Costa Allegra cruise ship to berth at Vietnam
20:24 04/03/2009

      Costa Allegra cruise ship, owned by Italy's Costa Crociere, will berth at the Saigon Port Monday to begin a three-day cruise for passengers in Vietnam.

The ship's passenger list includes 1,200 tourists, comprised mainly of English, Spanish and Italian nationals who will pay a visit to the country's largest cities, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue and Hoi An.

They will enjoy many historical points of interest, such as the War Remnants Museum and Giac Lam Pagoda in HCMC and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hoi An Ancient Town and the Complex of Hue Monuments.

It is the ship's second trip to Vietnam since the beginning of October.

Saigontourist, Costa Crociere's local partner, supplies tourist services to the ship's international passengers and maritime services to the ship while in Vietnamese territory.

Le Quang Thang, head of the Cruise Ship and Maritime Department of Saigontourist, said the country's biggest travel and tourist operator has plans to collaborate with Costa Crociere on some 50 trips in the near future.

The Vietnamese operator received 36,200 international tourists through cruise ships in October, an increase of 87 percent year-on-year.

The passengers will leave for China on Wednesday.

Reported by Minh Quang

Source : thanhniennews.com