Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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• Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan
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• Global pizza delivery opens first Vietnam outlet
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• IFC: Vietnam needs to increase PPP to support economy

Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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• Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan
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• Global pizza delivery opens first Vietnam outlet
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• IFC: Vietnam needs to increase PPP to support economy

Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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• Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan
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Vietnam Airlines opens new route to Japan

Vietnam Airlines will launch a new route from Da Nang City to the Japanese city of Narita, roughly 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, on December 15, Da Nang City’s Foreign Affairs Department said Monday.

Seven flights per week are scheduled for the Narita – Da Nang – HCMC – Narita route, the department said.

The flights will depart from the central city of Da Nang at 2:55 a.m. and arrive in Narita at 1:20 p.m. (local time).

The national flag carrier will maintain the route until March 31 next year. After that date, it will fly between Da Nang and Narita directly without transiting Ho Chi Minh City.

The national carrier will also open a direct route between Da Nang and Hong Kong on November 26, according to the Da Nang People’s Committee.

On Monday, it launched a second direct route to Yangon, Myanmar's southern trade hub and former capital city.

There will be three flights a week between Yangon and HCMC, the airline said.

The carrier had begun flying from Hanoi to Yangon four times a week in March.

A member of the SkyTeam airline alliance that includes Air France and America's Delta Airlines, Vietnam Airlines has set out to become one of Southeast Asia's leading carriers.

It aims to transport 12 million passengers this year and boost its fleet from 70 to 115 aircraft by 2015.

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Vietnam Airlines cuts international tickets by 85 percent

The national carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced an up to 85 percent discount on nearly 90,000 international flight tickets bought between September 30 and October 10.

Passengers planning to take off between October 15 and December 31 and between April 1 and May 31 can buy the discounted tickets at Vietnam Airlines agencies nationwide or via its website www.vietnamairlines.com.

The tickets will also be available at the International Tourism Exhibition between September 30 and October 2 organized at Saigon Seminar and Exhibition Center at 799 Nguyen Van Linh Street.

Under the program, round trip tickets to Southeast Asian countries will be discounted 85 percent, to Laos and Cambodia 74 percent, to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan 80 percent, to Japan and South Korea 82 percent, Australia 50 percent and European countries such as France, Germany, Russia 40 precent.

But the program will not be applied on flights around April 30 – the country’s reunification day and May 1 – Labor Day, which is the travel prime time as people have days off.

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Vietnam Airlines cuts international tickets by 85 percent

The national carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced an up to 85 percent discount on nearly 90,000 international flight tickets bought between September 30 and October 10.

Passengers planning to take off between October 15 and December 31 and between April 1 and May 31 can buy the discounted tickets at Vietnam Airlines agencies nationwide or via its website www.vietnamairlines.com.

The tickets will also be available at the International Tourism Exhibition between September 30 and October 2 organized at Saigon Seminar and Exhibition Center at 799 Nguyen Van Linh Street.

Under the program, round trip tickets to Southeast Asian countries will be discounted 85 percent, to Laos and Cambodia 74 percent, to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan 80 percent, to Japan and South Korea 82 percent, Australia 50 percent and European countries such as France, Germany, Russia 40 precent.

But the program will not be applied on flights around April 30 – the country’s reunification day and May 1 – Labor Day, which is the travel prime time as people have days off.

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Domestic tourists fly the coop

Travel agents have resorted to taking domestic tourists on tours abroad after failing to get air tickets for inbound destinations, especially those on special discount offers.

“It is difficult to book enough air tickets for groups of 20 visitors upwards in the same flight on some routes,” said Nguyen Cong Hoan, deputy director of travel agency Hanoi Redtour. “Now it is the tourist season, so Vietnam Airlines tickets sell out quickly.”

Travel agents in Ho Chi Minh City who are participating in the domestic tourism promotion program launched by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration bought only 2,089 tickets under the special offer for Vietnam Airlines flights departing in July, down from 4,052 in June.

The tickets were booked in May or June, before Vietnam Airlines stopped selling the tickets offered under the domestic tourism promotion program from July 1 to August 15.

Vietnam Airlines had earlier committed to sell a number of tickets on some routes at a 50 percent discount during the year.

Stopping the special offer has increased tour prices, making it difficult for travel agents to lure local customers.

Although Vietnam Airlines brought back its special offer on Thursday, it has not become easier for travel agencies to book the tickets, as they need it for the “rush hour” – weekends or holidays, Hoan said. “We want to book some 2,000 tickets on special offer from now to the end of this year, but only 40 percent of them have been confirmed.”

Luu Duc Ke, director of Hanoi Tourist, said a number of customers have chosen low-priced outbound tours, mainly to Cambodia, Singapore and Thailand, instead of their initially planned domestic tours.

Hoan of Redtour said his company had to book tickets with low cost airline Jetstar Pacific on some routes. However, the number of domestic air routes operated by Jetstar Pacific is much smaller than that of Vietnam Airlines.

When getting air tickets becomes too difficult, his customers traveling between Hanoi and destinations like Nha Trang and Da Nang have to travel by train, or accept a more distant flight route that has fewer passengers.

The national tourism authority has targeted 4.2 million foreign tourists and 27-28 million domestic travelers in 2010.

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Domestic tourists fly the coop

Travel agents have resorted to taking domestic tourists on tours abroad after failing to get air tickets for inbound destinations, especially those on special discount offers.

“It is difficult to book enough air tickets for groups of 20 visitors upwards in the same flight on some routes,” said Nguyen Cong Hoan, deputy director of travel agency Hanoi Redtour. “Now it is the tourist season, so Vietnam Airlines tickets sell out quickly.”

Travel agents in Ho Chi Minh City who are participating in the domestic tourism promotion program launched by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration bought only 2,089 tickets under the special offer for Vietnam Airlines flights departing in July, down from 4,052 in June.

The tickets were booked in May or June, before Vietnam Airlines stopped selling the tickets offered under the domestic tourism promotion program from July 1 to August 15.

Vietnam Airlines had earlier committed to sell a number of tickets on some routes at a 50 percent discount during the year.

Stopping the special offer has increased tour prices, making it difficult for travel agents to lure local customers.

Although Vietnam Airlines brought back its special offer on Thursday, it has not become easier for travel agencies to book the tickets, as they need it for the “rush hour” – weekends or holidays, Hoan said. “We want to book some 2,000 tickets on special offer from now to the end of this year, but only 40 percent of them have been confirmed.”

Luu Duc Ke, director of Hanoi Tourist, said a number of customers have chosen low-priced outbound tours, mainly to Cambodia, Singapore and Thailand, instead of their initially planned domestic tours.

Hoan of Redtour said his company had to book tickets with low cost airline Jetstar Pacific on some routes. However, the number of domestic air routes operated by Jetstar Pacific is much smaller than that of Vietnam Airlines.

When getting air tickets becomes too difficult, his customers traveling between Hanoi and destinations like Nha Trang and Da Nang have to travel by train, or accept a more distant flight route that has fewer passengers.

The national tourism authority has targeted 4.2 million foreign tourists and 27-28 million domestic travelers in 2010.

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Domestic tourists fly the coop

Travel agents have resorted to taking domestic tourists on tours abroad after failing to get air tickets for inbound destinations, especially those on special discount offers.

“It is difficult to book enough air tickets for groups of 20 visitors upwards in the same flight on some routes,” said Nguyen Cong Hoan, deputy director of travel agency Hanoi Redtour. “Now it is the tourist season, so Vietnam Airlines tickets sell out quickly.”

Travel agents in Ho Chi Minh City who are participating in the domestic tourism promotion program launched by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration bought only 2,089 tickets under the special offer for Vietnam Airlines flights departing in July, down from 4,052 in June.

The tickets were booked in May or June, before Vietnam Airlines stopped selling the tickets offered under the domestic tourism promotion program from July 1 to August 15.

Vietnam Airlines had earlier committed to sell a number of tickets on some routes at a 50 percent discount during the year.

Stopping the special offer has increased tour prices, making it difficult for travel agents to lure local customers.

Although Vietnam Airlines brought back its special offer on Thursday, it has not become easier for travel agencies to book the tickets, as they need it for the “rush hour” – weekends or holidays, Hoan said. “We want to book some 2,000 tickets on special offer from now to the end of this year, but only 40 percent of them have been confirmed.”

Luu Duc Ke, director of Hanoi Tourist, said a number of customers have chosen low-priced outbound tours, mainly to Cambodia, Singapore and Thailand, instead of their initially planned domestic tours.

Hoan of Redtour said his company had to book tickets with low cost airline Jetstar Pacific on some routes. However, the number of domestic air routes operated by Jetstar Pacific is much smaller than that of Vietnam Airlines.

When getting air tickets becomes too difficult, his customers traveling between Hanoi and destinations like Nha Trang and Da Nang have to travel by train, or accept a more distant flight route that has fewer passengers.

The national tourism authority has targeted 4.2 million foreign tourists and 27-28 million domestic travelers in 2010.

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Minimalist air-and-hotel tours attract active travellers

by Thuy Hang

Crescent city: The central city of Da Nang is a favourite destination for both Vietnamese and foreign tourists. Vietnam Airlines is offering a Free&Easy tour of the city. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung The wanderers: Located about 30km from Da Nang, the historic town of Hoi An is another tourist favourite. — VNS Photo Doan Tung

Travel addicts have more options after the recent launch of two new Free&Easy tourist packages by the national carrier Vietnam Airlines.

The new packages to Seoul and Pusan, South Korea include an economy-class return ticket, two-night hotel accommodation and round trip airport-hotel transfer.

The airline launched its first Free&Easy package at the end of 2005. It now offers packages to four domestic destinations and 10 locations in Southeast and Northeast Asia.

Domestic packages include tours to Da Nang, Hue, Nha Trang and Da Lat from Ha Noi and HCM City, with prices ranging from VND2.6-5.2 million (US$135-270). The domestic packages are only available to Vietnamese citizens and foreigners living in Viet Nam.

International packages are available for Vietnamese citizens and all foreigners.

The reasonable prices for the Free&Easy packages have attracted many people, including Ngoc Diep, who has taken several trips, mainly to Thailand.

"I've travelled to Bangkok four times over the past two years for less than $200 each trip," she said.

However, due to the current chaotic security, Bangkok is no longer Diep's favourite option. She's considering Seoul or Pusan as her next travel destination.

"Although these packages are more expensive than the Bangkok package, I believe it will be worth it," she said.

University student Khanh Ly and her friends bought Free&Easy packages to Beijing for their summer holiday.

"We didn't worry about the hotel because it was included in the package, leaving us more time to discover Beijing," said the 22-year-old.

Ly said that after she returned from Beijing some of her classmates decided to choose similar vacation packages.

"My friends selected the package to Siem Riep because they longed to visit the World Heritage site Angkor Wat. The reasonable $179 price also influenced their decision," she said.

The package does not include entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

"Although we bought the Free&Easypackage, we still had to pay for the entrance tickets whenever we visited any sightseeing sites, while some tours designed by travel agents include these costs," Dao Mai Trang, a white-collar worker, said.

However, Trang and her friends still have reason to be Free&Easy customers.

"We don't want to wake up early to join pre-planned tour activities. We prefer our own flexible travelling schedule. That's why we have bought Free&Easy tours several times."

According to the Vietnam Airlines Passenger Marketing Department (PMD), 1,800 customers bought the Free&Easy packages from May to July, a 25 per cent increase over the same period last year, with Vietnamese customers making up 70 per cent of that figure.

"The tours to Singapore, Hong Kong and Siem Riep are our customers' favourites," said PMD staff Phi Thi Bich Ngoc.

Similar packages are also offered by tourist agencies, including the New Orient Tour, Viettran Tour and Hanoi Red Tours.

Vietnamtourism Hanoi Joint Stock Co deputy director Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh has offered a tip for those who are considering a Free&Easy package: "In order to get the best price, the traveller should book the tour as far in advance as possible."

Most people who have taken a Free&Easy tour agree with Thanh's advice, saying they had to plan for their trip a couple of months early.

"Although the Free&Easy tour includes many conditions, it was designed for flexibly and can be adjusted to meet the demands of all travellers, including those who wish to take business class on the plane or stay in a five-star hotel," Thanh said.

Vietnam Airlines plans to launch a Free&Easy package to Shanghai by the end of this year. — VNS

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