Vietnam Airlines to fly direct to Indonesia

 

 

Vietnam Airlines will launch a direct service between HCMC and Indonesian capital Jakarta on December 2, offering four weekly flights. The nation’s flag carrier is offering preferential pricing policy to a number of special travel agents in Indonesia.

At the moment, to fly direct to Indonesia, passengers can only choose flights of the low-cost carrier AirAsia. They have to transit in Singapore on Vietnam Airlines’ services for a lengthy journey which only takes two hours on direct flights.

Vietnam Airlines earlier informed in Vietnam Heritage magazine that the direct flights would open this month. However, sources from local tourism companies said the launch was now set for every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from December 2.

Tran Xuan Hung, director of Viking Travel & Media said his partners in Indonesia had purchased air tickets for the new route to take visitors to Vietnam.

AirAsia also operates four flights a week between HCMC and Indonesia but the flights are often full, making it difficult for local clients to buy tickets.

The local tourism industry will enjoy huge opportunities to develop the Indonesian market thanks to Vietnam Airlines’ direct air connection with the nation, Hung said.

“This is really good information as we now are focusing on tapping the Indonesian market, with the stable arrivals of Indonesian tourists to Vietnam weekly,” Hung noted.

Indonesian travelers tend to choose four-to-five-day tours to HCMC and My Tho or to Hanoi and then call at Halong Bay, Hung said. He noticed many local tour operators have yet to enter the potential visitor-generating market at present.

Source: SGT

 

Vietnam tour operators launch big summer discounts

Despite rising service prices, Vietnam travel agencies are offering big discounts on tour prices during summer season to woo customers as now is the busiest time of the year for the hospitality industry.
A large number of Ho Chi Minh City-based tour operators offer a discount of at least 5% on domestic tours prices. Those tour operators who join hands with Vietnam Airlines, the prices of summer tour packages are even marked down by up to 30%.

For instance, Fiditourist offers a discount worth VND3 million for domestic tours taking in northern destinations including Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Sapa, Halong Bay and Tuan Chau Island. It also offers a VND1.6 million discount on tours to the central region.
Du Lich Viet Co. has kicked off a discount ranging from 10% to 30% on domestic tours for this summer travel season. The He Tre Co., meanwhile, has announced a discount of 20-28% on seven domestic package tours to Phu Quoc Island, Hue, Halong Bay, Sapa and Dong Van Highlands.
Saigontourist has offered a discount of between VND345,000 and VND1.5 million for two domestic tours taking in Dalat and Phu Quoc Island.
Lien Bang Travelink said it will cut the price of six domestic tours traveling by air by 30% including two tours to the North, two to the Central, one to Dalat and one to Phu Quoc Island. The prices of seat-in-coach tours are set to fall 18%.
Vietravel offers a discount of millions of Vietnam dong on tours taking in northern and central regions. Like other participants joining in the promotion program by Vietnam Airlines, the company prepares to unveil a set of package tours with a 30% discount in the summer period.
Summer travel season contributes up to 60-70% of the full-year revenue so it becomes the most decisive time for the year. This year, things are getting tenser as tour operators are competing harshly against each other in an effort to lure customers.
“The tour price is definitely a key factor for clients to compare and make their choices in this high-season,” said Tu Quy Thanh, director of Lien Bang Travelink.
However, small-sized travel firms are losing ground to the large ones in this competition.
Source: Saigontimes