~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

[Year 1997]
[Year 1998]
[Year 1999]
[Year 2000]
[Year 2001]

Vietnam's ``Little Paris'' eyes Singapore air link

HANOI - Vietnam's city of Dalat in the central highlands has asked Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to open direct air links with Singapore, official media reported on Friday.

Called ``Little Paris'' because of its numerous French villas, Dalat's pine forests and cool mountain climate have long drawn Vietnamese and foreign visitors alike.
The Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper said Dang Duc Loi, acting chairman of the provincial People's Committee in Dalat, recently submitted the air link proposal to Khai.
Dalat lies 300 km (186 miles) northeast of southern Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam has struggled to attract large numbers of tourists in recent years partly because few air links serve the country, all visitors require visas and the country is an expensive destination compared with other Asian nations.
International airlines currently fly into Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and most recently Danang in central Vietnam.

Last year Vietnam said 1.5 million foreigners visited the country from 1.7 million in 1997. Of those figures, just under 600,000 were actual tourists last year, from 690,000 in 1997.

Reuters - July 16, 1999.