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Visitors to
Vietnam top 2 million
Vietnamese
attendance figures have passed the 2 million limit in 2000.
In all there were 2,140,000 visitors to Vietnam, a 20% increase
on 1999; 53% of the increase were tourists and of those all
were from the UK and Germany.
Environment
VIETNAM
On 19
May 2001, the Bach Ma national park officially opened as an
ecological tourist zone. Due to the construction of this tourist
zone, the province has built a new road that connects 1A National
Highway with the top of the mountain.
CAMBODIA
A three
month joint study by Fauna & Flora International, the Department
of Forestry and Wildlife, and the Ministry of Environment
has shown that the central Cardamom Mountains are an area
of extraordinary richness in terms of biodiversity and the
prevalence of endangered species. These mountains are one
of the most important areas for biodiversity conservation
in Asia. The long-term value of this area in terms of protection
and conservation should far exceed economic return from current
logging and fishing concession agreements. "Rapid attention
to the situation in the Cardamom Mountains is necessary to
explore effective ways of redressing the current decline in
natural habitat and a recognition of the effects of this on
both the local environment and the downstream effects on the
livelihoods of rural communities. A way forward could be to
take the central Cardamom Mountains out of the concession
system." The most notable announcement at the Consultative
Group was made by Chan Tong Yves, Secretary of State at the
Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). He
declared the "firm intention" of the Cambodian Government
to preserve the central Cardamom Mountain area and take it
out of concession. The donors unanimously welcomed this and
the other progress that had been made. To find out more on
Fauna & Flora Internationals work in South East Asia contact
http://www.fauna-flora.org
THAILAND
Amari's
Angkhang Nature Resort in Doi Angkhang has been awarded Best
Eco Resort by Travel Asia magazine. In addition to a strict
control of pollution and energy conservation, the resort has
set up a "Baht for Better Life" foundation. A "Junior Guide
program" has been implemented, so that the local children
are trained to show around guests who visit their village
as a part of the school curriculum. A show house" has been
built so that guests get an impression of the hilltribe way
of life.
New Hotels:
VIETNAM
The Victoria
Hotel group has announced the opening of Victoria Hoi An Resort.
Situated five kilometres from Hoi An, the fishing village-style
resort features 100 river/sea view rooms, sport and recreation
centre, spa, business centre and a meeting hall.
LAOS
The Sein
Keo Hotel in Luang Prabang is due to open in July 2001. This
hotel is built on the site of a former palace that belonged
to King Phetsalot. Part of the original palace has been restored
and worked into the new modern design of this Thai owned hotel.
All rooms are spacious and decorated by a well-known designer
from Thailand. It will definitely become an alternative 5-star
hotel in Luang Prabang.
BURMA
Conveniently
located within 5 hours drive from Yangon, the magnificent
Bay Of Bengal Golf Resort is everything you can imagine of
a perfect beach resort. The wide range of sports and recreational
facilities, health spa, cascading swimming pool, restaurants
and landscaped gardens add to the service beyond duty offered
by our international team of management and staff.
In Yangon
the new centrally located Savoy Hotel offers Colonial style
boutique five star accommodation close to the Shwedagon Pagoda.
A new resort near Taunggyi (near Inle Lake) called Aye Thar
Yar Golf Resort, located 25 minutes from Taunggyi has now
opened, there are 74 rooms in total. All rooms are in apartment
type cottage style. All apartments have bathroom with shower,
TV, minibar, A/C, 24 hours power supply. The hotel also has
an 18 hole golf course.
The RV
Pandaw 2 will be starting operations from the beginning of
November 2001. The Pandaw 2 will be an enlarged version of
the original Pandaw but will offer more upper deck cabins
all done to the same colonial design of the original.
Adventure:
VIETNAM
Enjoy
an adventurous holiday in the Tonkinese Alps. The old French
hill station, Sa Pa, is located close to the Chinese border
and only one day by train from Hanoi. In the mountains and
valleys surrounding Sa Pa, five different hill tribes are
represented, all with their own distinct language and culture.
They wear their traditional clothes and often their way of
life is hardly affected by modern life-style. You can now
experience this very special part of Vietnam. You will enjoy
the comfort of the Victoria Sa Pa Hotel and during the three-day
trekking trip you have the opportunity to follow the every-day
life of tribe people such as Thay, Giay, Red Dao, Black H`mong
and Xa Pho.
Social
Mekong Club
Address:
P O BOX 820, HP9 2JG, England
Tel: +(44) (0)973 231 446,
http://www.mekongclub.net
The Mekong
Club is an informal, non-political, non-commercial association,
primarily concerned with promotion of the cultures of the
"Mekong Region" (i.e. Viet Nam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and
adjacent regions) in the UK. The Club will act as a forum
for exchange of information and experience by:
- The
promotion of social and cultural events, tutorial groups
and other meetings
- Maintenance
of a world wide web page and an address list for circulars
on 'events and ideas'.
Membership
is open to all, but it is envisaged that the club will be
of particular interest to:
- Expatriates
from the Mekong Region living in the UK, with particular
encouragement given to 2nd and 3rd generation family members.
- British
(and other European) citizens wishing to maintain in contact
with people and issues in the Mekong Region.
- Visitors
from the Region needing temporary support whilst in the
UK.
- Citizens
in the Mekong Region, wishing to develop contacts in the
UK.
The Club
will be organised by a chairperson, secretariat and webmaster,
with a single, annual business meeting combined with a social
event. The secretariat will be responsible for financial stewardship,
with a "minimal" fund consisting of contributions for individual
events and newsletters. An annual membership fee of £5 is
envisaged per adult. For further details, please write or
telephone the above number.
Mekong Club Application:
I/We ……………………………..
would like to join the Mekong Club
My/Our
address is: .......................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
Please
find enclosed the payment for membership of £5 and my/our
voluntary contribution of £… Total: £…. (Cash or cheque payable
to Mekong Club)
Posting
Address: P.O. BOX 820, HP9 2JG.
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