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July 2004
Important Travel InformationThailand NEW!
The Underground Train in Bangkok Cambodia All aboard the Express The Mekong Express boat resumed in July and will continue operations until the end of March 2005. The odd day s (1, 3, 5, 7 will be from PNH to REP and the even days (2, 4, 6) will be from REP to PNH. On the 31st of the month, the Mekong Express boat will run a round-trip from PNH-REP-PNH. Myanmar Visas General Interest Vietnam Sea tourism
makes a splash Myanmar New Himalayan
foothills resort will be BIG on adventure Environment
Eight endangered Mekong River Dolphins have died so far this year,
half the number that died in all of 2003, an expert said Sunday.
Endangered
Storks Saved in Tay Ninh
Rare Gibbon Found in Lam Dong France
Provides EUR 469,000 for Wild Bull Preservation in Vietnam
Eld's Deer found in dry dipterocarp forests in Lao PDR Green
Corridor project launched in Vietnam The Green Corridor is situated between Phong Dien Nature Reserve and Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien Hue province in Vietnam. It covers an area of 134,000 ha, comprising the three districts of A Luoi, Nam Dong, and Huong Thuy. The area's forests are of the highest global conservation importance and are critical to the integrity of the wider landscape and the Annamites ecoregion. Vietnam's rich
evergreen forests are a valuable asset, providing timber and other
products for local communities, protecting watersheds, and ensuring
farmers have supplies of water for farming. They are also resource
for ecotourism and other income-generating activities. The forests
support unique and rare species, many of which are threatened and
found nowhere else in the world. However, much of this forest is
lost or degraded by illegal logging, encroachment and fire; in addition
the wildlife is threatened by illegal hunting and an unsustainable
wildlife trade. However, the
area's biodiversity is under a number of major threats: unsustainable
extraction of plants and animals for local consumption and the wildlife
trade, forest fires, and loss of forest habitat from forest clearance
and encroachment by agriculture. The project
aims to reduce the levels of exploitation and halt the loss of critical
species and forest habitat through effective control mechanisms
and strengthened capacity for conservation management. It will establish
and maintain the productive landscape of the Green Corridor through
locally initiated protection, management and restoration initiatives.
Another outcome of the project is that the biodiversity value of
the Green Corridor will be secured through development of informed
policies and responsible planning measures which can be replicated
at other sites. The Green Corridor
project will work in a partnership with relevant programmes of the
Vietnamese government such as the Five Million Hectare Reforestation
Programme, the Central Annamites Conservation Action Plan, and other
projects and programmes of international organisations to effectively
conserve the Green Corridor area. The project will use existing
institutions and mechanisms in the project area for implementation
to ensure that institutional sustainability will be secured. The
project will also work with forest managers, local communities and
provincial government, including sectoral development planners.
In his opening
speech at the ceremony, Mr Thien emphasised the importance of biodiversity
of the Green Corridor area and expressed his high appreciation of
the project, first jointly initiated by WWF Indochina and the Thua
Thien Hue Forest Protection Department. Mr Thien also expressed
the strong commitment of the Provincial People's Committee towards
working closely with and supporting the project management board
to achieve the project goal and objectives. WWF is now testing and applying a number of approaches and tools for implementing landscape-based conservation in Quang Nam province, in forest areas contiguous with the Green Corridor. The lessons learned from this project and other similar projects in Vietnam and the region have been used in the design of the Green Corridor project. "Without doubt, the project will be a bold and significant step in providing additional resources to demonstrate that by improving the management of productive landscape, global targets can be met while sustaining benefits to local communities," said Eric Coull from WWF Indochina. "WWF is committed to be a learning organisation by sharing knowledge and responsibility to preserve, protect and indeed increase Vietnam's forest cover for the best overall benefit." Hotels & RestaurantsVietnam Accor on the
move Vinasun builds
resorts First for Hoi
An Myanmar Managing
Director's Hotel Picks in Myanmar Bagan: Thiripyitsaya Hotel. Fabulous location on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Local-style bungalow hotel with extensive gardens and spa. The best in Bagan. River view suites are especially recommended. Mandalay: Sedona Hotel. Modern, central first-class hotel overlooking the Mandalay mould and the Mandalay Palace. Inle Lake: Inle Princess Resort. Unbeatable charm on the lake shore. Each chalet has its own terrace overlooking the lake or garden. Ngapali Beach: Sandoway Villas at Sandoway Resort. The resort opened in 2000 and in February this year added the Sandoway Villas. The most fashionable resort in Myanmar's most prestigious beach location has an original, contemporary design embracing five two-storey beachfront cottages and 15 village cottages. Eleven deluxe rooms of the same design and amenities as the village cottages are terraced facing the garden. No TV. No in-room telephones. No newspapers. Hey, this is a seriously peaceful place. Note: Sandoway Resort is closed from mid-May to mid-October. Cambodia The Lotus Angkor
Hotel located on road No 6 is due to open in November with 72 rooms
in the first stage. An additional 36 rooms will be added February
2005. The 108 rooms will be composed of eight suites and 100 large
deluxe rooms (40sqm) with traditional Cambodian style decoration. Managing Director's
hotel picks in Cambodia Siem Reap: Villa
Loti is a new yet traditional Khmer villa. An elegant wood and brick
country house of just 10 rooms. Located along the Siem Reap River
on the way to the Angkor temple, it is a stone's throw from the
old market. La Villa Loti is decorated with authentic Khmer furniture. Victoria Angkor hotel's graceful colonial architecture of the 1930s provides a sense of peaceful and tranquillity. Ideally located in the heart of Siem Reap facing the Royal gardens, the Hotel Victoria Angkor is a new deluxe hotel that belongs to the Victoria Group. The La Residence d'Angkor (previously Pansea Angkor) is a deluxe, boutique hotel which features fascinating Khmer architecture. Located on the Siem Reap River, it is surrounded by majestic old trees. A wonderful and highly recommended address in Siem Reap. This hotel also provides a luxurious swimming pool. The Pansea Angkor is a haven of tranquillity, comfort, artistry and beauty. Sofitel Royal
Angkor brings world-class accommodation and facilities to the magnificent
Angkor World Heritage site. The resort is the closest hotel to the
monument complex. Fine cuisine, a luxurious health spa and swimming
pool, gracious rooms and suites, and impeccable service. The perfect
place to stay and relax after a visit of Angkor Wat for FIT or group.
Thailand Chiang Mai: Stay at the Tamarind Village, a very cosy place right downtown, within walking distance of every major temple, the night market, the river, restaurants etc. The Tamarind Village is "only" a 3-star resort but is built like a temple compound, with simple neo-Thai style rooms. This would be our choice of accommodation for a short stay in the northern capital. Pansea hotels
and resorts in Asia is now promoted under the Pansea Orient-Express
Hotels banner TravelMyanmar From
October 2004 there will be direct flights from Bagan and Heho (Inle
Lake) to Ngapali Beach, avoiding time-consuming transit through
Yangon airport. Cambodia From
July 1 to August 31, Siem Reap Airways has suspend the flight FT
702 between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (12:15/13:00) and FT 995 between
Siem Reap and Phnom Penh (13:35/14:20) (Except on August 6/10/14/16/20). SocialMekong ClubAddress: P O
BOX 820, HP9 2JG, England 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:
Membership is open to all, but it is envisaged that the club will be of particular interest to:
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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