Australian tourists flock to vietnam on cheap airfares

Foreigners have expressed strong interest in visiting Vietnam, but the number of travelers actually making a hotel or tour booking remains modest, according to travel business insiders. Speaking at a tourism event held in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, deputy general director of tour operator Vietravel, said that the revival of the inbound market in Vietnam has yet to reward the significant efforts that businesses have dedicated in recent time. Currently, Vietnam has become a destination garnering global attention, according to Hoang. However, the number of foreign visitors actually placing bookings for services in the country remains quite modest. The primary cause behind this trend, Hoang believed, is the absence of competitive services in the tourism sector. In addition, although visa policies have gradually been relaxed, their enforcement still poses challenges for tourists. “Following the outbreak of the [COVID-19] pandemic, we have … [Read more...] about Vietnam still sees modest number of int’l visitors: travel firms

Check out the latest events in Vietnam. Vietnam Friendship Medal bestowed on Franco-Vietnamese vaccine specialist Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presents the medal to Aurélia Nguyen in New York on Sept 20 (local time). Photo: Nhat Bac/VGP Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 20 (local time) presented the Vietnam Friendship Medal to high-ranking global vaccine expert Aurélia Nguyen in New York for her efforts and contribution to Vietnam's success in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. The Franco-Vietnamese vaccine expert is the Chief Program Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Aurélia was one of the key people who helped Vietnam receive 70 million vaccine doses from the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative. COVAX had pledged some 38.9 million doses to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City commemorates Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 20 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of … [Read more...] about Vietnam news in brief – September 21

"A scam is where you have no choice but to pay inflated prices. Nobody is forcing you to buy conical hats or pictures, if you don't think it is worth it then don't buy it." PhnomPenh "Many tourists are frugal and haggle VND5,000 on a VND25,000 banh mi for example. Stop being so cheap, especially when some get up at 4 a.m. to prepare ingredients and drive one hour to the city center to sell a few sandwiches in the searing downtown heat to help support their family. You're haggling over 20 cents with someone who earns $300 a month." kasperhenry "Why at all do you go to markets? Go to shopping malls with lower and fixed prices, air cons and no beggars and no lottery tickets sellers. Everything is cheaper there than on markets, with more comfy shopping experience. Also you can buy some wooden gifts at [...] normal shopping malls sometimes." Teal Burton "A vendor who is charging just around 8 euro for a souvenir does not earn enough to have a holiday overseas. I wonder why … [Read more...] about Tourists overcharged? It’s a two-way street

Check out the latest events in Vietnam. Standard Chartered forecasts Vietnam's Q3 GDP to show continued recovery Standard Chartered Bank forecasts Vietnam's Q3 GDP growth to pick up to 5.1% y/y from 4.1% y/y in Q2, according to its latest global research report titled "Vietnam Macro: Q3 GDP to show ongoing recovery". September data is likely to show a slight improvement from August, supported by retail sales. The bank expects September retail sales growth to remain robust at 8.2% yoy, while exports to fall 6.2% yoy, imports to fall 7% y/y, and industrial production growth to pick up to 3.2% y/y. The bank maintained its GDP growth forecast for 2023 at 5.4%. Vietnam to join nearly 30 tourism stimulus programs in 2024 Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai Province attracts a large number of tourists. Photo: Duy Khanh/The Hanoi Times The Vietnam National Tourism Authority and the Vietnam Tourism Development Fund under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and … [Read more...] about Vietnam news in brief – September 23

As the Mid-Autumn Festival draws near, the capital city is being brightened with lanterns, marking it one of the most anticipated festivities of the year. As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches [the 15th day of the eighth Lunar month or September 29], the capital's twinkling streetlights create Instagram-worthy scenes for locals and tourists. Reviving Autumn tradition in the city One such scene is the fun-filled Thu Xua Ve Trong Pho (Reliving Autumn Tradition in the City) festival, which has been held at Ngon Garden Restaurant at 70 Nguyen Du Street since September 23. Hanh Pham, founder of Ngon Garden, said that in the past, children were eager to play with a star-shaped lantern during the Full Moon Festival. Therefore, the arrival of Autumn, the most beautiful season, inspires them to do something special to help people and children today understand the meaning of this festival in the past and present. Children enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival … [Read more...] about Hanoi Mid-Autumn Festival lights create beautiful photo opportunities