Canadian media company VTTH Departure Entertainment is paying a 15-day trip around Vietnam for a TV documentary to be aired internationally, a spokesperson from Saigontourist announced recently.

Joining the tour, visitors will be shown 1000 years of Hanoi’s history and discover the secrets behind traditional festivals, long-standing Vietnamese architecture and culinary delights from around Vietnam.

The 2009 Quang Nam – Heritage Journey is planned to open June 4, with a vintage vehicle parade taking centre stage, the festival’s committee announced recently.

Vietnam’s largest rest area opened April 28 in Dong Nai Province on Highway 20 connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat.

The tourism sector has shown signs of recovery with a sharp increase in the number of people booking tourist services, especially local tours, on the anniversary of the Reunification Day, April 30, and May Day.

VietnamTravel.org, a travel guide, announced that Cham Villas in the southeastern costal city of Phan Thiet tops its list of "Vietnam's Finest Hotels" for 2009.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has allocated VND500 million (US$ 28,000) for restoration of Da Lat Railway Station, a national heritage site.

To promote tourism in the Mekong Delta, Ben Tre’s tourism is concentrating on nature tourism through the Vinh Thanh project in Cho Lach District, said Ho Vinh Binh, general director of Ben Tre Tourism Co.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on April 15 signed an agreement to become a member of the SkyTeam Alliance of airlines, expected next year.

Mai Linh Tourism Company on April 13 launched two bus tours between the central coastal city of Nha Trang and the southern Lao province of Champassak.