Kayaking in Halong Bay: Often in conjunction with luxury cruises, kayaking in Halong Bay means going through low caves at low tide to get to the collapsed center of huge limestone and volcanic rings, where walls of jungle vegetation tower hundreds of feet overhead and crawl with monkeys, snakes, and rare animals. Kayaks are the only way to get up close. ....

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HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam – American Airlines and Vietnam Airlines are set to begin implementing their codeshare agreement, it was announced today at an event in Ho Chi Minh City. The two airlines plan to implement their codeshare services in phases.


In the first phase, codesharing will be offered beginning April 17, 2006 between the United States and Japan, Europe, with Vietnam Airlines placing its “VN” designator code on American Airlines flights between Tokyo, Osaka, Paris, Frankfurt and the U.S., which connect with Vietnam Airlines flights to/from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airlines will also put its code on seven of American’s domestic US. Routes beyond Dallas/Fort Worth.
In the second phase, American Airlines will place its “AA” designator code on Vietnam Airlines’ services from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo, Osaka, Paris and Frankfurt. Timing of the second phase will be determined following completion of an FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) audit of CAAV (Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam), a routine part of the approval process.
“Together with the rapid growth of the bilateral commercial and investment relations between the U.S and Vietnam, the air traffic has radically grown over recent years”, said Nguyen Xuan Hien, President & CEO, Vietnam Airlines, “Entering codeshare agreement with American Airlines, Vietnam Airlines will have more services offering to businessmen of the two countries, and especially to more than one million ethnic Vietnamese Oversea in the U.S (the Viet Kieu ), as well as strengthening the image of our Vietnam Airlines”, he added.
“As American expands and strengthens its international network, the growth potential across Asia is enormous,” said Theo Panagiotoulias, American Airlines Managing Director Pacific. “With Vietnam among the most popular destinations for air travel in Asia, we are pleased to be the U.S. partner to Vietnam Airlines in serving this key market. We expect continued growth in passenger traffic between the United States and Vietnam, which has experienced very significant gains in recent years.”

$1 from every trip booked with Marco Polo Travel between now and the end of 2006 will go towards of MARCO POLO FOUDATION for the children of Ha giang provice , Quan Ba district, 500km from Hanoi. The children of primary shool in there need clothes, mattresses and blankets for sleeping.Your holiday can make a difference. Currently 43 children are sharing 15 double beds – without mattresses – only wooden boards to sleep on. As the patron sponsor of Quan Ba district, Marco Polo Travel are sponsoring a nutritional program on a year basis, but we want to do more. And with your help we can. Alternatively, you can help us support this fundraising by contacting us directly with donations. Every dollar donated goes directly to improving the basic living conditions of this shool. We welcome travelers to visit the shool on your holiday, the children love to have visitors to play with and practice their English with. Contact us for more information on how you can help. www.marcopoloasia.com

The Lang Co sea beach and the Bach Ma National Park in the central coastal province of Thua Thien-Hue are under consideration for the world's most beautiful bay club member and ecological reserve.


As part of this process, the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Ministry of Culture and Information have paid a field trip to these sites.

The Bach Ma National Park, 60 km south of Hue city, is 1,450 m above sea level has a temperate climate. The park boasts 10,000 ha of tropical forests, which are home to over 1,400 species of plants, of which 86 are considered as being endangered.

The park is also home to a number of rare timber trees such as Barian king-wood and Aquilaria (a kind of sweet smelling wood). Scientists have also found 931 species of animal living in the park.

Of them 68 were included in the world's red-book, including the starred Rheinart's pheasant and black gibbon with white cheeks. Scientists have also discovered several new species typical to the park, including Sao La; a wild bovine animal, and Vooc; a new and rare species of Lungar.

Meanwhile, the Lang Co sea beach which stretches 10 km is just 24 km away from the Bach Ma National Park. With smooth white sand, pure water and an average temperature of 25 degree Celsius in summer, the Lang Co sea beach, hemmed in by forests and mountains, is an ideal resort for water sports such as sea diving.