VietNamNet Bridge - Tens of Chinese have been found illegally working as tour guides in Da Nang. However, analysts believe this is just the tip of the iceberg and the real number is much higher. Vietnamese tour guides lose jobs to Chinese Nguyen Xuan Binh, deputy director of the Da Nang Tourism Department, said the police discovered 23 foreigners, including 20 Chinese and 3 South Koreans, working illegally as tour guides. 20 of them have been fined VND322.5 million, while 11 have been forced to exit Vietnam. A director of a travel firm affirmed that some Vietnamese companies have lent a hand to Chinese. RELATED NEWS ‘Zero dong’ tours break out again in Quang Ninh "VND0 tours" for Chinese travelers: how to stop them Nam Mai … [Read more...] about Vietnamese tour guides lose jobs to Chinese
Vietnamese tour companies
Tour companies need to adapt to cater to millennials: experts
Viet Nam News HCM CITY — With young adults born between 1980 and 1998 now accounting for 38 per cent of Việt nam’s population, their travelling and sightseeing preferences are having an impact on the tourism industry, and many companies are trying to cater to this profitable demographic. For instance, when Việt Nam News asked several Vietnamese and foreign university students what they considered important on a tour, almost all chose flexibility. A young British visitor to HCM City, who asked not to be named, said: “We wanted a tour that would give us a good action-packed schedule and that had all the travel planned, but one that also allowed us to be able to do our own thing sometimes and not have to take part in all activities.” Some even prefer not buying a tour at all and instead do their own research and make their own travel plans. Landscapes, local cuisine and demographics are the most important factors when they select a location. … [Read more...] about Tour companies need to adapt to cater to millennials: experts
Vietnamese pharmaceutical companies challenged by Indian firms
VietNamNet Bridge - Indian pharmaceutical firms are eyeing the Vietnamese market as local companies cannot satisfy demand. In March, a pharmacy trade fair was held in HCM City attended by 50 indian pharmacy firms that make materials, half-finished products, finished products, pharmaceutical biochemistry products and medical equipment. In Vietnam, India has more pharmaceutical firms and medicine registered in Vietnam than any other country. In 2014, 4,269 Indian drug products were registered, equal to 26 percent of total registered items. Sources have said that more Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing factories will be set up in Vietnam. Under a free trade agreement signed with ASEAN, of which Vietnam is a member with India, preferential tax rates of 0-9 percent are being applied to Indian imports. This has increased the imports of Indian medicine to Vietnam. However, India is also leading in terms of low-quality imports to Vietnam. A report from the Ministry of Health showed … [Read more...] about Vietnamese pharmaceutical companies challenged by Indian firms
Japan tours appeal to Vietnamese tourists
With a clutch of promotion programs currently offered and the substantial relaxations of visa requirements for nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam when traveling to Japan, tours to the East Asian country promise to appeal to Vietnamese tourists. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Japan, tours to Japan are now 20-30% cheaper compared to the same period last year. In Tokyo, high-frequency airliners such as Vietnam Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines use both Haneda and Narita Airports for Vietnam-Japan flights. Since early June, 2014, All Nippon Airways also uses Boeing's latest B787 for the Hanoi- Haneda flight. Starting in July 2014, Vietnam Airlines, which has several flights to Japan, has launched a flight from Da Nang to Tokyo to cater to tourists in Vietnam's central region. As Chinese-speaking tourists to Japan has dropped recently, Vietnamese tourists have grown to be the substitute. Local tour providers' partners, who mostly have major … [Read more...] about Japan tours appeal to Vietnamese tourists
Dangers of adventure tours at the fore in Vietnam
Tourism officials and insiders have voiced concerns over the safety of adventure tours following the tragic death of three British tourists at a waterfall in the Central Highlands resort town of Da Lat last week. The three vacationers died on Friday afternoon when they were trekking at Datanla Waterfall, an emerging destination for adventure game buffs in Da Lat, the capital city of Lam Dong Province. The trio were on a package organized by Da Lat Passion Travel - Service Limited Company, and guided by a Vietnamese tour guide. Le Viet Luc, director of Dalat Tourist Co., which manages the Datanla waterfall attraction, earlier said the deceased tourists had not bought tickets for trekking, and therefore did not have the proper safety equipment for trekking activities. Shortly after the tragedy, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism convened an urgent meeting with around 15 local adventure tour operators and relevant agencies on Saturday morning. Speaking … [Read more...] about Dangers of adventure tours at the fore in Vietnam