QATAR: Qatar Airways Commences Doha To Da Nang, Vietnam

Qatar Airways has inaugurated its first flight to Da Nang, the airline’s third destination in Vietnam. The Doha carrier deployed its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on this new route.

Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker who was pleased to extend the airline’s reach into Vietnam by launching its third gateway into this beautiful country.

The addition of Da Nang to our global network further demonstrates our commitment to the Far East region, a highly important market for Qatar Airways.

And we are excited for passengers traveling to and from central Vietnam to experience our award-winning service and product for themselves, he added.

There are up to 56 weekly flights to and from Vietnam with Qatar Airways, offering significant connectivity through its Doha mega-hub.

The route also coincided with the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Qatar. Al Baker noted that through this expansion into Vietnam, it will make ties between both countries even stronger.

The airline’s relationship with Vietnam has stemmed since 2007, which is less than between the 25 years of diplomatic ties of the countries.

Services to Ho Chi Minh City began in 2007 and launched services to Hanoi three years later.

In order to extend its presence in the Vietnamese market, October 2017 saw the airline sign an interline partnership with VietJet Air, allowing QR passengers to travel to and from points in Vietnam not served directly by Qatar Airways using a single reservation across both networks.

This is the 14th route launch from the carrier this year, earmarking significant growth for 2018 overall. 2019 will see the airline launching services into the likes of Valletta, Malta as well as Isfahan, Iran.


Tourism Observer

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines Plane With 284 On Board Hits Aerobridge At Changi Airport

Singapore Airlines (SIA) plane carrying 272 passengers along with 12 crew members struck an aerobridge at Changi Airport on Tuesday (Sep 18). Singapore Airlines flight SQ178 was scheduled to depart Singapore for Ho Chi Minh City at 09:45 Local Time.

Flight was delayed after the forward fuselage of the Airbus A330-300 struck the rear aerobridge during push-back at Changi Airport.

All passengers and crew members disembarked normally via the forward aerobridge.

Arrangements were made for passengers to be accommodated on another aircraft to Ho Chi Minh City, the spokesperson said.

The damage to the aircraft is currently being assessed and investigations will be carried out to determine the cause of incident occurred.

Several in-flight announcements were made to inform passengers of the situation. After the passengers disembarked, they were escorted to another gate and provided with refreshments.

As a result of the delay, the flight departed Singapore at 12:00 Local Time and arrived in Ho Chi Minh City at about 12:45 Local Time – 01:55 minutes behind schedule.

Statement issued on Wednesday, Changi Airport Group (CAG) spokesman Ivan Tan said that the aerobridge was slightly damaged in the incident, but has since been repaired. CAG will work with the relevant parties on the investigations.

It also said that ground personnel provided assistance to the affected passengers.

CAG will work with the relevant parties on the investigations, it added.

Tuesday’s incident was the latest in a string of woes for Singapore’s national carrier.

This is not the first time a plane has been damaged on the ground at Changi Airport.

In November last year, a tow tug caught fire as it was pulling an SIA Boeing 777-200 to a departure gate.

The aircraft was crossing the bridge above Airport Boulevard Road when the tow tug caught fire. There were no passengers aboard the aircraft at the time but the fire damaged the plane, which had to be grounded for repairs.


Tourism Observer

VIETNAM: Bamboo Airways To Commence Flights In October 2018

There will be more flight options for Vietnam’s domestic and international travellers when property developer FLC Group JSC launches Bamboo Airways in October.

Planning to operate 37 routes, the airline wants to cash in on the growing domestic middle class and rising international tourist numbers.

The launch is set to go ahead as long as the airline receives the government’s aviation license, which is forthcoming according to Bamboo Airways chairman Trinh Van Quyet.

While the aviation in Vietnam already seems well served, according to IATA the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City route is the sixth busiest in the world, and in the next 20 years the country will be in the top five of the world’s fastest-growing air travel markets.

The first half of this year saw the aviation industry move 23.6 million passengers, according to Hanoi’s General Statistics Office, an impressive increase of 15% year on year.

With a good investment, well-prepared staff and new aircraft, we will become a giant right after we launch the airline, added the chairman.

Bamboo Airways, is a startup airline by a Vietnamese construction company, FLC Group. The airline will be established with a charter capital of US$30.8 million.

The airline is to be based at Quy Nhon’s Phu Cat Airport. Bamboo Airways will commence operations in late 2018 or early 2019.

Bamboo Airways will serve destinations where FLC Group has heavily invested in tourism infrastructure, as well as other secondary domestic routes.

The airline was founded in 2017 and submitted it request to the Vietnamese prime minister for approval.

The government's approval was confirmed on July 9, 2018.

The airline will have to complete some procedures to acquire a licence of operation issued by the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam after it has been approved by the Prime Minister and the submitted dossiers for licence of operation have been reviewed by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam.

The airline's application for a licence shall have an official verification of investment capital, a chart of the company’s internal system, a contract for selling or renting aircraft, the company’s operating and transportation guidelines, and a strategy for product development.

The dossiers for license of operation was reviewed qualified by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam on July 27, 2018, and will be submitted to the Ministry of Transport for issuance of the license of operation.

The airline plans to launch with a fleet of 30 aircraft for domestic services. They have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for 24 Airbus A321neos.

The airline will start operations with aircraft on lease from third party lessors before taking delivery of the aircraft from Airbus.

FLC Group chairman met leaders of Boeing on June 25-26 in Washington D.C. and they mutually finalized the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Boeing for 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, costed USD$ 5.6 billion, scheduled to deliver from April 2020.

Some experts doubt about the transactions concerning the financial capability of this startup, FLC actually purchased 44 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing in form of sale-and-leaseback.

The first flights will be launched on October 10, 2018 to the Vietnamese cities: Hanoi, Vinh, Dong Hoi, Nha Trang, Qui Nhon, Phu Quoc.


Tourism Observer

SOUTH KOREA: Busan Is Best Destination In Asia 2018

The portside city of Busan, South Korea, has been named the best destination in Asia 2018 by the travel experts at Lonely Planet, who describe the bustling city as a confluence of culture and cuisine.

For the third edition of Lonely Planet's Best in Asia list, editors picked 10 destinations worth visiting over the next 12 months, which span East, South and Western Asia.

In May, Busan hosted an opening ceremony celebrating its title as East Asia's Culture City 2018, as part of a joint agreement between Japan, China and Korea.

Every year, three cities are selected to promote artistic and cultural development in the region.

Busan shares the title this year with Harbin, China and Kanazawa in Japan.The city also tops the "Best in Asia" list for offering travelers an eclectic offering of activities, from hikes up to Buddhist temples and hot springs to seafood feasts at the largest fish market in the country, editors say.

Busan is the second-biggest city in South Korea after Seoul.In second spot is Uzbekistan, with its dreamy mosaic clad mosques and Silk Road lore.

Last year, the country announced new visa-free schemes, and introduced new air routes and extensions to its high-speed rail line in an effort to boost international tourism and attract tourists to its jewelled sites and ancient ruins.

And rounding out the podium is Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, where vintage boutiques, independent coffee shops and innovative breweries are transforming the city into a buzzing Asian megalopolis.

Here are the top 10 destinations in their Best in Asia 2018 list:

1. Busan, South Korea

In repose between mountains and sea, Busan is a stunning confluence of scenery, culture and cuisine. It’s long been domestically lauded as the country’s best beach getaway, but South Korea’s second largest city packs an eclectic offering of activities to suit all travellers: hike hills to Buddhist temples, settle into sizzling hot springs and feast on seafood still a-wriggle at Jagalchi, the country’s largest fish market.

Bestowed the title of East Asia Culture City for 2018, Busan will be at its most vibrant this year with a medley of colourful events showcasing the country’s cultural heritage, from street art festivals to traditional dance shows.

Plus prestigious international film festival and it seems this second-city is poised to steal the spotlight.

2. Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has long held sway over travellers’ imaginations, with its dreamy mosaic-clad mosques and Silk Road lore. But the country has remained largely closed off to the wider world due to tight control following the end of the Soviet era. Thankfully, change finally appears to be afoot.

In late 2017, Uzbekistan took huge strides in opening up to tourism, announcing visa-free and e-visa schemes, new air routes and also extensions to its shiny high-speed rail network, making access to its collection of jewelled architecture and ancient cities easier than ever.

Whilst the country lags behind its neighbours in a few ways, particularly regarding human rights, there is a feeling of hope that, as Uzbekistan enjoys the benefits of being welcoming to all, positive change will follow.

3. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Though long heralded as hip, Vietnam's southern supercity somehow keeps getting cooler.

Aging apartment blocks are being colonised by vintage clothes stores and independent coffee shops, innovative breweries like Heart of Darkness and East West Brewing are fuelling one of the best craft beer scenes in Southeast Asia, and a selection of eclectic venues are strengthening the local music scene.

Add these recent developments to the city’s essential long-standing attractions like the War Remnants Museum, which details HCMC’s recent history in eye-opening displays.

A pioneering street food scene and accommodation suited to all standards not forgetting superb flight connections and it appears this buzzing Asian megalopolis is in no danger of going out of style.

4. Western Ghats, India

India’s steamy southern highlands have never garnered the same column inches as the hill stations and Himalayan heights of North India, but the Western Ghats offer an atmospheric mirror to Shimla and Darjeeling, with added jungle appeal.

Traversing Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, these rugged hills are Unesco listed as one of the top spots for biodiversity in the world.

Protecting everything from wild elephants and tigers to the neelakurinji flower, which blooms only once every 12 years and will be painting the hills in purple livery from August to October 2018.

Visit now and you’ll find coffee, tea and spice plantations, charmingly dated colonial outposts, thundering waterfalls, and even a steam-powered mountain railway, while evading the crowds who mob the northern uplands.

5. Nagasaki, Japan

For most international tourists, Nagasaki is synonymous with the tragic atomic bombing of August 1945. Remarkably, the city has converted the catastrophe into a concerted call for peace.

This exemplified by both the tranquil Nagasaki Peace Park , where a simple monolith marks the explosion's hypocentre, and the Atomic Bomb Museum, where hibakusha the atomic bomb survivors make poignant pleas for international nuclear disarmament.

But Nagasaki’s identity transcends one violent act; for centuries Japan’s main foreign trade occurred through Nagasaki's old port, bringing a distinctive East-meets-West character and, notably, Christianity to the city, the influence of which is documented in a new museum housed in Japan’s oldest church.

More leisurely tourist delights also abound, from the verdant harbour to the hiking routes that snake through the surrounding volcanic hills.

6. Chiang Mai, Thailand

With its legion of temples and grand, weather-worn city walls, the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom feels plucked from the pages of history, where visitors browse stalls of antique jewellery as the familiar scent of tilapia grilled in banana leaf fills the air.

A young, creative population has taken up residency in the city, bringing an exciting buzz to the archaic alleyways.

Now, alongside majestic, gold-painted chedis or stupas are cafés known for their latte art, mural-walled restaurants specialising in experimental fusion cuisine.

And the newly-opened, award-winning MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, which, like Chiang Mai itself, draws plaudits for its masterful intertwining of traditional and modern influences.

7. Lumbini, Nepal

For decades, Lumbini was somewhere travellers flashed through en route from India to Nepal, often unaware that they had passed within yards of the birthplace of the historical Buddha.

Thanks to the efforts of the international Buddhist community, Lumbini is on the ascendancy, but despite its heritage, this sacred site remains a sleepy detour off the backpacker trail.

However, change is apace; a new international airport is under construction, offering a new, safer route into Nepal, and ever-more aweing temples are springing up.

While these developments may finally be the catalyst that brings Lumbini the attention it deserves, the town’s cardinal draw will remain its tranquillity – embodied by the rare sarus cranes that stalk the wetlands around the World Peace Pagoda.

8. Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka

Despite Sri Lanka emerging as one of the world’s hottest travel destinations, Arugam Bay, a surf town on the country’s east coast, has miraculously managed to retain its cool.

While holidaymakers swarm the country’s ancient citadels and hiker-strewn hill stations, here you’ll find barefooted boarders sprawled outside vegan cafes and scrawled signs on hotel doors reading - gone surfing, back soon.

Renowned as a long-time surf haven, the town boasts breaks to satisfy all levels, along with a number of schools to get everyone hanging 10.

If the turquoise swells can’t tug you in, Arugam has authentically grown its on land offering, with an increase in beachside bars and makeshift music festivals; plus a handy proximity to Kumana National Park, home to leopards, elephants and crocodiles.

9. Sichuan Province, China

Far-flung villages, towering skylines, giant pandas and fiery cuisine; Sichuan province is a microcosm of modern China, and 2018 is bursting with reasons to go.

Cosmopolitan Chengdu has become one of the country's design and tech hubs, which also means a mushrooming of luring brewpubs and boutique hotels.

Starting in 2018, travellers will be able to ride the first section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway which will eventually link Chengdu to Lhasa in just 15 hours, west to visit time-frozen Tibetan villages dwarfed by dramatic mountain scenery.

Up north, the exceptional Jiuzhaigou National Park has reopened to limited numbers of visitors after the 2017 quake, while down south spiritual experiences reign supreme: gain perspective surveying the Le Shan Grand Buddha or climb Emei Shan to absolve a lifetime’s sins.

10. Komodo National Park, Indonesia

ome to the fascinating and formidable Komodo dragon, Komodo National Park is a nature enthusiast’s nirvana. Aside from laying eyes on the illustrious lizard.

Visitors to this cerulean silhouetted archipelago in Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands can hike to hallowed viewpoints on Padar, sample laid-back beachside living on Kanawa and dive with a mind-boggling array of marine life in the reefs off Komodo.

New flight connections and liveaboards to gateway Labuanbajo have made the park more accessible than ever, prompting local authorities to examine ways to protect the Komodo species.

Visitor caps and park fee rises are likely in 2018, but travellers should play their part by joining small, responsible boat trips to avoid overwhelming the park's guides and resources.


Tourism Observer

VIETNAM: Chinese Tourists In T-shirts With Controversial South China Sea Territory Map Spark Anger

The visitors arrived in southern Cam Ranh airport on Sunday night and were stopped by security at the immigration desk who asked them to take the T-shirts off before allowing them to leave.

A photo of Chinese tourists wearing T-shirts depicting Beijing’s claims to the disputed South China Sea has sparked online anger in Vietnam, prompting calls for the visitors to be deported.

The shirts featured a map of China and its so-called nine-dash line – the sea boundary found on some 1940s-era maps which Beijing says proves its claim to most of the waterway, despite partial claims from Vietnam and other nations.

The territorial dispute is a hot-button issue in Vietnam, which has a turbulent history of conflict with its powerhouse neighbour.

The visitors arrived in southern Cam Ranh airport on Sunday night and were stopped by security at the immigration desk, an airport police officer confirmed.

We asked them to take the T-shirts off before allowing them to leave the airport, said the officer, without providing his name because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Photos of the tourists in their nationalist attire made the rounds on social media – with the nine-dash line crossed out with an “X”.

Some netizens said the tourists were not welcome in Vietnam.

Immediately deport them and ban them permanently from coming to Vietnam, Facebook user Nguyen Ngoc Hieu posted.

Another, Quan Hai, wrote: We must be determined, not allowing anyone passing through our border gates if the passports, T-shirts or anything else with the dash-line maps.

Vietnam and China have long sparred over the resource-rich sea, where Beijing has built artificial islands and installed airstrips and military equipment.

This is not the first time the dispute has trickled into the tourism sector.

A Chinese passport featuring a map of Beijing’s sea claims was defaced in 2016 by a border agent in Ho Chi Minh City’s airport with an unfriendly welcome note.

Border officials in tourist hotspots Da Nang and Phu Quoc island have also reportedly refused to issue visa stamps in Chinese passports with maps of the nine-dash line.

More than four million Chinese visitors went to Vietnam last year over 30 per cent of all foreign guests and Chinese tourists are a major cash cow.

Some guides say this can put them in a spot, especially when visitors dispute Hanoi’s version of historical events.

We don’t like the Chinese tourists but they bring us profits, so we cannot resist them, Hung, a Hanoi-based tour operator, said, using only his first name.

A group of guides petitioned authorities in Da Nang last year, complaining that unlicensed Chinese guides were leading tours with their own interpretation of history – and sea claims.

Hung said guides have to push back.

We are Vietnamese, we can’t let them distort the truth about our homeland and our history.


Tourism Observer

VIETNAM: Mandarin Oriental Inks Deal For New Hotel In Ho Chi Minh

Mandarin Oriental has signed a management contract for a new hotel in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam.

Scheduled to open in 2020, the Mandarin Oriental, Saigon, will form part of Union Square Saigon, a commercial building in the heart of the city, that is currently under renovation.

The hotel will be situated on the upper floors of the mixed-use complex, which will also house a variety of international luxury retail outlets.

Mandarin Oriental, Saigon will comprise 227 guestrooms and suites, six restaurants and bars, a range of meeting and banqueting spaces, a fitness centre, a spa and an outdoor swimming pool.

Ho Chi Minh city is the leading commercial hub in Vietnam and at the heart of the country’s rapidly growing economy.

We are delighted to be opening a hotel in such a prime location in the city.

We look forward to working with our partners to create a world-class experience and to bringing Mandarin Oriental’s renowned level of service excellence to Vietnam for the first time, said James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental.

Mandarin Oriental, Saigon is adjacent to the Saigon Opera House and the People’s Committee Building and within walking distance of most of the key landmarks in the city.

Its position is ideal for guests wishing to enjoy the city’s vibrant dining and shopping areas.

Jonathan Au, General Director of Union Square Saigon, said, With its exceptional design, locale, history and culture, Union Square Saigon is destined to become a landmark destination.

We are delighted to welcome Mandarin Oriental to this project, which will not only raise the level of luxury hospitality in the city, but will also increase awareness of Vietnam internationally.


Tourism Observer

VIETNAM: Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321 Lands On A Runway Under Construction

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321, performing flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang with 203 passengers and 7 crew, had performed an RNAV runway 20 approach and was cleared to land on runway 20 but touched down on the runway under construction to become runway 20L.

The aircraft rolled out, the engines sucked a number of foreign objects from the runway surface in.

Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority rated the occurrence a serious incident, suspended the flight crew, and opened an investigation into the occurrence.

According to the captain’s narrative the runway was marked 20 with no crosses over the threshold or down the runway.

The crew did notice that no runway lights including PAPIs were active, however, realized only after touchdown that the runway was still under construction and brought the aircraft to a full stop.

The charts in use did not depict the runway under construction.

On May 2nd 2018 The Aviation Herald received information, that the new runway had been put into operations for a 300 meters portion to be used only by military aircraft.

This had been NOTAMED in 2017 permanently, however, the NOTAM had not been forwarded to the crew.

In addition, the airline stated: The VVCR airport charts 10-9 and 10-9-0 depict Unservicable Area for the construction zone of the new runway and taxiways.

Although runway 02R/20L was partly put into operations for military aircraft, an AIP Supplement released by Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority on Apr 26th 2018 makes clear the runways had not yet been renamed as necessary to become 02L/R and 20R/L, runway 02L/20R still is named runway 02/20 by Apr 26th 2018.


Tourism Observer

THAILAND: AirAsia Began Daily Direct Flights From Da Nang To Don Mueang Airport

AirAsia began daily direct flights from Da Nang to Bangkok’ s Don Mueang Airport on Friday (June 9) with a promotional fare starting at Bt1,090.

The special price is available until June 18 for travel from today until January 14 via all ticketing channels and www.AirAsia.com.

The route marks the first time Thai AirAsia has introduced a third destination within one country and it now offers flights to the north, central and southern regions of Vietnam.

We believe the route will be to the liking of both Vietnamese and Thai travellers as it offers great savings in both time and cost and we will be promoting it heavily to both Thai and international travellers interested in visiting Vietnam for tourism or investment.

We are proud to be able to play a role in supporting the economy and tourism of both countries, said its director of commercial operations, Santisuk Klongchaiya.

According to the Da Nang Department of Tourism, Thailand has been among the top international tourist markets for Da Nang in recent years with more than 24,300 Thai tourists visiting the city in 2016.

With Bangkok being one of Southeast Asia’s major trade and tourism centres and the hub of a wide international network, the opening of the Bangkok-Da Nang route helps connect Da Nang tourism to a global market and should allow tourists, especially from Western European countries such as England, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy who have been visa-free since July 2015, to reach Da Nang more easily via Bangkok.

At the same time, the new route offers greater convenience for Da Nang residents to experience tourism in Thailand or seek investment opportunities.

AirAsia travellers from Da Nang can enjoy its Fly Thru service at Don Mueang Airport which allows them to easily continue to destinations both domestic and international across Asean and Asia.

At present, AirAsia boasts the most routes in Asean with flights going from Thailand to 13 destinations in 7 ASEAN countries, offering a total of 17 routes.

The airline currently serves direct flights from Vietnam to Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) on two routes, Hanoi-Bangkok two flights a day and Ho Chi Minh-Bangkok three flights a day.

The airline also offers direct flights from Da Nang to Kuala Lumpur with the route recently increasing its frequency from four flights weekly to daily in December 2016 and 10 flights weekly starting this month.

VIETNAM: Train Dangerously Passes Through Heavily Residential Area

A narrow train street in Hanoi’s old quarter, where the train passes terrifyingly close to the houses, is fast becoming a tourist attraction.

It still boggles my mind that a massive speeding train passes through this insanely narrow street at 3.30pm and 7.30pm every day. And yet the residents don't have a care in the world. Such a unique place!

The twice-daily train, linking Vietnam’s capital of Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh in the far South, passes through a residential area in Hanoi’s old quarter, causing residents to carry all their worldly possessions inside every afternoon and evening.

Walking down the street where the train literally runs through it. A metre each side of the track separates the train from people's houses.

The train runs so close to the houses that residents must actually stay indoors at 3.30pm and 7pm every day to stay out of the way of the train. The street is so unusual that tourists visiting the city have started to flock there to take photos and videos of the passing train as well as the street itself.

Visitors to Vietnam have been posting photos of the famous train street to social media, with photos highlighting just how narrow the street really is. The train is shown to pass by just mere inches from some the buildings on either side of the tracks.

Train travel has seen a new lease of life recently, with a new bullet train linking Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Bangladesh launching their first luxury train and a new bullet train cutting travel time in India.

VIETNAM: Chinese Tourists In Vietnam

A record year for visitors from the Chinese mainland is filling municipal coffers, but tensions are emerging as the Vietnamese tourism industry struggles to keep up.

A long day following the tourist trail in Da Nang, on Vietnam’s central coast. And as the group’s attention fades, somewhere around Linh Ung Pagoda and its huge statue of the Goddess of Mercy, their tour guide rattles off an alternative version of Vietnam’s history and culture.

It’s late and it’s hot, and thoughts have turned to air-conditioned hotel rooms, so the Chinese group can be forgiven for missing the subtle geopolitical implications of what their unlicensed leader is saying.

For instance, the guide tells them while Vietnam is no longer a part of China and has claimed its independence, it still depends on China and pays tribute to it. Or that the city’s My Khe Beach, a broad sweep of white sand once dubbed China Beach by American soldiers, really belongs to China.

That such bold claims are being made should perhaps come as no surprise. Many of the unlicensed guides who have sprouted up to feed off Vietnam’s Chinese tourism boom will feel they are merely playing to an audience that naturally sees things from a China-centric perspective, or that they are simply rehashing official Chinese narratives of domination over Southeast Asia and particularly the South China Sea – the very body of water overlooked by Da Nang.

But the fact that such accounts are being given here on Vietnamese soil is something far more controversial, and is just one example of the growing tensions brought on by an influx of Chinese visitors, which has filled municipal coffers but left the country’s tourism industry struggling to meet demand.

A record 2.7 million Chinese tourists arrived in Vietnam in 2016 – a 55 per cent increase over the previous year, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. That means tourists from mainland China accounted for 30 per cent of Vietnam’s total foreign arrivals.

Most Chinese visitors head to either Da Nang or Nha Trang, two coastal cities in the centre of the country famed for their beaches, historical sights and seafood.

This has caused headaches for the local tourism industries, and especially Vietnamese guides.

Some Chinese guides operating in the country have been accused of telling their groups that Vietnam hates China, and that they should not believe anything the local guides say. They are also accused of using regional dialects so that Mandarin- or Cantonese-speaking Vietnamese guides cannot understand them.

“Lately, some unlicensed Chinese guides have provided incorrect information on the territory and island disputes in the South China Sea,” says Nguyen Huu Tuan, sales manager at In-Out Tour Company, based in Ho Chi Minh City. “Unlicensed Chinese guides have destroyed the truth, causing worries for the Vietnamese people and the government,” he says.

It’s not only what the guides are saying – but that they are operating at all – that has angered local operators.

“By law, foreigners are not allowed to be tour guides in our country,” says Tran Tra, chairman of the Da Nang Tour Guide Club. At first, “Vietnamese tour guides were happy at the increase in Chinese arrivals in 2016,” he says, as they thought “they would have more opportunities to earn more money and increase their living standards”.

But the opposite happened – they have been losing business because “Chinese tour operators have illegally assigned Chinese tour leaders to act as guides”.

Aside from the legal aspects, local guides feel slighted by what they see as a lack of cooperation from Chinese guides and operators, says Cao Tri Dung, chairman of the Da Nang Travel Association.

Tensions reached a head in July, when the governments of Da Nang and Nha Trang cracked down on unlicensed guides. Da Nang deported four Chinese guides for working illegally. The guides were also fined US$4,200, while the company that hired them had its licence revoked and was fined US$560. The same month, Khanh Hoa Province, home to Nha Trang, expelled 66 Chinese who were working illegally in the travel industry.

The growing conflict over guides can be seen as part of a larger narrative of the countries’ relationship.

Despite close economic ties, China and its people are often unpopular with ordinary Vietnamese and recent diplomatic disputes, particularly in the South China Sea, have exacerbated resentment. Vietnam is proud of its history and land, and perceived efforts by foreign guides to distort facts are not taken lightly. At the same time, the behaviour of some Chinese tourists has not helped.

In June, a Chinese visitor reportedly burned Vietnamese currency in front of a bar in Da Nang. Chinese visitors have also been accused of harassing street vendors, trying to pay for items with Chinese yuan and threatening staff at Cam Ranh International Airport outside of Nha Trang. The Da Nang government has responded by publishing 5,000 copies of an etiquette booklet written in Chinese. These will be distributed in public places and list acceptable behaviour, such as queueing to buy tickets, respecting local culture and not littering or getting drunk in public.

Despite the blips, many Vietnamese recognise the spending power of Chinese tourists as something to be welcomed. As Tuan, from the In-Out Tour Company, says, “the fact that more and more Chinese visitors are coming will boost local tourism, and the economy”.

And with Da Nang and Nha Trang now firmly established as popular holiday spots for affluent Chinese, regional governments recognise more can be done to welcome their visitors. Tran Chi Cuong, deputy director of the Da Nang Tourism Department, says Chinese tourists have become frustrated at a lack of Chinese-speaking Vietnamese guides, so the department is now working to educate and train more guides to meet these demands. “We are also collaborating with the Da Nang University of Foreign Languages, tourist sites and travel agents to build and provide Chinese language resources at certain tourist attractions.”

Airline VietJet has launched a weekly flight from Zhengzhou to Da Nang on January 12.

Through initiatives such as this and the etiquette booklet, Da Nang and Nha Trang hope to nurture the welcome aspects of Chinese tourism even as they cut down on some of the less welcome ones – tour guides with bold claims among them.

VIETNAM: Ho Chi Minh City’s Air Capacity Will Double In The Coming Years

Ho Chi Minh City’s air capacity will almost double in the coming years, as two new terminals are developed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

The Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister, Trinh Dinh Dung, as saying that Ho Chi Minh City’s airport will need to be expanded to cater for a projected increase in demand. A brand new airport is being developed outside the city, but this won’t be ready for another eight years.

“Tan Son Nhat airport needs to be upgraded to handle between 40 and 50 million passengers each year,” the Deputy PM was quoted saying at a meeting between the central government and local officials.

The expansion plan will include the development of two new terminals, with construction of the first scheduled to get underway in the coming months. This third terminal will have a capacity of 10m passengers per year, and combined with a project to expand the capacity of the existing T2 by three million passengers per year, the overall annual capacity of Tan Son Nhat will be raised to 38m passengers by 2019.

And a fourth terminal will then add a further 10m passengers per year, taking total capacity to 48m passengers per year, while an additional runway is being planned.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport is operating over-capacity; designed to handle 25m passengers per year, it exceeded this in 2015 and 2016 and is forecast to handle 31m passengers in 2017.

CHINA: Chinese Tourists Angered By Vietnam Airport Customs Officers Demanding Bribes

A group of Chinese tourists caused an uproar inside Vietnam's Cam Ranh International Airport on Monday after customs officers demanded that they give them tips.

The tourists were on their way to a flight back to Sichuan from the coastal resort of Nha Trang in southern Vietnam when they ran into problems at customs. One of the tourists posted an account of the incident on Weibo, claiming that Vietnamese customs officers asked for a 10 yuan tip from each traveler, threatening to seize the passports of any who refused to pay up.

Some who did refuse were then asked for more and more money. One man was eventually forced to pay 100 yuan so that he, his wife and their child could get on the plane.

Predictably this situation led to a confrontation between about 100 Chinese tourists and a dozen Vietnamese officers. In a series of videos that have gone viral on Chinese social media, Chinese tourists can be seen protesting against this latest injustice by using the tried and true tactic of breaking out into the Chinese national anthem.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Vietnamese customs officers readied their stun guns.

Overall, the incident did not result in much violence. One woman said that officers had struck her husband on the back with a stun gun while he was trying to film the confrontation.

Netizens from across China have wrote in, claiming that they were also hassled for tips when returning from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, and arguing that Chinese tourists should no longer visit Vietnam until these issues are resolved.

The Chinese consulate in Ho Chi Minh City has confirmed that the incident took place, issuing a statement to say that all Chinese citizens involved have already returned to the mainland and that they have requested an immediate response from the Vietnamese government. So far, nothing from Hanoi.

State media reports that already, in just the first four months of this year, 789,500 Chinese tourists have traveled to Vietnam, an increase of 47% from last year. Which all seems like pretty good money for Vietnamese customs officers, blackmailing Chinese tourists leaving the country with luxury items -- like lucky pears, brides and lychees, we presume.

While extorting travelers seems to have been a fairly common practice in the past for Vietnamese customs, in recent years, various anti-corruption crackdowns have managed to mend the ways of unscrupulous officers, though apparently it hasn't worked on everyone.

VIETNAM: VietJet Air Expands To Kuala Lumpur

VietJet Air is entering a new phase as the fast-growing Vietnamese LCC takes on AirAsia on the Ho Chi Minh-Kuala Lumpur route. Kuala Lumpur will become the sixth international destination for VietJet and only the fourth international market where it faces competition from other LCCs.

Since its late 2011 launch VietJet has focused primarily on the domestic market, where it now serves 17 destinations. However Vietnam’s domestic market is starting to become saturated after four years of rapid growth, and VietJet strategically needs to establish a bigger international presence.

VietJet is also expanding in Taiwan, with planned new services to Kaohsiung and Tainan and a second daily flight on the Ho Chi Minh-Taipei route. But VietJet faces challenges in establishing its brand overseas and has already experienced some setbacks in the international market.

INDONESIA: Lion Group To Expand Internationally

Indonesia’s Lion Group is preparing to build up its presence in the international market after focusing almost entirely on domestic operations in its initial 15 years. Lion is the largest domestic airline group outside China and the US, but has a small international operation that is only about the size of Poland’s LOT.

In a precursor to international expansion, the group has been raising its standards and seeking IOSA certification for all five airlines in its portfolio. Its Indonesian subsidiaries are also now in the process of securing an exemption from the EU blacklist.

IOSA certification and EASA approval should make it easier for the airlines under the Lion Group to secure approval from civil aviation authorities in several countries. It should also strengthen the Lion brand overseas and facilitate new codeshare partnerships.

Lion is one of the world’s 15 largest airline groups based on current seat capacity. The Lion Group currently has more than 1.7 million weekly seats, making it the largest in Southeast East – ahead of AirAsia’s approximately 1.4 million weekly seats.

Approximately 93% of Lion Group’s seat capacity is now domestic.

However, Lion has a larger concentration of domestic capacity than any of the other top 15 airline groups except Southwest Airlines. Approximately 93% of Lion Group’s seat capacity is now domestic, according to CAPA and OAG data.

In comparison, Lion’s arch-rival AirAsia allocates approximately 50% of its current seat capacity to the international market. Lion currently has approximately 125,000 weekly international seats compared with more than 700,000 for AirAsia (including AirAsia X).

Lion is more than double the size of AirAsia in domestic markets with approximately 1.6 million weekly seats, compared with approximately 700,000 for AirAsia. Globally only seven airlines, the four main US airline groups and the three main Chinese airline groups, have more domestic capacity than Lion.

Lion has started growing its international operation.

Lion’s international capacity has been increasing in recent years, but from a very low base. In 2015 the group’s annual international capacity was up nearly 20% compared with 2014, and was more than double the 2012 levels.

Lion Group’s current weekly seat capacity is up nearly 60% year-over-year compared with Apr-2015, when the group had approximately 80,000 weekly international seats. Compared with Apr-2014 it has doubled.

Nearly all of the group’s international expansion over the last couple of years has been generated by Malaysian Malindo Air. Currently Malindo has approximately 60,000 weekly international seats, while the rest of the group has approximately 65,000 weekly international seats. Malindo’s current international weekly seat capacity is nearly 60% above Apr-2015 levels and is more than three times the Apr-2014 levels.

Lion Group plans international expansion in 2016.

Malindo commenced operations in Mar-2013 and has been focusing its expansion almost entirely on the international market over the last two years, after an initial phase focused on the domestic market. Malindo currently operates 21 international routes, nine of which have been launched over the last year, and is planning further ambitious international expansion in 2H2016.

The rest of the group currently operates only 10 scheduled international routes. This includes eight for Lion Air, one for Thai Lion and one for the Indonesian full service subsidiary Batik Air. The group’s fifth airline, Wings Air, is a regional operator in Indonesia and only serves the domestic market.

Batik, Lion and Thai Lion are all planning international expansion in 2016. Thai Lion has the most aggressive plan, aiming to launch several international routes within Southeast Asia and to China over the next few months. Thai Lion commenced operations in Dec-2013 and focused in its initial phase on the Thai domestic market, where it has quickly built up a presence that is already almost as large as the long-established LCCs Nok Air and Thai AirAsia.

In Indonesia, the Lion Group strategy is generally to use the full service subsidiary Batik to expand in the international market. Batik launched its first international route, Jakarta-Singapore, in Aug-2015 and has Perth in its business plan for 2016. It is planning to accelerate international expansion in 2017 as it takes delivery of new longer-range A321neos.

The Lion Group clearly faces challenges in establishing a significant international presence. The group and its various airlines do not have known brands outside their home markets, and the group's reputation overseas has also been far from stellar.

Lion Group has been gradually working to raise its standards and improve its reputation. An initiative to certify all of its airlines under the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) began in 2014, following the establishment of a new corporate safety and quality team.

Thai Lion became the first airline to pass an IOSA audit in Sep-2015. Thai Lion was selected as the first Lion Group airline to go through the stringent IOSA process as it is the newest member of the group and was therefore the easiest at which to implement change.

The other four airlines are now in various stages of the IOSA certification process. Batik and Malindo are expected to be added to the IOSA registry within the next couple of months, followed by Lion Air in Jul-2016 and Wings Air in Sep-2016.

IOSA certification is a key milestone in Lion Group’s initiative to establish itself internationally, for several reasons.

From a regulatory standpoint, IOSA certification can make it easier to secure approvals from various authorities. For example, Batik is now in the process of seeking approval from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

No Lion Group airline currently has any codeshares with airlines outside the group
IOSA certification is also often a requirement for codeshare agreements with other airlines. No Lion Group airline currently has any codeshares with airlines outside the group.

However Malindo is now actively seeking to partner with several foreign airlines serving Malaysia, as part of its new full service airline strategy. Over the next couple of years other Lion Group members are also expected to start exploring partnerships with airlines outside the group.

IOSA certification is also a benefit because some corporates have policies requiring employees to fly with airlines on the IOSA registry. In addition, individual consumers often opt for IOSA certified airlines. As a result, IOSA can help Lion attract more international passengers and operate international routes that may only be viable with a heavy concentration of inbound traffic.

Lion Air could be removed from EU blacklist
An exemption from the EU blacklist will further aid Lion’s international efforts, since some authorities – and some corporates – follow EASA more closely than IOSA. Removal from the blacklist would also clearly help from a consumer standpoint.

Lion found itself blacklisted through no fault of its own. EASA automatically put all Indonesian airlines on its blacklist several years ago when it determined that Indonesian authorities did not meet its standards. Airlines are able to be removed individually after applying for an exemption and undergoing a rigorous process. For example, AirAsia Indonesia and Garuda Indonesia are currently exempt from the EU blacklist after following this process.

In Nov-2015 Batik, Lion, and the Garuda budget subsidiary Citilink applied for removal from the EU blacklist. A review by EASA is now under way, with a decision on all three airlines expected in Jun-2016.

If the Batik and Lion applications are successful, the Lion Group also plans to begin the process of seeking an exemption for Wings Air.

Lion seeks to raise its international profile as its 500 aircraft orders are delivered.

The certification work under IOSA and EASA is part of a wider initiative to raise standards, which should in turn help Lion boost its international profile.

The group is also now seeking EASA approval for its maintenance facility in Batam, which is expected to be secured within the next couple of months. Lion is also now seeking FAA approval for heavy airframe checks, which will facilitate efforts to start pursuing maintenance contracts with third party customers.

Separate projects are under way to improve several other areas of the operation, including on-time performance. Only approximately 80% of Lion Air flights are on time. Batik has had a much more reliable operation since launching, with an average on-time performance of nearly 99%, as have Malindo and Thai Lion.

Lion strategically needs a much larger international presence
The Lion Group clearly recognises that it needs to raise its standards if it is to succeed at improving its brand overseas and expanding internationally. Lion strategically needs a much larger international presence as it takes delivery of the approximately 500 aircraft it has on order.

There are huge challenges to overcome, but there is also huge potential for the Lion Group in the international market.

VIETNAM: Vietjet Air Overview

Vietjet private airline announced a first commercial flight from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi on 25 Dec 2013. This is the second cheap airline in Vietnam. After nearly 4 years licensed and Vietjet Air has officially joined in the domestic aviation market. It will make farmer, worker or poor people can have chance to fly.

Vietjet air pilot and plane
VietJet air is proud of owning a new fleet, most modern and environmentally friendly. Most of the new aircraft is 100% and the average age less than 3 years old. VietJet air is the first airline in Vietnam owned Sharklet modern A320 aircraft, Airbus' latest.

Vietjet air Itinerary
Since the first day, Vietjet air operates only the route Ho Chi Minh- Hanoi. Nowadays, it connects 11 cities of Vietnam including: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Danang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Vinh, Hai Phong, Buon Ma Thuot, Hue, Da Lat, Quy Nhon. In addition, it also starts to operate international flight to Bangkok and Singapore.

Vietjet air service
Time schedule: It is similar to Jetstar Pacific with low commitment of time schedule. The flight time can be changed suddenly and cause a lot inconvenience for passenger. The flight can be delayed for 12 hours because number of flights per day for a specific route is only one or two.

Service at the airport:
This is also the weakness of Vietjet air. When it tries the best to sell tickets at the cheapest price to make customer happy, it also causes passengers stressfully at the airport with low processing time and no assistance when its passengers needed.

Airline meals:
VietJet air’s passengers have choice to buy or not to buy meals when they make bookings. However, if you forget to order meal when make booking, you can order on plane but with limitation of available food. Beverage also be served with fee on plane.

Vietjet air luggage

Hand Baggage
Each passenger can carry free 7kg hand bag with the dimensions not to exceed 56cm × 36cm × 23 cm.

Checked Baggage
Passengers have to purchase a 15kg, 20kg, 25kg, 30kg, 35kg or 40kg baggage when make booking. However, weight of each bag must not exceed 32 kg with dimension not to exceed 119cm × 119cm × 81cm. A baggage fee is charged for the carriage of checked baggage. Baggage fees are not refundable and not transferable.

CHINA: Sichuan Airlines Sets Off To South Korea And Vietnam

Sichuan Airlines, which last week launched service to Dubai, has over the course of the last week started new international routes to Jeju (CJU) in South Korea and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) in Vietnam.

All four of the new routes will be served thrice-weekly using the airline’s fleet of A320s and A321s. Only one of the routes is already served, the 1,922-kilometre route between Chongqing (CKG) and Jeju, where Okay Airways operates four weekly flights.

Sichuan Airlines now operates international flights to 12 countries from its Chinese bases.

VIETNAM: Vietnam Airlines Is Strengthening Its Domestic Program

Vietnam Airlines announces the reopening of its lines to the city of Pleiku in Gia Lai province (highland of Vietnam) from September 1, following the reopening of Pleiku Airport.

The Vietnamese company will offer on line in Ho Chi Minh City - Pleiku a daily flight between September 1 and September 14, then three daily flights from 15 September to 24 October. Flights will be operated by A321 and ATR-72.

For Hanoi online - Pleiku, the first flight will take place on September 5th. From September 6 to 14, four weekly flights will be offered on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and from 15 September to 24 October, a daily service will be available. All flights will be operated by A321.

Located in the central highlands of the country, the city of Pleiku offers a mild climate. The Vietnamese and expatriates go there to escape the humidity and heat of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Also, to meet the increase in passenger traffic in September (which corresponds to the period in Vietnam's National Day September 2), Vietnam Airlines announced the increase of its domestic flights. Between August 29 and September 3, it will make 95 additional flights totaling 7800 seats, an increase of 11% compared to normal, seven lines high attendance: Hanoi to Quang Binh, Da Nang, Nha Trang Phu Quoc; Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.