Many tourists to Ha Long City are struggling with summer hot weather as the city has experienced power cuts over the past few days due to power shortages. People flock to Bai Chay Bridge in Ha Long City to enjoy cool air during the power cut in their area A tourist from Hanoi, Nguyen Van Tra, said that he arrived in the coastal city on the early afternoon of June 3 and experienced a power cut just an hour after checking into his hotel. "We found this no problem at first as we had planned to go to the beach that afternoon," he said. "However, the electricity was still off when we returned to our room in the evening and the hotel said that their generator had broken down. We could not stay in our hot, dark room and had to wander around until 4 am the next day when the hotel called to inform us that their generator had been fixed. According to some hotels and restaurants around the Ha Long Bay, they had seen many customers cancel bookings due to the long power cuts … [Read more...] about Ha Long tourists struggle due to power cuts
Armenian tourist
Vietnam’s Top 10 international tourist markets
In the first five months of the year, Vietnam welcomed nearly 4.6 million international visitors, 13 times the amount on-year and equal to 63 per cent compared to 2019. The ten largest markets were South Korea, Mainland China, the US, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Australia, and Singapore, providing a combined total of 3.3 million arrivals, accounting for 71 per cent of the total number of visitors. Before 2019, China was Vietnam's largest international tourist market, accounting for about 30 per cent of the total number of visitors. That year, Vietnam welcomed 18 million international visitors, of which China contributed 5.8 million, followed by visitors from Russia, the UK, and France. After the Covid-19 pandemic, South Korea has since risen to be the largest tourist market with 1.3 million arrivals, followed by China in second. Several European markets have also dropped out of the top ten, replaced by the likes of Cambodia and Singapore. According to … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Top 10 international tourist markets
Ha Long tourists, hotels suffer massive power outages
Nguyen Thanh Dan from HCMC booked a five-star hotel room in Ha Long City for two weeks starting Sunday, but on the first night of her stay the power went out immediately. It was an extremely hot night, and her baby could not stand the heat, so she had to cancel her room and rent another at a nearby three-star hotel. "I had not received any announcements in advance about power outages. Seventy rooms at my hotel were filled on Sunday," said a representative from Green Suites Hotel. Because of the power cuts, guests canceled their rooms. In addition to a refund of VND600,000 (US$25.53) per room, the hotel also lost paying additional compensation to guests. By Monday morning, the hotel had rented a large generator to prevent unexpected power outages. Many parts of Ha Long, a top tourist attraction in the northern region, have been suffering sudden power cuts over the past several days, affecting tourism activities as it’s now the peak summer travel season. Many hotels, motels … [Read more...] about Ha Long tourists, hotels suffer massive power outages
Legal synchronisation can unlock agro-tourism potential
At a conference on solutions to develop and promote investment in real estate for agricultural tourism in Vietnam on May 25 in Hanoi, an action programme was discussed to create motivation for agro-tourism and rural development. Legal synchronisation can unlock agro-tourism potential Organised by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Vietnam National Real Estate Association (VNREA), it was the first time that a large-scale event discussed such issues. Nguyen Van Khoi, chairman of VNREA, said that the development of agricultural tourism is gradually becoming a trend in rural areas, especially in agricultural economy countries like Vietnam. It not only benefits the industry but also contributes to increasing the value of the land, raising opportunities for economic development, and improving the lives of local people. “In order to increase the value of the land through the development of agricultural and rural tourism, a sustainable development … [Read more...] about Legal synchronisation can unlock agro-tourism potential
The future of tourism in Vietnam new visa policies and beyond
The fifth plenary session of the 15th National Assembly has discussed and approved a number of important draft bills, including three new amendments to regulations that have significant impacts on the tourism industry in Vietnam. These policies are expected to boost the recovery and development of the tourism sector. Martin Koerner - Chairman EuroCham Vietnam’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector Committee The first law is to extend the visa exemption duration from the current 15 days to 45 days for citizens of countries that currently can travel to Vietnam visa exempt, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden. This law aims to attract more tourists from these key markets and encourage them to stay longer and spend more here. The second law is to expand the list of countries eligible for e-visa from 46 to 80, including markets such as India, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. The e-visa allows visitors to apply … [Read more...] about The future of tourism in Vietnam new visa policies and beyond
Transformative travel experiences at Banyan Tree Lang Co
Transformative travel experiences at Banyan Tree Lang Co This year, celebrating its 10-year milestone, Banyan Tree Lang Co unveils new travel experiences, from finding new perspectives of travel through the innovative biodiversity programme, and discovering the finest Thai cuisine at the award-winning Saffron restaurant, to offering a brand new villa: the three-bedroom Seaview Pool Villa. Perched on the Truong Son mountain range, the newly launched villa brings unparalleled luxury to Central Vietnam, offering a spacious heated infinity pool, three bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass, and an exquisite private living space featuring an artful interior design inspired by Vietnamese traditions. As a part of the “Stay For Good” initiative of Banyan Tree Group, the new on-site biodiversity initiative inspires and motivates guests to immerse themselves in the natural beauty at Banyan Tree Lang Co, featuring a transformative bird watching experience and the innovative Bird … [Read more...] about Transformative travel experiences at Banyan Tree Lang Co
Difficulties on way out for Vietnam’s Visa policy
Difficulties on way out for Vietnam’s Visa policy The short duration of stay, along with complicated factors related to the visa application procedure, have been causing headaches for foreign tourists. However, the Minister of Public Security has submitted to the National Assembly a draft amendment and supplement to a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam at the end of May. The new draft has proposed to increase the duration of e-visas from no more than 30 days to a maximum of three months, valid for one time or multiple times. At the same time, the scope of e-visa issuance would be expanded to more than 80 countries and temporary residence would rise from 15 to 45 days. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also proposed to consider supplementing the pilot regulation of issuing visas at border gates for international tourists. This proposal also requires a clearer regulation of the extension of visa-free entry for … [Read more...] about Difficulties on way out for Vietnam’s Visa policy
Khanh Hoa sea festival: Over 6,000 join Ao dai parade
At the Ao dai parade (Photo: VNA) Khanh Hoa (VNA) – More than 6,000 women wearing Ao dai (the Vietnamese traditional long dress) took to street in a parade at the April 2 Square in Nha Trang beach city in the south central province of Khanh Hoa to honour the costume as a heritage of the nation as part of the 2023 Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival. Speaking at the June 4 parade, Dinh Van Thieu, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee said the special cultural event contributes to preserving and promoting the beauty of Ao dai, affirming its value as part of Vietnam's cultural heritage. The Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival opened on June 3 evening with a live-broadcast ceremony which featured an artistic light show of 1,653 drones. At an artistic light show of 1,653 drones as part of the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA) Lasting until June 6, the 10th edition of the festival is set to treat visitors to more than 70 events taking place in Nha Trang and other … [Read more...] about Khanh Hoa sea festival: Over 6,000 join Ao dai parade
Ninh Binh promoting cultural values for sustainable tourism
One significant event showcasing unique local culture is the Trang An Festival 2023, which included a wide range of traditional art and cultural activities. Visitors were particularly drawn to the exhibition displaying more than 30 photo negatives highlighting unique local culture . Many exhibitions, cultural festivals, and art exchanges have been held in Ninh Binh, highlighting the richness and diversity of the local culture and promoting solidarity in the community. To boost sustainable tourism development, Ninh Binh has implemented various projects and plans to preserve and promote its cultural heritage, which has become a vital resource and soft power for local development. More than 200 traditional festivals have been held around the province so far. It has also been successful in creating unique tour packages that incorporate traditional craft villages and spiritual-historical relics. With its unique blend of cross-cultural influences and natural wonders, … [Read more...] about Ninh Binh promoting cultural values for sustainable tourism
Stunning wind farm in Bac Lieu province
There is a wind farm located in the coastal area of Vinh Trach Dong commune, more than 10km from Bac Lieu city centre. This was Vietnam’s first wind power project, built in 2010 with investment in the trillions of VND. With a landscape as beautiful as a European sky, the area quickly became a tourist attraction. The arrangement of the turbines combined with local roads makes travel easy, and visitors can go from one area to another without any problems. The most suitable time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when you can enjoy the sunrise and sunset over the sea. Bac Lieu’s wind power area has been recognised by the Mekong Delta Tourism Association as an outstanding tourist destination in the Delta, with nine typical tourist attractions./. VNA … [Read more...] about Stunning wind farm in Bac Lieu province