12.02.2009
Development Fee at Delhi Airport
Delhi International
Airport Limited (DIAL) with approval of Government of India has levied Development
Fee at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport with effect from 01st March
2009. We have now received the final confirmation from the concerned authority.
Applicable rates for UDF (user Development Fee) are as follows:
-Rs. 1,300 per person for all overseas and
Indian passengers traveling ex Delhi Airport on any International flight.
- Rs. 200 per person for all overseas and Indian passengers traveling ex Delhi
Airport on any Domestic flight.
- Infant is exempted.
- This amount is to be settled at the GMR counter inside the airport. Payment
will be accepted in cash only (No Credit Card facilities).
12.02.2007
Thailand airport tax increased
Please note that airport tax in Thailand
was increased on 1st February 2007. The International Flight tax increased from
500 Baht to 700 Baht, and the Domestic Flight Tax from 50 Baht to 100 Baht.
Vietnam
Hotel News
Ana Mandara Villas On 20th December 2006, the Evason
Ana Mandara Villas & Six Senses Spa Dalat had its soft opening. The resort
is currently comprised of five accommodation villas, each housing 19 luxurious
suites, studios and rooms. Each villa is a fully restored French colonial style
villa, and has a private dining and living room area. They are staffed by a
butler and a housekeeper to serve guests. During the soft opening, the "Nine"
restaurant, including its wine bar and courtyard cafe, is open for business.
The "Pool Bar" and "Six Senses Spa" are also open, though
the latter is temporarily housed in accommodation suites. The spa will move
to its permanent location in early 2007.
Ana Mandara Villas
In March 2007, the property will expand to a total of 40 rooms for its second
phase of development. Phase three will see the property growing to about 70
suites. No major construction will be apparent to visiting guests during Phases
two and three.
Hotels recognized for excellence
The Furuma Resort Danang The Furama Resort Danang has just been awarded the
"Seven Stars and Stripes Award" for best service. This is the first
time a Vietnamese property has received this prestigious honor. Located in the
central Vietnamese city of Danang, the Furuma has 198 guest rooms, swimming
pools and a business centre.
The Sandy Beach Resort The Sandy Beach Resort in
the central city of Danang has been awarded a 4-star classification, making
it the second luxury resort in Danang after the 5-star Furama Resort. The Sandy
Beach Resort opened in September 2004, and is located conveniently near Danang's
"China Beach."
22.12.2006
Updated tours
Indochina
We are happy to inform you about an update on all
Indochina tours and prices for the upcoming season 2007. Please find detailed
tour descriptions on our website. We are happy to assist you with any special
tour request or service you require.
13.12.2006
New Typhoon
Vietnam
On Monday December 11th, Category 1 Typhoon Utor
moved past the Phillippines and made its way into the East Sea. Currently heading
in a westerly-northwesterly direction, Utor is forcast to weaken rapidly to
a tropical strom as it approaches near Hainan Island and Vietnam's central coastline
on Thursday December 14th. According to meteorologists, there is a possibility
that the storm will change its course of direction as it moves across the South
China Sea.
Local authorities are well prepared for the storm. Provinces from Quang Ninh
in the north to Ca Mau in the south have been put on high alert for heavy rains
and flooding. There is a possibility of flight cancellations in the affected
areas.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take immediate step to
amend our client's programme should the storm create any difficulties.
22.11.2006
Asia News
Myanmar - Air Bagan launches international flights
In the first week of January 2007, Air Bagan
will begin international flights to Kunming three times weekly (on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays), followed by routes to Bangkok and Singapore later
in the same month. It will also add flights to Siem Reap and later expand services
to Osaka and Incheon.
The airline has acquired an Airbus A-310
with a passenger capacity of 228, which arrived at Yangon International Airport
in late October.Another A-310 and a Fokker-100 will arrive in November 2007,
which will give the Air Bagan a total of nine aircraft.
Myanmar - RV Pandaw 1947 Cruice
For the 2006-2007 season, all Pandaw 1947 cruises from Bagan will depart from
the Aye Yar jetty instead of Shwe Kunchar jetty. The accessibility is significantly
improved, especially for the elder passengers. The walking distance between
the car park area is reduced and the river bank is less steep than at Shwe Kunchar
jetty.
Vietnam - Victoria Hotels
Victoria Hotels & Resorts has been given the
green light to begin construction on a 25 million USD resort on Phu Quoc Island.
When it is completed, the resort will house 50 villas and 30 bungalows over
20 hectares.
Laos - New fees for visa-on-arrivals
Effective November, visa-on-arrival fees
for entering all entry points to Laos have been modified. Different fees will
be applied to tourists depending on their nationality.
Nationals from East Europe, including Poland,
the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Ukraine, Slovenia and Croatia, will
be charged 30 USD. The 30 USD visa-on-arrival fee also applies to citizens from
Indonesia, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
- Chinese and Vietnamese citizens will be charged 20 USD.
- 31 USD will be applied to nationals from Sweden and Russia. * Nationals from
the United States, Austria, England, Norway, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal,
Greece, Spain, Ireland, Switzerland and Denmark will be charged 35 USD.
- Fees for tourists from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan and
Nepal are 40 USD.
-The fee for Canadians is 42 USD.
Vietnam Hotel News
01.09.2006
Victoria Makeover in Phan Thiet
The Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort &
SpaThe Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & Spa has announced that renovations
and construction of its facilities have been completed. The resort's 59 sea
view, family and deluxe bungalows and one private pool villa have been expanded
and now feature more spacious bathrooms and private gardens with rain shower,
as well as terraces equipped with large living space, lounge chairs and umbrellas.
A second infinity-edge swimming pool has been added which overlooks the East
Sea, and also a new restaurant and bar.
Chikungunya Virus
14.07.2006
Seychelles
Good news from the Seychelles - The Seychelles Ministry of Health
and Social Services has announced, there are no more suspected cases for more
than 2 months.
Link
to announcement
Airline News
04.07.2006
Lao Airlines adds flights
On 4th October Lao Airlines will reinstate two routes; three
weekly flights between Luang Prabang and Bangkok and two weekly flights between
Phnom Penh and Vientiane, with a stopover in Pakse. Two new routes will also
be introduced, including twice weekly Luang Prabang and Hanoi services available
on 29th October, and on 30th October three times weekly flights between Luang
Prabang and Siem Reap, which stops in Pakse.
CAMBODIA
Asiana flies to Phnom Penh
By the end of the year, Asiana Airlines will
being offering flights between Phnom Penh and Seoul.
Visa News
28.04.2006
Single visa for Cambodia and Thailand
By July, travellers can visit both Cambodia and Thailand with
one single visa. Officials from the two countries will meet again in May to
decide on the fees and how it will be divided. This initiative is likely to
expand to include other countries in South-East Asia, including Vietnam, Cambodia,
Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China.
Myanmar
Hotel renovations
In Kyaiktiyo, the Golden Rock Hotel will be closed from 1st June
to 30th September for renovations, while the Mountain Top Hotel will remain
open and expand its facilities to 30 guest rooms by December.
Some hotels in Inle Lake will be closed for renovations during the rainy season,
including Serenity Inle from 1st to 31st May, Inle Regal Resort from now until
30th June, Golden Island Cottages 1 from 16th June to 16th August, and Inle
Inn in Pindaya for the whole month of June. The Inle Princess Resort has announced
that it will be closed from 1st June to 14th July, in order to renovate nine
garden view chalets into private lake chalets. Nearby ponds will be transformed
into a private lake and new balconies will be set up to increase the quality
and views of the chalets.
Due to heavy monsoon rains on the coast, almost all hotels on Ngwe Saung and
Ngapali beaches will close for the period from mid-May to the end of September
Airline News
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways will increase flights between Bangkok and Doha
from 10 weekly flights to 14 flights a week on 25th June.
Vietnam
24.04.2006
Miscellaneous Airport taxes increase since the 15th of April 06
Saigon Airport Authority has decided to increase the International
airport tax in Saigon from 12 USD to 14 USD per pax as this is currently the
case in Hanoi. As usual, children
from 2 to 12 years old have to pay only 50% of the adult fare. The tax is not
applicable for infant under 2 years old. Domestic airport tax increased from
25.000 VND/pax to 30.000 VND/pax for Hanoi, Danang and HCMC's Airport (included
in the air ticket price).
Airline News
04.04.2006
Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines has increased its Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City service
to 212 flights each week in response to demand from clients. On 21st June, the
airline will also add an extra flight to its once-weekly Ho Chi Minh City-Frankfurt
service.
Vietnam
04.04.2006
NEW: Direct Train between Saigon and Phan Thiet
Starting on 29 April 2006, there will be a daily train service
between Saigon and Phan Thiet, departing Saigon at 07.30 and arriving in Phan
Thiet at 11.20. The return leg departs Phan Thiet at 13.45, arriving in Saigon
at 18.00. Shuttle bus services are available from the Phan Thiet train station
to the Mui Ne area.
Myanmar
01.04.2006
IFC Pandaw relaunch
After an absence of one season, the Irawaddy
Flotilla Company will relaunch its short river cruises between Pagan and Mandalay.There
are 53 departures planned from November 2006 to March 2007 with the 24-cabin
Pandaw II. Please contact us for detailed programmes, departure schedules and
prices.
Vietnam
01.02.2006
Mui Ne Beach conditions
Over the two months, excessive wind and wave action has caused
a section of the beachfront at Mui Ne to undergo erosion. As a preventative
measure, hotels along this stretch of beach have brought in additional sand
and erected sandbag barriers. The affected hotels are: Seahorse Resort,The
Beach Resort, Ocean Star Resort and Sailing Club. Previously, Bon Bien Resort
and Cham Villas were also affected, but the beach there has since returned to
normal. Of course, we and the hotels
have done everything in our power to make sure that our clients are comfortable;
however, many of our visitors have been understandably disappointed at the situation
with the beach. At high tide, the beachfront is quite narrow, and the necessary
presence of plastic sandbags can be unsightly. We hope that the situation is
temporary, and will return to normal as the weather patterns shift.
Myanmar
07.11.2005
Thandwe Airport - Ngapali Beach
We would like to inform you that Thandwe Airport, near Ngapali
Beach in Myanmar, will be partially closed on certain days from 1st of February
through April 2005, due to construction works. The airport will operate according
to the following schedule, for an estimated total of 10 weeks while the construction
is ongoing.
Monday: Closed after 15.00 - flights will operate
in the mornings and early afternoon
Tuesday: Closed all day
Wednesday: Closed all day
Thursday: Closed until 11.00 - flights will operate in the afternoons.
Friday: Open
Saturday: Open
Sunday: Open
Our team is currently checking all affected bookings
and attempting to rebook flights without disruption to the itinerary, where
possible. If it is necessary to make adjustments to existing bookings, then
we will get back to you as soon as possible with suggested alternatives.
Vietnam Typhoon
04.11.2005
We are happy to report that the situation has returned
to normal after the typhoon which reached Central Vietnam on Tuesday 1 November.
Since Wednesday 2 November, all flights have been operating as normal, all roads
reopened, and all trains running.
In Hue, there was some flooding immediately afterwards as a result of the heavy
rains, but by Friday morning, the streets were clear. All boat trips and sightseeing
can be done as usual. To the south, Hoi An and Danang experienced no flooding
at all. Guests who had been evacuated from beachfront resorts as a precautionary
measure were able to return the next evening, and none of the hotels experienced
major damage.
Airline News
02.11.2005
More flights from Frankfurt to Saigon on Vietnam
Airlines in 2006. For the next high season, Vietnam Airlines plans to add two
flights on their direct route between Frankfurt and Saigon, making a total of
three flights weekly, starting November 2006.
Bangkok Airways Launches Flights from Hong Kong to Cambodia. Starting 28 October, Bangkok Airways is flying a circular routing from Hong Kong - Siem Reap - Phnom Penh - Hong Kong on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, please contact your sales manager.
China Airlines introduces flights to Phnom Penh.
China Airlines has announced the launch of thrice weekly services between Taipei
and Phnom Penh, starting November 15 and departing on Tuesdays, Fridays and
Saturdays.
Concerns on the recent storm named Damrey in Vietnam
28.09.2005
Please be advised that the storm has arrived
in Vietnam on Monday night Sept 26th and the strength of storm winds weakened
as the weather system crossed the region and entered Laos yesterday afternoon
Sept 27th
This tropical storm passed through the northern and central provinces leaving
one dead, nine injured and four missing. In certain areas of Nghe An, Quang
Ninh, Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, people evacuated in advance of the storm but they
have been able to return home after one night
As far as our clients concerned, there were some modifications of programs due
to flight delays yesterday (Hanoi airport closed for 4 hours yesterday morning)
and Halong Bay has been closed for 2 days 26 & 27 of Sept 05 but it has
been re-opened for visits from today Sept 28th .
Hurricane Emily
Grenada's Tourism Product in Tact
18.08.2005
The Grenada Board of Tourism - News Release
On July 13, 2005 Hurricane Emily - a category one system, impacted on Grenada.
Its passage did not result in any damages to the hotel plant. Consequently,
all hotels are functioning as normal as well as the established tourist sites
and attractions, restaurants and dive sites. Grenada's Carnival and the Carriacou
Regatta will also be held as planned.
It is anticipated that within the next 24 to 48 hours all public utilities in
Grenada will be fully functional. Already electricity, water and telephone services
have been restored to most households. The Point Salines International Airport
is opened and flights are operationing on schedule. Banks, financial institutions,
supermarkets, hospitals, pharmacies, and other businesses have likewise resumed
normal operations.
Overall, the rebuilding and refurbishment plans which have been in progress
continue as planned. Accordingly, by the end of 2005, 90% of Grenada's hotel
rooms will be available for occupancy.
According to Minister of Tourism Senator Brenda Hood, "The resort areas
in the southern parts of the country are fully operational, and we will continue
to work diligently with Carriacou and Petit Martinique to prepare for the upcoming
season. Given the known resilience and positive attitudes of the Grenadian people,
we are confident that Grenada's tourism product will maintain its high quality
and character".
Airlines News
Direct flights to Frankfurt begin
15.07.2005
Vietnam Airlines will officially open its
direct air route to Frankfurt, Germany on July 4. The direct route to Frankfurt
will replace existing flights with a stop-over in Moscow, thus reducing travel
time by nearly five hours.
There will be two weekly flights from Hanoi on Mondays and Thursdays and one
flight from Ho Chi Minh City on Saturdays, operating Boeing 777s. Return flights
to Hanoi will be on Mondays and Fridays, and to Ho Chi Minh City on Sundays.
Project of flight to link Nha Trang & Bangkok
Thai Airways is expected to launch an air
route from Ho Chi Minh City via Cam Ranh Peninsula near Nha Trang to Bangkok,
said the provincial chairman of the People's Committee at a meeting with Ho
Chi Minh City leader.
Vietnam
New motorway under construction
12.07.2005
A New motorway linking Dalat and Nha Trang is currently under
construction and should be finished in December. This new route will go North-East
of Dalat to reach Nha Trang. The new route will help to shorten the present
distance between Dalat and Nha Trang and to avoid a 20-km section of dangerous
motorway traversing the Ngoan Muc Pass located between Dalat and Phan Rang.
Airline schedules
01.06.2005
In late October, Bangkok Airways will begin
flying between Bangkok and Koh Samui, with a stopover in Trat, four times weekly.
The airline will also increase its existing Bangkok and Trat route to three
times daily in October.
Dragonair, Hong Kong's regional airline,
will be offering direct charter flights between Phuket and Hong Kong from 23rd
July to 8th August.
In October, Thai Airways International will
commence direct flights between Bangkok and Los Angeles three times a week.
This service comes on the heels of the new Bangkok and New York route that was
instated in May. The airline has also signed a code share agreement with Air
Madagascar for flights between Bangkok and Antananarivo.
Cambodia
Angkor Wat fee increase rejected
26.06.2005
The Apsara Authority has decided to abandon
its plans to increase entrance fees for Angkor Wat by three US dollars; due
to protests from the travel industry. The fees will remain unchanged at 20 USD
a day, 40 USD for three days and 60 USD for one week.
Airlines News
Flights take off
25.06.2005
Beginning 29th July, Vietnam Airlines will
begin flying to and from Ho Chi Minh City and Nagoya three times a week on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays. The airline has also welcomed a Boeing 777 to its fleet;
the aircraft will be used for the new direct flight to Frankfurt.
Officials from Vietnam and Thailand met to discuss
the possibility of commencing a flight that would connect Ho Chi Minh City and
Bangkok with the Cam Ranh Airport in central Vietnam. The airport currently
only serves domestic flights and officials are hopeful that an international
link will boost tourist numbers in the region.
Airlines News
11.08.2004
United Airlines will launch flights between
San Francisco - Ho Chi MInh City via Hong Kong starting from 9 December 2004.
Vietnam Airlines has added three weekly flights from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh
City. The new flights depart on Thuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
From 30 July 2004, CR Airways has started charter services between Hong Kong
and Danang. Flights are available twice a month.
Airport News
11.08.2004
Effective from 1 June 2004, there will be
no Immigration and Customs check counters for domestic flights at Yangon airport.
Vietnam/ Hotel News
11.08.2004
We are pleased to announce the opening of a new resort, Pho Hoi Riverside Resort, in Hoi An. This 3-star property has opened with 60 rooms, either facing the river, garden or countryside. The hotel offers five room categories; Japanese, Deluxe, Special, First Class and Standard.
Vietnam/ Imperial Garden Hotel
11.08.2004
In Hue, a new two star Imperial Garden Hotel has opened with 37 rooms altogether. It is located near the Nguyen Dynasty Citadel, a 20-minute short drive from Phu Bai Airport and 3-minute drive to the Railway station. The hotel facility include a restaurant with 200 seats offering European and Asian cuisine and 2 banquet rooms accomodating from 50 to 200 persons.
Cambodia/ Hotel News
11.08.2004
We are pleased to announce the opening of Le Meridien Angkor Hotel in Siem Reap in September 2004. This 223 room hotel is located in the center of Siem Reap, next to Angkor Wat. The hotel facilities include a bar, a lobby lounge, a ballroom, meeting rooms, a business center, a health club and a spa.
Cambodia/ Bayon Hotel
11.08.2004
Effective from July 21, 2004, Bayon Hotel in Phnom Penh has closed all services and operations.
Laos/ Hotel News
11.08.2004
We are pleased to announce the opening of several new hotels in Laos. A new 2-3 Star guesthouse in Vientiane, Vayakorn Guesthouse has opened with two room categorie; deluxe and Junior Suite.
In Luang Prabang, Haysoke Hotel has opened with 22 rooms in three different standard classes: standard rooms, superior rooms and deluxe rooms. All rooms have TV, mini bars, air conditioning and telephone. It also has a small restaurant with a professional cook, specialising in local and western cuisine. Located on the Phou Vao Road, the new Phou Vao Gueshouse has 18 rooms and 2 VIP rooms with TV, air conditioning and telephone.
On 1 December 2004, Luang Prabang will witness the opening of a new resort, Lao Spirit Resort. It is located about 12 km from the town center. The rooms have big balconys and views of the Khan river and the mountains. Its facilities include a restaurant and a massage house, both located in original traditional wooden Lao style houses. The resort also offers a unique experience of elephant rides from the resort to Tad Sae waterfall and/or a local Khmu minority village.
In Oudomxay, a new hotel Phouxay has opened with 26 rooms with a small restaurant. This hotel is located around a green yard just outside the town center. A new hotel, Vansana Hotel Xieng Khuang, managed by Vansana Hotel Vientiane has opened with well-equipped standard rooms and four executive suites. The hotel is located just outside the town center on a hill overlooking the town. By 2006, the hotel will have an additional of 20 rooms and a swimming pool.
Myanmar/ Hotel News
11.08.2004
Bagan Hotel in Bagan is undergoing construction to renovate all volume rooms with additional walls, new floor, new interior design and new bathroom.
Shwe Inn Tha Hotel in Inle Lake is under construction and is expected to finish at the end of August 2004. The hotel is adding an additional 4 superior room and 2 standard rooms. For a detailes summary of hotel constructions in our countries, please check our Travel Information Exchange Website.
Myanmar
24.05.2004
We are pleased to offer a new boat excursion on the Irrawaddy, which will start operations in Mandalay from September onwards. This new service, 'The Boat', will run on a fixed daily schedule between the four ancient capitals, Mandalay - Mingun - Mandalay - Ava - Sagaing - Mandalay, in one day with half board meal served on board. Since the boat runs on a fixed schedule daily, travelers can opt to book parts of the journey with the return journey overland.
Silver Beach Hotel, Ngapali
17.05.2004
Silver Beach in Ngapali will close their operations from 1 June to 15 September 2004.
Luangsay Cruise
12.05.2004
We are pleased to announce that Luangsay Cruise have resumed all their operations as normal. The unusually low water levels in the Mekong this year have lifted and the seasonal increase in water levels allows Luangsay boats to run through the Mekong without further difficulties.
Hotels Laos
10.05.2004
With the opening of two
beautiful, new hotels in Vang Vieng, tourists can enjoy lodging in simple, local
style bungalows made of brick, wood and bamboo. The Xayoh Riverside Bungalows
are semi-detached bungalows located near the waterfront. It is tastefully
designed with air conditioning in
every room and a bar with the view of the riverfront. And the Moradok Heritage
Bungalows is on the lope towards the river and it is slightly smaller than the
Xayoh Riverside Bungalows.
Hotels Saigon
10.05.2004
We are pleased to inform that Duxton Hotel Saigon is adding a swimming pool to their hotel. The new swimming pool is a lap pool with a wooden pool deck. The construction is on the third floor, the sun deck floor, of the hotel building and working hours are from 08.30 am to 5.00 pm. It is expected to be completed by 30 June 2004.
Nha Trang Airport
24.04.2004
We have just been informed by Vietnam Airlines that Nha Trang airport will be closed for civil aviation as of 19 May 2004. From that date onwards, all flight services will be redirected to the new airport, Cam Ranh Airport. The distance between Cam Ranh and Nha Trang is approximately 50 km and transfer times will be about one hour.
Myanmar, Balloons over Bagan
02.03.2004
Balloons over Bagan suspends operation. Balloons over Bagan will not operate over the summer season, from 01 April until 04 October 2004.
Myanmar Visa
02.03.2004
Myanmar introduces online visas. The
Myanmar government has introduced a new online visa services -- travellers to Myanmar can now apply for their visas at
www.visa.gov.mm. On this site, customers can submit their application and track the approval process, rather
than going to their nearest consulate or embassy. This visas can only be used at Yangon or Mandalay
International Airports.
While we are watching these developments with great interest, we still caution
our clients to obtain their visas beforehand from the embassy. At the moment, this project is in its trial
phase, and we can expect some delays and hiccups as they streamline procedures. We will keep monitoring
this service closely and keep you informed.
Cambodia Boats
02.03.2004
Mekong Express Boat suspends services for low season. The Mekong Express has temporarily suspended their boat service between Phnom Penh to Siem Reap due to low water levels in the Tonlé Sap lake and river. Starting from 20 March 2004, they will offer a bus service between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, using modern of 45 seat buses.
Vietnam Visa
02.03.2004
Vietnam has further opened its visa policy, establishing visa-on-arrival facilities at the overland border crossings of Vinh Xuong (near Chau Doc) and Lao Cai. Now, visitors travelling by river between Phnom Penh and Chau Doc can get visa on arrival. However, for the time being, we still recommend that clients obtain visas from the embassy, as the fastest and most trouble-free method for crossing into Vietnam. We'll continue to keep you posted as these checkpoints streamline their procedures for visa on arrival.
Cambodia
02.03.2004
Cambodia boasts a new airline. A new airline has entered the field in Cambodia. Cambodian First Airlines celebrated its inaugural flight between Singapore and Phnom Penh on 25 February 2004. They are starting by offering regular flights between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, on their Airbus 320. Eventually, they plan to include Ho Chi Minh and Beijing in their routing. We'll keep you informed of their progress and any new developments in the airline sector in Indochina.
Bird Flu
16.01.2004
You might most probably be aware of the bird flu outbreak currently in Vietnam and some other Asian countries.
In order to give you the most updated information and latest news on what
happens in Vietnam, from today,
we will update you on this virus.
Some information on bird flu in poultry :
Avian influenza (often called bird flu) do not normally infect other species than birds and pigs.
The outbreak of bird flu in poultry was known in HongKong in 1997 and most recently in Vietnam, South Korea and
Japan.
Link between bird flu at poultry and human beings:
The first infection of humans with this virus occurred in Hong Kong in 1997 and most recently, laboratory tests
confirmed the presence of H5N1 avian influenza virus in human cases of severe respiratory disease on 3 dead cases in
the northern part of Vietnam.
Comments from the official health authorities
With a total of 18 persons infected with virus type A upto now, it can not be considered it as an epidemic, according
to Professor Long, director of the Central Hygiene and Epidemiology Institute.
However,he also mentioned that " we are seeking methods to control it and the deadly virus - highly contagious among
chicken - is believed to spread to humans through contacts with infected birds. There have been no reports of the disease
spreading from person to person. The suspected human cases have been in northern provinces of Vietnam
,although
the bulk of bird infections have occurred in the country's south"
WHO 's representative in Vietnam, Pascale Borudon " There was a lot of awareness about the strong need to work
quickly , with Vietnamese officials taking the matter very seriously"
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) representative in Hanoi said the authorities did their best to keep the
situation under control with the means available
Latest news: three relatives of the recent decease in Thai Binh (northern province) got flu but all of them are negative
with virus H5N1, means they are not infected by the bird flu virus.
In summary, till now, there're still no certainty that there is a direct transmission of bird flu virus from chickens to
humans and from infected persons to healthy persons.
Hopefully we will have more clearer positive conclusion in the next coming days !
Hotels Myanmar
09.01.2004
New Garden Theater at Mandalay Hill Resort. The Mandalay Hill resort has opened its
Kinsana Garden Theater, which offers a traditional Burmese dinner to accompany their "Dance from
Dynasties" show, which has been specially choreographed to highlight the development of Burmese
history, dance and music through the centuries. Set in a beautiful garden setting, lit only by oil lamps,
this presentation is done very tastefully and is highly recommended for tours which include Mandalay.
Thazin Garden closed for renovation. Hotel Thazin Garden in Bagan is closed for renovation
from now untill April 2004. They will be renovating the bar, beauty parlour and some rooms.
Hotels Cambodia
03.01.2004
New hotel in Rattanakiri. A new hotel, Rattanak Hotel, opened in Rattanakiri about 1 km from the
airport and 50 meter from the city center. For more information, please contact us.
Banteay Srey Hotel under renovation. As of now, Banteay Srey Hotel is closed for renovation
until further notice.