Hundreds of air passengers were stranded in Frankfurt, Germany's financial capital, as well as Britain, and many took to Twitter to complain.Some 330 flights were cancelled by 5.00pm (12.00am Singapore time Monday) after heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures struck the region around Frankfurt, a spokesman for airport operator Fraport told AFP.The airport - Germany's largest air hub and the home base for major carrier Lufthansa - had been scheduled to handle a total of 1,260 flights over the day.Duesseldorf airport was also forced to close for four hours during the afternoon, news agency DPA reported.Meanwhile, trains were delayed, redirected or cancelled across western North Rhine-Westphalia state.'LIKE A WAR ZONE'In Britain, Birmingham airport, serving the country's second biggest city, suspended flights for all of Sunday morning, as staff worked to clear the runway in heavy snow.The airport typically handles around 30,000 passengers and 200 flights a day in December. It … [Read more...] about Heavy snow causes travel mayhem in northern Europe
Travel
Travel firms propose transit visas for Chinese tourists
Tour operators have proposed immigration authorities issue visas for Chinese tourists in transit at international airports and seaports in HCMC and Hanoi to attract more tourists from the northern neighbor. Chinese tourists visit the Reunification Palace in downtown HCMC. Tour operators have proposed immigration authorities issue visas for Chinese tourists in transit in Vietnam At a seminar on solutions to enhance the effectiveness of tourism promotion activities in HCMC jointly held by the HCMC Tourism Association and the Tourism Promotion Center of the HCMC Department of Tourism on December 5, Au Uyen Phuong of Saigontourist said Vietnam used to allow in Chinese tourists in transit for 120 hours.Chinese tourists often take short tours, which last four to six days, to Vietnam and neighboring countries, and stay in HCMC for two nights, Phuong added.China is the largest source market for global tourism, so many countries have loosened their visa requirements for Chinese tourists. … [Read more...] about Travel firms propose transit visas for Chinese tourists
Supreme Court allows Trump travel ban to take effect pending appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday that the government could fully enforce a revised ban on travelers from six mainly Muslim countries pending appeal, backing President Donald Trump in the year-long battle over the controversial measure. The court stayed October rulings from two lower courts that had blocked implementation of the ban on visitors from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen while legal challenges to it continued. The third version of Trump's travel ban, unveiled in September, drew immediate challenges in federal appeals courts in Richmond, Virginia and San Francisco, California. Plaintiffs argued that the measure targets Muslims in violation of the U.S. Constitution and did not advance security goals as the government claimed. The challengers convinced the lower courts to put implementation on hold while they and government lawyers fight out the legality of the policy. But the Trump administration, which says the ban is crucial to protect U.S. national security and … [Read more...] about Supreme Court allows Trump travel ban to take effect pending appeal
Fried Hanoi catfish worth traveling across the world for, says Bloomberg
There’s a no-frills diner in Hanoi that's been serving just one special dish for nearly 150 years: catfish. It is possibly the finest and tastiest catfish in Vietnam and has amazed scores of local diners and tourists, as well as now it seems, Bloomberg writers. The U.S. news site recently published a list of 12 restaurants “worth traveling across the world to experience”, and “Cha Ca La Vong” in Hanoi was among them. Pan-fried squares of sizzling catfish made vibrant with the flavors of dill, onion, turmeric and galangal await diners from both near and far. When the restaurant opened in 1871 as a rebel hideout during French colonial times, the owners decided to name it after Jiang Ziya (La Vong in Vietnamese), a Chinese noble who fished with a bare hook and helped King Wen of Zhou overthrow the Shang Dynasty. The restaurant sits at 14 Cha Ca, the street subsequently named after the popular dish, in Hoan Kiem District. Bloomberg said notable chefs such … [Read more...] about Fried Hanoi catfish worth traveling across the world for, says Bloomberg
Travel market busy during year end
The year-end tourist season and New Year are approaching; it’s also a busy time to entice holiday-makers to buy tour packages, especially outbound tours. To grasp these opportunities, many travel agents have introduced attractive tour packages to lure more foreign tourists to Vietnam while pushing outbound tours sales.Travel agents in Ho Chi Minh City reported that the local tourism market is busy with many tourists buying outbound tours during the Christmas holiday, New Year, and lunar New Year festival.In recent years, many more people have chosen to spend long holidays overseas.Pham Thi Hong Van, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City said: "Travel during Tel holiday is special, because our family will have more time together as my husband is busy all year round. Besides, we also have a chance to experience the cold and the snow in foreign countries, it’s very interesting."Apart from visiting countries which also celebrate lunar New Year like Vietnam, many people have … [Read more...] about Travel market busy during year end