Following research by Kien Giang's Tourism Department, the tour route will be: Rach Gia (Viet Nam) to Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and end in the Thai province of Chantaburi.

Holidaymakers will travel from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc Island and from Cambodia to Chantaburi by ship.

Travel companies in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are working together to provide the regional tour. - Viet Nam News, Asia News Network.

Guangdong-asean trade : Business up 20 per cent

The trade of South China's Guangdong province with Asean members totalled US$39.8 billion (Bt1.41 trillion) in the first 11 months of last year, representing growth of 20.8 per cent over the year-earlier level, Xinhua reported.

According to local customs sources, the total included $26.9 billion in import value, up 17.7 per cent, and $13.2 billion in export value, up 27.7 per cent.

The trade deficit increased by 9.4 per cent to $13.5 billion.

Of the total trade volume, foreign-funded enterprises made up $24.7 billion, or 62 per cent - a rise of 17.6 per cent.

Between January and November, Guangdong's trade in new- and hi-tech products with Asean members amounted to $19.8 billion, or 49.7 per cent of the total, up 21.5 percent. The trade deficit in such goods stood at $10.1 billion, or 74.3 per cent of the total deficit.

Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand were the top trade partners of Guangdong, said the local customs sources. - The Nation.

Airasia : Bangkok-Langkawi flight

AirAsia Thailand's maiden flight from Bangkok to Langkawi is set to take off this Sunday, a week ahead of its scheduled flight on January 13.

Kedah Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Fong Chok Gin said the rescheduling was good news in view of Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

"The airline's Airbus A320 has the capacity to carry 200 passengers to Langkawi," he said. "We are also expecting about 800 tourists to cross the border daily from Thailand into Kedah at Bukit Kayu Hitam. Thais are also expected to visit Langkawi using the sea route from Satun in southern Thailand." - Asia News Network.