VietNamNet Bridge – In order to entice more ASEAN travelers, HCMC-based Ben Thanh Tourist has launched tours to attractions in the central and southern areas of the country passing through the border gates in the region.

The ancient city of Hoi An.

Of the five new tours, four of them start at the Lao Bao border gate in the central province of Quang Tri, and the fifth starts in the Southern province of Tay Ninh. These tours last around three to five days.

"The ASEAN travelers want short tours that combine sight seeing, shopping and passing through border gates. We've launched these tours to meet that demand," said Cao Ngoc Minh, Ben Thanh Tourist's executive of public relations said.

The five-day tour from the Moc Bai border gate of Tay Ninh Province will travel from the southern city to well-known attractions in the Mekong Delta region. The rural waterway region offers visits to small islands and fresh tropical fruit from the orchards. Cruises through the smaller canals on local sampans stop for honey sampling at bee keeping houses, trekking on roads around villages and watching local residents make coconut candy. The most interesting part of the trip is taking the boat through the Niet Luong border gate of Vietnam to Phnom Penh of Cambodia.

Another option on this tour is to combine a visit to My Tho and back to HCMC with a visit to the coastal province of Phan Thiet and Mui Ne beach, where tourists can explore the sand hills in the early morning or watch the fishermen pulling their nets up onto the beach, and the fishing boats coming back home from the sea.

The other tours will include attractions in the central region such as the royal city of Hue, the ancient city of Hoi An and the world heritage site of Phong Nha - Ke Bang.

For more information contact Ben Thanh Tourist at: 86 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1, HCMC. Tel: 08 822 2506. Fax: 08 823 7582. Email: inbound-e@benthanhtourist.com

(Source: SGT)