80% of 1,500 Vietnamese survey respondents planned to have an overseas holiday, just slightly behind Thailand at 86% and Singapore at 85%, and ahead of the Philippines at 69%, Malaysia at 64% and Indonesia at 56%. The survey shows that intent to travel remains strong across the region. Of those surveyed, 72% plan to travel abroad at least once in the next 12 months, jumping from just 39% when borders reopened in 2022, indicating intent to travel has climbed by 84% in just one year. While Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia lead the way in terms of destinations within Southeast Asia, Vietnamese put Japan, South Korea and China at the top list of countries they are planning to explore. Some 77% of those planning leisure trips are planning to travel two or more times in the next 12 months. Families represent one of the most significant audience segments for 2023 travel with Vietnam sharing this pattern. Nearly three in five respondents from Vietnam said they plan to travel with … [Read more...] about Vietnamese itching to take leisure trips overseas
Travel
Digitization drives tourism recovery
According to Chairman of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Trung Khanh, the VNAT has joined hands with domestic and international partners to apply advanced technologies in tourism promotion activities. Two years ago, the tourism authority in collaboration with Google to launch the online exhibition project “Wonders of Vietnam,” an online exhibition project as part of Google Arts & Culture (GA&C) that allows everyone to explore art, history and the wonders of the world. Featuring 35 stories and over 1,300 sumptuous photos of iconic sites, historical heritage, nature, cuisine and culture of Central Vietnam, the project is a unique way for hungry travelers to virtually explore. It is also an important part of Google’s overall support of the local tourism industry, which has been badly affected by pandemic-related travel restrictions. With initial support from Google, it continues to carry out a communications campaign with a series of videos themed … [Read more...] about Digitization drives tourism recovery
Hung Yen sees potential in rural tourism
Tourists visit a longan orchard in Hung Yen. (Photo: VNA) Hung Yen (VNA) - Through the ups and downs of time, the Red River Delta province of Hung Yen still keeps intact many old communal and ancient houses as well as the customs and traditions deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture. These have turned into the province's trump card in tourism development . Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Trung Can said rural tourism can offer visitors a blend of familiar and unique, novel experiences, such as trying out the life of a farmer, creating handcrafted goods, and visiting traditional craft villages. In Hung Yen , rural tourism primarily involves visiting craft villages and exploring historical and cultural relics, festivals, and more. Recently, some areas in the province have introduced models that combine farms with tourism, enabling visitors to go sightseeing and purchase farm produce. Notable examples include flower … [Read more...] about Hung Yen sees potential in rural tourism
Malaysia considers visa-free entry for Chinese tourists
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to draft a report on visa exemptions for Chinese tourists, The Rakyat Post reported, citing a source from Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. If implemented, the policy could allow Chinese tourists to enjoy visa-free entry "for a certain number of days," Sin Chew Daily quoted the ministry’s Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing as saying. At present, tourists from China can obtain a 15-day visa-on-arrival upon entering Malaysia. Malaysia is predicted to welcome at least 18 million international tourist arrivals in 2023, surpassing its initial target of 16.1 million. Southeast Asian countries have sped up their international tourism recovery by relaxing visa policies and boosting tourism promotion campaigns. Starting September 25, Thailand, Southeast Asia’s second largest economy, waived visa requirements for Chinese travelers for five months as it expects the temporary waiver could help … [Read more...] about Malaysia considers visa-free entry for Chinese tourists
More luxury cruises to busy Ha Long season
The first cruise vessel is expected to dock in Ha Long Bay on October 27, and the other upcoming vessels would arrive in November and December, the provincial Department of Tourism said. Currently, the number of international visitors onboard each vessel has not been officially released. Local authorities said the foreign tourists would visit UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay, the Quang Ninh Museum, and explore local culture and cuisine on a city tour. Last March, the Malta-flagged Mein Schiff 5 cruise ship carried 2,400 German tourists to Ha Long, which is famous for tours through its thousands of limestone karst islands. According to the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, there were about 100 luxury international cruise ships with each carrying 150,000 - 180,000 foreign tourists to Ha Long Bay before the pandemic. A series of luxury cruise ships carrying thousands of international visitors have docked at Vietnamese ports since the beginning of this year as tourism gradually … [Read more...] about More luxury cruises to busy Ha Long season
Culture, cuisine, fashion converge at Hanoi Autumn Festival
Hanoi Autumn Festival introduces attractive destinations in the capital city, marked with wedding dress fashion shows and traditional culinary quintessence of the capital. Hanoi Autumn Festival 2023 with the theme "Hanoi Autumn-Come to Love" kicked off on the evening of September 29 at the pedestrian zone near Hoan Kiem Lake. Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen visits the booth at the Hanoi Autumn Festival. The festival, organized by the Hanoi People’s Committee, lasts from September 29 to October 1, promising a vibrant festivity of Hanoi's culture. The Hanoi Autumn Carnival is set to charm with its street art exhibitions. Furthermore, a gastronomic exploration of Vietnam's diverse regions is on offer, complemented by an array of traditional and contemporary games. In addition, 150 pavilions will be positioned along Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Thach and Bat Giac House in the Ly Thai To Flower Park, introducing many products … [Read more...] about Culture, cuisine, fashion converge at Hanoi Autumn Festival
Eco-tourism development linked with biodiversity conservation under discussion
The event was jointly organized by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Management Board for Forestry Projects of the Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF Vietnam). Trieu Van Luc, Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry, said with a total of over 14.7 million ha covering 42.2% of Vietnam's natural area, forest ecosystems have greatly contributed to the national economy and livelihoods for people. He noted that about 25 million people rely on forests to earn their living, mainly ethnic minority communities whose cultural identities are connected with forests. This is great potential to develop multi-purpose values of the forest ecosystem. With the support of international and non-governmental organizations, the Vietnamese government has paid special attention and allocated resources to protect life in forests and promote biodiversity conservation in the … [Read more...] about Eco-tourism development linked with biodiversity conservation under discussion
Fidel Castro’s historic Vietnam visit solemnly celebrated
Fifty years ago, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and Prime Minister Fidel Castro visited Vietnam, and travelled to Quang Tri province – a newly liberated land in the south of Vietnam. As the first and only foreign head of state to visit the liberated zone before the war ended, Fidel Castro’s historic visit became a symbol of faithful and fraternal solidarity between peoples of the two countries with noble ideals for peace, national independence, democracy and progress in the world. Addressing the ceremony, senior officials of Vietnam and Cuba highlighted, and reaffirmed the significance of the special traditional relationship between the two countries. Future generations of the two nations will keep in mind and nurture the special invaluable solidarity forever, they stressed. On the same day, the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam and Cuba and leaders of the central Quang Tri province offered flowers in remembrance of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, at the Fidel … [Read more...] about Fidel Castro’s historic Vietnam visit solemnly celebrated
4 believed-to-be Vietnamese women rescued from refrigerated truck in France
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it is verifying a report that four of the six women discovered and rescued by French police from a refrigerated truck in France are Vietnamese citizens, and is ready for citizen protection measures. The rescue was made in Lyon, a city in southeastern France, on Thursday and the six rescued women included four believed to be Vietnamese and two Iraqi, the ministry said Friday, citing a report from the Vietnamese Embassy in France. After getting notified of the rescue, the embassy has immediately coordinated with local authorities to verify the information and ask for their support to carry out citizen protection measures. Initial information showed that the four believed-to-be Vietnamese women were in stable health condition. The embassy will continue to closely monitor the case and be ready to implement any necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens, the ministry stated. … [Read more...] about 4 believed-to-be Vietnamese women rescued from refrigerated truck in France
Nail traps allegedly placed on road by robbers in Vietnam’s Long An
Police in Long An Province, southern Vietnam said on Saturday that they were probing a case in which boards with upward-facing nails were believed to be put on a road in Thu Thua District by a group of vandals in an attempt to commit robberies. According to a police report, T., a 42-year-old local resident in Long An, and her relative noticed two boards full of nails left on the road, numbered 818, running through Thu Thua’s Tan Thanh Commune while they were traveling in a car from southern Tay Ninh Province at around 7:30 pm on Friday. They stopped the car and T. stepped out to go toward the two boards. As soon as she picked them up, a local inhabitant holding a flashlight ran to her and warned her against robbers in the area. The local resident told her that a group of people were hiding by the roadside. T. immediately put the boards aside, returned to the car, and drove away. T., a 42-year-old local resident in Long An Province, southern Vietnam is seen … [Read more...] about Nail traps allegedly placed on road by robbers in Vietnam’s Long An