dancing from Argentina’s Tango Emotion Enrique Cuttini, night markets and sampan races along the Perfume River, the Vietnam Puppet Festival, kite flying in the afternoons at Ngo Mon Square, fine art, photography and book exhibitions, and a fashion show that celebrates the works of 20 local designers. The festival ends with an evening lantern procession through the city and along the Perfume River.

On 10^th May,  the Third International Sculptor Symposium in Hue City is being held. Over 30 local and international sculptors will be present to display their artwork. For more information on the symposium and the Festival Hue 2004, please contact Exotissimo Vietnam at vietnam@exotissimo.com.

TransMekong launches Mekong Delta trips

TransMekong used the wooden hull of an old traditional Vietnamese rice barge and spent one year constructing The Bassac. The ship offers accommodations for up to 12 people in its six deluxe air-conditioned cabins, each with individual access and a private bathroom. The ship is equipped with an open-air restaurant, music and reading at the bow lounge and an upper deck for early morning or evening strolls.

The Bassac now travels along the Mekong Delta on scheduled two-day-one-night cruises through the cities of Can Tho and Cai Be. Lunch, dinner and a tropical fruit breakfast are served on the upper deck or in the spacious restaurant. Take the smaller boats out to visit nearby orchards, villages and the quiet scenery of the Mekong, like the brick and clay pot making villages on the Co Chien River and the Tra On floating market.

Also available from TransMekong are private cruises for up to seven days to other locations along the Mekong, such as Chau Doc, Ben Tre and more. For more information, please contact vietnam@exotissimo.com.

Code share flights on the rise

United Airlines has increased flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City through code share programmes with Korea-based Asiana Airlines and Thai Airways International. On 28^th March, Vietnam Airlines and Air France began offering 11 weekly non-stop flights from Paris to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa through a code share programme. One more flight will be added on 27^th June.

ATF 2004 Laos wrap-up

This first major event in the tourism sector to be held in Vientiane closed its doors on 7^th February to mixed reviews. While general organisation and the conference centre were well-received, accommodation problems for some hosted buyers and easily the three coldest days of the year led to the early departure of delegates and many appointments were not kept on the second day. Nevertheless the event was a big step in the right direction for Laos. It reaffirms the direction in which Laos should be marketed - as a destination for small groups and individual travellers eager to experience the less developed and less touristy side of South-East Asia.