The plan runs parallel with the VNAT’s strategy to promote Vietnam tourism through foreign mass media like the BBC, and the UNESCO’s World Heritage Magazine. Double-decker buses will be effective in helping the VNAT save costs in introducing Vietnam’s image to foreign countries.

Vietnam welcomed 370,000 foreigners in January, down 11.9% in comparison with the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office.

Numbers of visitors from the Republic of Korea and China fell significantly, but those from France rose 51.1%, Malaysia, 23.3% and Singapore, 26.6%

The city’s central streets of Nguyen Hue, Le Loi and Dong Khoi will be lit for Christmas and New Year from December 18, 2008 to January 4, 2009 and for Tet from January 18, 2009 to February 14, 2009.

Nguyen Hue Street will host the Flower Street Festival on January 23-28, 2009 during Tet.

With this year’s theme of Vung Tin (Keeping Faith), local authorities want to show the city’s determination to overcome obstacles caused by the global economic crisis.

This year Nguyen Hue Flower Street will feature images of Vietnam’s traditional villages with bamboo and buffalo blending with nature’s sounds to depict a joyful spring.

On January 28, 2009 street performances of flamenco and traditional music will be held along Nguyen Hue and Le Loi streets, as well as traditional games.

Unlike previous years, this year the city will organise a contest to make banh tet (cylindric glutinous rice cake) on January 21 and 22, 2009.

The winning cake will be offered to ancestors at the Temple of the Hung Kings, and the Ho Chi Minh and Ton Duc Thang museums on January 25, 2009. On the event of Tet, the city will put on fireworks.

During the festival, the hotels managed by Saigontourist Travel will organise door-shows and hang exterior decorations to celebrate the holidays.

The city has also asked offices and households along the streets of Nguyen Hue, Le Loi and Dong Khoi to decorate their storefronts and homes.

The Flower Street Festival and HCM City’s annual holiday festivities have been organised by Saigontourst since 2004.

The opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Culture Festival 2008 was attended by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Chien Thang, Cambodian Minister of Culture and Art Him Chhem and other guests from both countries.

The festival, the second of its kind in Cambodia, shows the friendship and solidarity between the two countries and their people. The event is also an opportunity for Cambodian people to understand more about Vietnam’s renovation process and its economic achievements.

During the festival, the two sides will exchange experience in art and culture development in each country.

The visitors, mainly from Italy, Spain and the UK, visited world-class cultural heritages in the central region such as Hue ancient citadel, Hoi An ancient town and My Son Sanctuary.

The first day of the new year also saw tourists from Austria, the US, Germany and Australia on tours to the country’s famous tourist sites, including Hanoi, Hue and Phu Quoc.

Ho Chi Minh City welcomed its first 250 foreign visitors of the year on board three flights operated by Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.

Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Thanh Rum was at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport to present flowers and extended best wishes to the first callers on New Year’s Day.

On the Calendar New Year’s Eve, the Saigontourist Travel Service Company (Saigontourist) held a party on board the Saigon-Binh Quoi cruise ship for more than 100 international tourists.