Vietnam builds an image in Thailand

http://bangkokpost.net/en/130105_Hor...005_hori58.php

Vietnam builds an image

A new agreement will allow Thais to drive right in, as towns toot their
own horns

Story and photo by PEERAWAT JARIYASOMBAT

Linh Phuoc Pagoda in Dalat, the beautiful highland town now trying to
attract visitors from Thailand to Vietnam. By cooperation between
Bangkok and Hanoi, tourists can visit each other by road.
Continuing cooperation between the officials of Thailand and Vietnam in
matters of tourism seems likely to boost tourist traffic between the
two countries.

Less than 200 to the east, Vietnam is not far from Thailand. However,
for Thai tourists, the word Vietnam sounds distant and exotic. The
tourist exchange between the countries is relatively low. Each year,
only some 200,000 Thai and Vietnamese tourists travel between their two
countries.

Further cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam could ease the
physical difficulties that are partly responsible for holding back the
growth of tourism through obstacles at the border crossings.

The Thai and Vietnamese governments are working on details of a plan to
enable motorists to drive cross borders more easily. Moreover, various
tourism promotions are expected in short order.

A friendly partnership between Thailand and Vietnam may also develop.

"Now, cooperation in tourism development is being pushed by the
governments of both countries. Within the next couple months," said
Pichai Raktasinha, director, Indochina market promotion of the Tourism
Authority of Thailand. "Thailand and Vietnam will officially sign a
contract, allowing cars from either side to cross the border of the
other, enhancing [the ability of] Thai and Vietnamese tourists to
travel overland. At present, the officials are working on details for
customs, and on immigration procedures."

At the moment, right-hand-drive cars from Thailand are not allowed to
enter Vietnam, where driving is on the right side of the road.. Thai
motorists can solve such problems by hiring a car or truck in Laos,
which also has left-hand drive, and head for Vietnam in the rented
vehicle.

By the new contract, however, Thai motorists will be allowed to drive
their own cars into the central part of Vietnam, including Hue, Da
Nang, Hoi An and Vinh. And in exchange, Vietnamese motorists will be
able to drive into Thailand at international checkpoints at Nong Khai,
Mukdaharn and Nakhon Phanom, and travel in designated areas of the
Northeast.

The cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam has developed over the
last 10 years, as Indochina has grown into a more fascinating
destination for tourists. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has been
trying to promote Indochina as a whole, creating tourist traffic within
the region. Many co-promotions linking Thailand and Indochinese
countries have been undertaken in European markets.

"We are trying to push Vietnam as part of Indochina, and as a
destination for other regions, not just for Thai tourists," said
Pichai.

TAT also helped Vietnam to develop human resources in the tourism
industry through training programmes for marketing and service skills.

Pichai added that Thailand is among the top destinations for Vietnamese
tourists, after China, South Korea and Japan. Last year, around 135,000
Vietnamese visited Thailand. The typical Vietnamese tourist here was
between 25 and 40 years old.

"Vietnam is a new tourist market for Thailand. Most visitors are
working people who can afford the higher living expenses. On average,
each Vietnamese tourist spends three to five days in Thailand, mainly
in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

But only 50,000 Thais visited Vietnam last year, most of whom focused
on the standard destinations _ Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ho Chi Minh City,
Hue, Da Nang and ancient town of Hoi An.

Tourism promotion in Vietnam is rising. Each town now has an
independent authority to promote itself.

Recently, Dalat town in Lam Dong Province approached the TAT and tour
operators to inspect the destination. The town is well-known as a
former French retreat, 1,500 metres above sea level and with a
temperate climate.

Such visits could go a long way towards improving the image of Vietnam
to potential Thai visitors.

"Thai tourists have a fixed mind, that Vietnam is an underdeveloped
country without facilities or safety. The old pictures of the Vietnam
of previous decades always makes them hesitate, even though Vietnam
today is quite modern and fast growing," said Sakda Siriwadhna,
managing director of Bangkok-based tour operator Mekong World Holidays,
which specialises in Indochina destinations.

Active promotions can promote a new look to Vietnam to Thai tourist
market.

Mr Sakda believes Vietnam is a potential destination, as infrastructure
development improves and allows better transportation and
accessibility. A better road system, for example, will enhance Vietnam
as a destination, allowing motorists to drive via Laos to Vietnam
within a few hours.

"A meeting held by Asian Development Bank recently urged the
Indochinese countries to cooperate in development and marketing," he
said. "Road systems linking the region with Yunnan province will
increase the potentail of Vietnam. The inadequate airline seat into
Vietnam will be solved soon as Vietnam Airline has decide to invest in
adding more aircraft into the fleet.
http://bangkokpost.net/en/130105_Hor...005_hori58.php

Vietnam today is quite modern and fast growing

Thanks for keeping us informed about Vietnam!

Vietnam today is quite modern and fast growing

Thanks for keeping us informed about Vietnam!