A collection of more than 50 Ao dai (Vietnam’s traditional dress) designed by Duc Hung left a deep impression at the Vietnamese festival in Japan recently.

The number of international arrivals by sea plummeted in the first eight months of this year by 54 percent to 52,300 tourists, according to a tourism official.

Hanoi’s authorities are set to launch a ceremony to announce the National Tourism Year 2010 and commemorate the 999th anniversary of the Thang Long-Hanoi on October 10, 2009.

While many of the world’s airlines have had to cut routes and staff from their rosters over the past 18 months, budget airlines have been growing quicker than ever.

Some 150 international travel firms and 300 businesses and organizations will take part in the annual International Travel Expo 2009 in Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) from October 1 to 3.

Three tourism hubs from the central and southern regions signed a deal to work together on developing their industries during 2009-2012.

“Vietnamese-Japanese Mid-Autumn Festival 2009” will be held at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology from September 25 - 27. The event is a good opportunity for cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Japan.

Quang Nam Tourism and Culture Week will take place in Vietnam Art Culture Exhibition Centre, 2 Hoa Lu St, Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi from November 20 to 23, 2009.

Old Hanoi, with its distinctive east-meet-west architecture, has been brought back to life with three-dimensional computer imagery and the dedication of a group of friends.

Three cities in Vietnam have been ranked among the top ten tourism destinations in Asia by a Hong Kong tourism magazine.