Jumeirah Essex House
Standard: 5 stars
Address: 160 Central Park South, New York
Price: From $ 305
Jumeirah Essex House is located between Highway 6 and 7 in the center of Manhattan. The hotel is decorated with Art Deco style. The hotel has 509 rooms with full service facilities. Jumeirah Essex House is always making customers happy with special menus. The food at the restaurant South Gate is served by each different sessions and also seasonal changes in order to meet the maximum demands of customers. In addition, the Lobby Lounge is where you can enjoy a cup of tea and watch the sunset together.

Morgans Hotel
Standard: 5 stars
Address: 237 Madison Avenue, New York
Price: From $ 379
Morgans Hotel is located located in downtown New York. From the hotel , visitors can go to many tourist destinations easily, such as Broadway Theatres, Rockefeller Center, Museum of Contemporary Art …. Here, the interior style is designed in line with the tourism business as well as relaxation.

Intercontinental Hotel
Standard: 5 stars
Address: 300 West 44th Street, New York
Price: From $ 250
Intercontinental is located near Time Square, the hotel has modern architecture, comfort with warm space influenza. This is a perfect place to organize events and tourism demand. The hotel has a private equipped room including standard rooms and club room. There are fully equipped to serve the needs of travelers in business such as satellite TV, Slide projectors, overhead projectors, flip charts and cable modem …. Restaurant of Intercontinental Hotel serves traditional cuisine of many different countries. This is the ideal location for visitors wishing to combine business with recreation needs and entertainment.

Benjamin Hotel
Standard: 5 stars
Address: 125 East 50 Street, New York
Price: From US$ 399
The Benjamin hotel is gathered as an oasis with modern buildings of high frequency. Here, visitors can explore the Empire State Building – a well-known skyscrapers of New York, store at Fifth Avenue – where luxury retail stores or enjoy a concert stage in Broadway Theatre and admire the famous works of art at the art museum. The hotel has 209 luxury rooms with classic style.

If you would like to find cheap rooms in New York, you can visit HostelWorld.Com. Here, you will have more options for the room rates below US$ 100.

Particularly, 69 per cent of the respondents say they would love to open their pocketbooks to enjoy the Vietnamese culinary diversity, while 65 per cent would do so to explore interesting tourism destinations.

Meanwhile, 62 per cent say they will spend extra money to visit local resorts and experience the country’s different cultures.

The survey, jointly conducted by the VNAT and the US-based financial services corporation Visa Inc, collected responses from 11,620 international tourists in 23 countries in Asia – Pacific, Europe, and America.

Respondents to the survey are people aged 18 and over who have taken a foreign tour package in the last two years and intend to travel to foreign countries, including Vietnam, in the next two years.

Respondents who have been to Vietnam say they were fascinated by the country’s unique cultures, as well as the wide variety of its culinary, beautiful natural landscapes, and outdoor activities, especially at nighttime.

For those who have been to or are eying a tour to Vietnam, using online tourism guidance websites to search for information about the country is their top choice.

While it is common for foreign tourists to choose 3- or 4-star hotel for accommodation, most wish to seek low-cost, or even free, accommodation in the country in the future.

At a time when the world is experiencing many political and economic upheavals, Vietnam’s political stability appears to be a key factor in influencing foreign tourists’ decision on choosing Vietnam as the destination, the survey said.

(Source: VIR)

Local authorities, officially from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), tourism operators and training institutions in the region gathered in Lao City on December 27 to discuss the plan.

Accordingly, the Northwest Travel Destination Management Board will be set up to co-ordinate inter-regional tourism. Community-based tourism projects will be developed in ethnic villages to preserve local culture and protect the environment.

There will be strong support in promoting tourism of the eight provinces on their official websites. Representatives agreed for the need to build unique tourism products to harness the cultural and natural advantages of the region.

VNAT Deputy director Hoang Thi Diep said that the present approach to visitors did not meet demand, despite the large potential. “We will work with local authorities to sort out the obstacles hampering tourism development and find out solutions,” she said.

Representatives said one of the top challenges is the low quality of human resources. Most people went into community-based tourism without any training.

This made training an important component of the project. The northwestern provinces – Dien Bien, Yen Bai, Son La, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Ha Giang, Lai Chau and Lao Cai – this year received more than a million tourists who spent trillions of Vietnamese dongs.

The new project will be funded by a EUR11 million (US$14.3 million) grant from the European Union and EUR1.1 million (US$1.43 million) from the Vietnamese Government.

(Source: VNS/VOV )

An agreement on this issue was signed in Quang Ngai on December 17 to boost tourism cooperation between the provinces’ respective Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The provinces will also work together in investment planning, training human resources and communications for promoting, managing and developing tourism services for their respecitive tourism industries.

Kontum will focus on exploiting tourism in mountainous areas such as Mang Den National Tourist Site in the Violac pass, as well as the Ba Na, Xe Dang, and Gia Rai ethnic minorities’ gong culture in the Central Highlands.

Quang Ngai will concentrate on sea, islands, historical, cultural and industrial tourism based on its Ly Son island, Truong Luy architectural relic and Dung Quat oil refinery, while Binh Dinh will focus on its martial tradition from the legendary Tay Son dynasty.

(Source: VOV)

This information was released at a December 12 press briefing held by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, in collaboration with the Southwest Region Steering Committee and the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank).

Addressing the press briefing, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, Head of the Southwest Region Steering Committee, said this will be a major event highlighting the development and achievements recorded by the Mekong Delta region over the past ten years, and calling for more investment to ensure sustainable growth in the region.

The exhibition will offer a good opportunity for organizations, businesses and investors to promote their trademarks, products and operational capacity in a variety of fields.

The event is expected to have 500-700 stalls featuring the region’s culture and beauty and introducing its major projects with the aim of boosting the Mekong Delta’s deep integration and sustainable development.

A series of events will also be held during the April 27-May 1 exhibition, including conferences on connectivity for sustainable agricultural development and on promoting investment and development, as well as a seminar on developing the credit market and banking services in the Mekong Delta region.

(Source: VOV)

VietJet Air will accept online payment by Visa or MasterCard for the promotional tickets, which are applicable to the flights from December 25 to April 30. Previously, the low-cost carrier sold more than 2,000 fares from VND100,000 (US$4.8).

Last week, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) issued an air operator certificate (AOC) to VietJet Air, allowing the second low-cost airline in Vietnam after Jetstar Pacific to conduct flights within the country.

Nguyen Duc Tam, deputy director of VietJet Air, said an AOC was required for any air carrier to operate commercial flights.

“To get the AOC, VietJet Air has got itself ready in all operational factors including people recruitment, aircraft lease, booking system installation, and financial ability. The airline also has to prove that it is well prepared for flight operation work, aircraft maintenance, engineering, and air transport infrastructure,” Tam said.

VietJet Air signed a contract with a foreign partner in the Middle East in October to lease three new Airbus A320 to operate its maiden flights on December 25 this year. In the initial time, the airline will offer four daily flights between HCMC and Hanoi before gradually increasing the number to 14 in early 2012 when the HCMC-Danang service is launched.

VietJet Air has recruited over 40 foreign pilots and trained more than 50 flight attendants overseas in preparation for the commercial flights. The carrier is expected to be the first Vietnamese private operator of international routes from HCMC to other major cities in Asia, hopefully from the middle of 2012.

(source: SGT )

The price for domestic airline tickets on high-demand routes between Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang will increase by 15%, while airfares on short distance routes will rise by 20%.

Under the new adjustment, the carrier will offer ten different price levels for domestic flights.

The price changes will help the airlines avoid losses and gradually build up a flexible airfare system for domestic flights based on supply and demand to better serve its customers.

(Source: Nhan Dan)

Saigontourist has organised more than 80 tours for travelers with a special prize worth VND250 million and five consolation prizes worth VND10 million each.

Doan Thi Thanh Tra, head of the Saigontourist’s information and communications department said since early November, more than 3,000 people have booked Christmas and New Year tours, an increase of 10 percent over last year.

More than 200 have registered to go to Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Europe, Australia and the US (up 15 percent). Saigontourist is expected to serve as many as 5,000 visitors.

Fiditour has introduced more than 200 tours and coordinated with Vietnam Airlines to reduce the price for each domestic tour to VND3.5 million.

Vietravel has also offered many promotional tours from now to March 3, 2012.

Nguyen Dinh Tinh, Vice Director of Vietravel said the company is set to keep tour prices unchanged for holidaymakers.

(source: VOV)

1. What is visa on arrival?

This is one of, if not, the quickest and cheapest way to get your visa for Vietnam. You just need to fill in “Application Form” provided by us, pay the service fee, get your “Visa approval letter” within 2 working days and pick up your visa at your destination airport (Hanoi airport, Ho Chi Minh city airport).

After we obtain the approval letter for you, we will forward you a copy by email. Copies of the same document will be forwarded on your behalf to Vietnam Immigration checkpoints at International Airports only. When you arrive in Vietnam, the Immigration officers will have those documents ready and will be able to issue your entry visa quickly.

2. Is the “visa on arrival” legitimate?

Yes it is. The Vietnamese government has started this service as an alternative for arranging your visa at the embassy. Also the IATA (International Air Traffic Association) has recognized visa on arrival. Check out the visa information sections on the following airline websites: Sky team, Oneworld and Star Alliance.

Other governments also recognize visa on arrival as a legitimate travel document, such as the U.S. Department of State & the British Embassy in Hanoi:

“In order to enter Vietnam, you will need a valid passport with at least six months validity remaining and a Vietnamese visa, a visa exemption document, or a written approval letter for a visa upon arrival. To obtain a written approval letter to enter, you must contact a travel agency prior to departure.”

3. What is the “approval letter”?

The “Visa approval letter” is a letter issued by Vietnam Immigration Department  that allows you to enter and exit Vietnam for a given time period. With the approval letter, you can pick up your visa upon arrival at one of the  three international airports in Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang).

Before issuing an approval letter, the Immigration Department checks your application thoroughly. Therefore, there is NO chance you will be REFUSED upon arrival in Vietnam if you have obtained an approval letter.

4. How long does it takes to get the approval letter?

Normally, the approval letter is processed within two (2) business days (excluding Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays). In urgent cases, it can be processed within 4-8 working hours.

Notes: all applications must be submitted before 8.00 AM Vietnam time in order to have it finished the. All applications that are submitted after 2.00 PM will be held until the following business day.

5. How do I receive my visa approval letter?

A colored scanned copy of the approval letter will be sent to you by email, so please make sure that you have provided us with the correct email address.

You can also request a copy by fax. In this case, please provide us with your fax number and email it to sales@vietnamprivatetours.com

Note: the approval letter is in PDF format, so please make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat reader in order to open the file.

6. Are there any exceptions with this type of visa?

Yes, visa on arrival is NOT VALID for OVERLAND ENTRY. The three international airports in Vietnam that you can receive your visa stamp with this approval letter are: Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) and Danang Airport (Da Nang).

Note: If you plan to enter Vietnam by land or cruise, please visit a Vietnamese embassy to get your visa.

7. Do you require a scan of my passport scan?

In most cases, a passport scan is not required for an visa application. However, if the Immigration office wishes to verify the information you provide, you are required to send them a scan copy of your passport. In such cases, we will notify you by email immediately.

8. Do I need a photo and if so, what is its size?

Yes, you do. However, photos are required upon arrival Vietnam’s airports only, so please remember to bring at least 2 photos of standard passport size (04*06 cm).

Note: If you do not have time to prepare those photos before your departure, you can also get them taken at a Vietnamese airport for 2 USD or less per photo.

9. What if my passport has expired?

To apply for a visa to Vietnam, your passport must have at least 6 month’s validity. Therefore, if your passport is about to expire, please get a new one before applying for your visa in order to avoid unwanted problems at the airport.

10. Should I provide you with the exact date of arrival?

No, not necessarily. The arrival date you provide should be the earliest you plan to arrive, but you can arrive after that date. The departure date is the last day you are permitted to be in the country, unless you get a visa extension.

For example: If you apply for a 1-month visa and submit your arrival date as Jan 1, 2011, the visa letter will be valid from Jan 1, 2011 –  Feb 1, 2011. You can arrive anytime between Jan 1 – Feb 1 but must leave the country by Feb 1, 2011.”

11. What are the procedures at Vietnam airport?

Upon arrival at the airport (See the airport map below), expect to fill in a simple form to fill in. Please remember to bring at least 2 passport-sized photos(04*06cm), 25 USD/person for stamp fee per person (1 month single). You can expect the process to take about 15 minutes total. (See our guide to visa procedure at Vietnam airports)

12. How long in advance should I apply for a visa?

A Vietnamese visa application can be applied for 1 day to 6 months in advance. Although it takes only 2-3 working days to get your visa approved, it is strongly advised that you apply for a Vietnamese visa 1 – 2 weeks before your arrival date to avoid any payment or other administrative problems.

13. How much does it cost?

It depends on the type and length of the visa you are applying for. In general, there are two fees you are required to pay: The stamping fee (paid directly at Vietnam’s airport) + our service fee for the approval letter (paid in advance). For updated price, please send us an email!

14. What is stamping fee and how much is it?

The stamping fee is the fee you are required to pay at the Vietnamese airport in order to get the official visa stamped in your passport. It is 25 USD for a single entry visa (1-3 months) and 50 USD for a multiple entry visa (1-3 months). The stamp fee must be in cash, no credit cards are accepted.

Currencies accepted: Vietnam Dong (VND) and USD (US Dollars)

15. What credit/debit cards are accepted?

We currently accept both Debit/Credit cards and PAYPAL for payment of our approval letter service fee. These include: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB and Diners Club. Please click here for payment guidelines.

16. My credit card number is correct, but it was not accepted. Why?

There are a few possibilities:

• The card expiration date was entered incorrectly.
• You have reached your credit limit.
• There was a computer error.
• Your Visa Verified password / MasterSecure Code was entered incorrectly.

17. How safe are my credit card details?

For secure online payment, we use Secure Socket Layers (SSL) from Comodo Inc. At no time are your debit/credit card details transmitted unencrypted over the internet.

18. Is the same rate applied to everyone?

Yes, the same fees are applied to anyone who uses our service.

19. I want to ask something else, how can I?

For questions such as: who is exempted from a visa, or obtaining Vietnamese visa in Laos, Cambodia or Thailand..etc, please email us at sales@vietnamprivatetours.com – one of our Customer Support members will reply within 12 hours during business day and within 24 hours outside of office hours.

Notes: Though our working hours are from 8.00 to 16.00, the website service is available 24/7 and is systematically automated. Therefore, you can still apply for a visa even when it is midnight in Vietnam.

20. When do I have to pay for the approval letter?

You can pay for the approval letter after you submit your application. If you have problems with payment, email us at sales@vietnamprivatetours.com and we will send you a link to follow in order to pay. Keep in mind that no application can be processed until the full payment is made.

21. What should I do if I find out that I entered the wrong passport number?

Shortly after you submit your application, you should receive a confirmation email in the email address you provided us with. In this email, we confirm the information you entered earlier. If you find out any mistakes, please contact us right away by sending an email to sales@vietnamprivatetours.com.

If you do not catch the mistake until later, you will have to re-apply for a new visa with the correct information.

22. Can I travel without the letter and get the visa when I arrive?

No, you cannot. In order to board the plane, you must show the approval letter to the airlines. This letter is also compulsory in order for you to get the visa at the Vietnam airport. Therefore, we recommend that you leave plenty of time to apply for the visa to avoid having to delay or change your flight.

23. What if I change my flight and arrive at another airport in Vietnam?

Visa on arrival works if you arrive at any of the three international airports: Tan Son Nhat (in Ho Chi Minh City); Noi Bai (in Hanoi) and Da Nang (in Da Nang). There is no problem with switching between these three airports.

1. Get started by filling in the application form.
Fill in the application form with the correct details of your name, passport number and arrival date, as well as and designate a payment method. We accept most major credit cards and debit cards, as well as Paypal. Have a question? Email us at: sales@vietnamprivatetours.com a prompt response.

2. Receive and print the approval letter:
After you fill out all information in your application form and send to us via email, it is time for you to make the payment. When the payment has been paid successfully, we will start processing your visa. After 2 working days (or shorter with less in the case of an urgent visa), we will send you an approval letter (pre-approved visa letter) by email. Then you just need to print the PDF attachment file (color preferred, but not required) and prepare at least 2 passport sized photos (4cm x 6cm).

3. Get your visa stamp upon arrival at one of the Vietnam’s airports:
Upon arrival at Vietnam’s airport in Hanoi, Da Nang, or Ho Chi Minh Airport, expect to fill in a simple form, present the your approval letter, passport, photos, and pay for the stamping fee. The actual hassle-free process takes less than 15 minutes without hassle or trouble.