Key travel writers on 10-day Vietnam tour

Experienced boutique tour operator Footsteps in Asia (FIA) has hosted a special 10-day media insight famil for six travel writers to preview the style and range of FIA's 2012/13 Vietnam program.

The program covered HCMC, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Mekong Delta and concluded in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  Program members covered trade and consumer titles as well as key blogs and online publications.

Highlights included a stay at the five-star Mia Resort in Nha Trang, motorcycle tour of coffee plantations worked by ethnic minorities, exploring the French colonial style of Da Lat, a homestay and cruise of the Mekong.  All the features of the tour are covered in FIA's 23 unique holiday tours of Vietnam. Retail prices for FIA's popular weeklong North Vietnam Escape are $566 while costs for the Gourmet Spicy Vietnam tour begin at $1,500.  

Talking to media in HCMC, John Powell, CEO of Footsteps in Asia, said Vietnam would continue to be the centrepiece for FIA tours due to its unique travel highlights, easy access, and popularity for first-time and repeat visitors.

"Vietnam is a major drawcard for travellers to SE Asia.  It provides a high value experience for budget through to luxury travel and offers travellers unique experiences covering luxury river cruising on the Mekong as well as Halong Bay boating, culinary experiences, and adventure travel including walking, trekking and cycle tours.  These options are in addition to the popular HCMC, Hoi An, Hanoi destinations, which feature their own unique attractions." 

Powell said the Footsteps in Asia 2012/13 program was being expanded to provide travellers with access to locations recently opening up to tourism such as Myanmar, Bhutan and North Korea, as well as traditional Asia destinations India Sri Lanka, and China.

Powell and his team have organized more than 250,000 visitors to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos with activities include trekking, cycling, cultural, eco and home stays, and gourmet and special interest tours and managed the tours for The Imaginative Traveler, Sawadee Reisen and The Adventure Company.

More recently, it has created a luxury travel service, Footsteps in Style, to meet demand for exclusive, tailor-made travel in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

Footsteps in Style offers individuals or groups the opportunity to experience unique travel experiences ranging from physical adventures, learning and living, pampering to spiritual matters, living local or making a difference.  The choices are endless, and they can all be experienced with gourmet dining, luxury and resort-style accommodation created around individual tastes and needs.  

Management of Footsteps in Asia is underpinned with a head office in Bangkok (Thailand) and regional offices in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Siem Reap (Cambodia) and Vientiane (Laos).  Highly experienced local guides are featured in every location.

Footsteps in Asia, licence number 2TA9646, has offices in Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia and is a member of the Australian Travel Compensation Fund.  Information on tours is available on Australia: 1300 664 331 or visit www.footstepsinasia.com or sales@foostepsinasia.com

Issued by Savage Communications on behalf of Footsteps in Asia

Grahame Cox, Savage Communications, Tel:  +61 (0) 414 518 516

John Savage, Savage Communications, Tel:  +61 (0) 413 121 215