A tour guide shows local products to foreign tourists at Ben Thanh Market in HCM City. (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) - Average hotel occupancy rate in Ho Chi Minh City reached 74 percent in the first quarter, increasing by 6 percentage points from the same period last year. According to a report by real estate company Savills Vietnam, average room rate rose by 4 percent to 83 USD per night, as all local three- to five-star hotels introduced higher rates for the first time in three years. The supply of hotel accommodations grew 2 percent on year, offering more than 16,500 rooms from 133 projects. Savills Vietnam said by 2020, 14 new projects will add to the market about 3,500 rooms. In the first three months of 2018, the southern economic hub welcomed 1.98 million foreign arrivals, an annual increase of 15.6 percent. Tourism services revenue earned during the period exceeded 31.7 trillion VND (1.39 billion USD), up 14.4 percent on year. The first quarter also saw 394 travel … [Read more...] about HCM City hotel market bounces back in Q1
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HCM City set to host tourism fair
Visitors at the HCM City Tourism Fair last year.- VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Vy More than 30 travel firms in HCM City will sell nearly 60,000 domestic and outbound tours at 15-50 per cent discount at the HCM City Tourism Fair to be held from April 12 to 15. The annual fair, which has the theme “Exploring Summer” this year, seeks to stimulate travel demand during the upcoming summer season, La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the city Department of Tourism, said. It is a forum for localities and travel firms to interact with potential customers and offers locals a chance to buy quality tours at reasonable prices, he said. Tour operators, hotels, restaurants, airlines, and transport providers will showcase their products and services at 150 booths and offer discount vouchers, gifts, lucky draws, buy-one-get-one tours and others. Vietnam Airlines will offer 2,400 tickets on international and domestic flights at 30 per cent discount. The event, to be held at September 23 Park in the … [Read more...] about HCM City set to host tourism fair
HCM City promotes tourism links with other localities
Ho Chi Minh City is seeking to enhance connectivity with other localities nationwide to become more attractive to tourists. Director of the municipal Tourism Department Bui Ta Hoang Vu said HCM City is a hotspot for many outstanding tourism products nationwide like MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), shopping-entertainment tourism and cultural-culinary tourism. It is a must-visit destination for tourists to Vietnam. The city welcomed more than 1.3 million tourist arrivals in the first three months of 2018, he noted. However, to develop tourism sustainably, cooperation is needed, he said, adding that inter-regional tourism connectivity does not reduce the strength and market share of each locality but increases their competitiveness and expands their market more easily, thus creating unique tourism products, lengthening tourists’ stay and boosting revenue. HCM City is enhancing bilateral and multilateral connections with localities in Dong Thap Muoi … [Read more...] about HCM City promotes tourism links with other localities
HCM City to enhance tobacco harm control
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Health is planning to provide training on how to help local residents quit smoking for staff at ward- and commune-level People’s Committees. Dr Trinh Van Hiep, head of the municipal Department of Health’s the board on preventing harm caused by cigarette smoking, said that it’s difficult for many people to quit smoking even if they want to. Hiep said at a recent meeting on preventing the effects of cigarettes that smokers need assistance from wards and communes involved in the programme. After receiving consultations, smokers will be treated at eight hospitals in the city that provide this service, he said. Knowledge along with determination and assistance are the keys to quitting smoking, Hiep added. The city also wants more wards and communes to become smoke-free, Hiep said, adding that communication activities would be carried out at all households. Each family … [Read more...] about HCM City to enhance tobacco harm control
HCM City increases land prices under new regulation
Viet Nam News HCM CITY — The coefficient used for land price adjustments, called the K coefficient, will increase by 0.1 in each circumstance, according to a regulation included in a decision by the HCM City People’s Committee. It has taken effect since yesterday. The K coefficient will be 1.1 for households or individuals recognised by the State to have the right to use residential land, and the right to change the purpose of land-use from non- residential land to residential. The K coefficient for land used for rent will be divided into two groups and five regions, based on the purpose of land use. The first group covers use for business services, financial services, restaurants, hotels and houses for rent. The second group covers the building of industrial and sub-industrial zones, and public works for business purposes. The K coefficient has increased by 0.1 compared with the previous regulation. The new coefficient will range from 1.1 to 2.1 Region 1 … [Read more...] about HCM City increases land prices under new regulation