In August, Olivier Colomès was named the new Managing Director of Exotissimo Travel Vietnam. Mr Colomès, who replaces Exotissimo’s co-founder and Managing Director Denis Colonna, joined the company in July 1993 as Exotissimo Travel France’s Managing Director. Married with three young children, 40-year-old Mr Colomès enjoys golfing and attending the cinema in his spare time. He can be contacted directed at olivier@exotissimo.com.

Air updates

Pacific Airlines

Pacific Airlines has once again cancelled its flight services between Danang and Hong Kong, due to low occupancy. The service was first cancelled in March of last year before being reinstated eight months later. Hong Kong-based CR Airways has taken over this service. Flights will be available twice a month and plans are being made to increase the frequency to once a week in the near future.

United Airlines

US-based United Airlines will be flying to Ho Chi Minh City via Hong Kong beginning 9^th December, which will make it the first US carrier to fly to Vietnam in almost 30 years.

Two new hot air balloons capable of carrying four people each have been installed in Hue’s Phu Van Lau Park for five-minute flights over the city for views of the Royal Citadel and the Perfume River.

Construction and improvements

Korean-based East Asia Air Express and its subsidiary, Dragon Mountain Golf Resort, have been given permission from the Vietnamese government to begin construction on a 54-hole golf course in Hoa Binh Province. Construction on the first 36 holes will start in October 2004 and be completed by October 2005, which coincides with the 30^th anniversary of the development company. The second phase of the project, which includes 18 holes, a clubhouse, a 5-star hotel and villas for lease or rent, will be completed sometime in 2006.

For a bedder night’s rest, Evason Hideaways and Evason Resorts in Vietnam and Thailand have added bed toppers on their Six Senses Mattresses. Made of unbleached white cotton, the new toppers will compliment the resorts’ down duvets and pillows and the Six Senses signature of comfort combined with an awareness of the environment.

A Hanoi-based company has started building the 2.4 million USD Hang Duong Marine Eco-tourism Project on My Khe Beach in the town of Quang Ngai. The first phase of the project, to be completed at the end of this year, will have a 3-star hotel with 52 rooms, 200 bungalows, a restaurant, conference centre, tennis court, swimming pool and entertainment facilities. The second and third phases will add a 5-star, 1,000-room hotel, a therapy centre and 20 residential villas.

Hoi An Pacific Hotel

In July, the Hoi An Pacific Hotel opened a Traditional Craft Village on its premises that introduces guests to cloth weaving. Three ethnic craftsmen will be on site to do demonstrations, answer guest questions and create tailor-made clothes on order.

Investors of the Riverview Majestic Hotel in Danang have announced that they will begin construction at the end of the year, two years after the project was licensed. When completed at the end of 2006, the 14-storey hotel on Bach Dang Street will have more than 200 rooms, 30 serviced apartments, restaurants, a fitness centre, business facilities, a night club and a beauty salon at a cost of 28 million USD.

Phan Thiet

Vinasun has begun construction on a 4-hectare 2.5 million USD resort in Phan Thiet. It will have luxury rooms and be completed in mid-2005. Another resort in Tam Ky District will be built on eight hectares at a cost of 3.2 million USD.

Best of Asia represents Exotissimo

In July, Exotissimo chose Best of Asia Travel Marketing as its sales representative in Australia. They can be contacted at info@bestofasia.com.au or at any of the following numbers:

Tel Office: (61) 3 9889 3804
Tel Melbourne: (61) 0400834398
Tel Sydney: (61) 0407834399
Fax: (61) 3 9889 4420