Destinations

Located in the northern highlands province of Yen Bai, Mu Cang Chai, home to ethnic minority groups, primarily the Hmong people, is around a seven hours drive northwest of Hanoi. The remote rural district is famous for its terraced rice fields which change color depending on the time of the year, from green in late spring and summer to golden yellow in October during the harvest season. "These rice paddies in Vietnam’s isolated northern reaches have gained Instagram fame for their impressive angles in a topographically challenging region," Condé Nast Traveler said. The magazine urged visitors to explore the rice paddies in early October when the rice harvest begins, and to stop by the fields twice in a day: once early in the morning before the crowds arrive, and a second time at sunset. Around 500 kilometers from Mu Cang Chai, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay, in Quang Ninh Province, is well known for its "blue-green water, and spectacular limestone karst … [Read more...] about Ha Long Bay, Mu Cang Chai among world’s 40 most colorful destinations: US magazine

The annual Nguyên Tiêu Festival on the 15th of lunar January in Hội An has been recognised as a National Intangible Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Lanterns are used to decorate Hôi An every full moon. The tourism hub also lights up lanterns on weekends. — VNS Photo Công Thành The festival celebrates the full moon of the first lunar month of the year. The city’s Centre for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation confirmed the certificate was handed over on February 5, marking the fifth national intangible heritage after Thanh Châu bird's nest, Thanh Hà Pottery village, carpentry of Kim Bồng village and Trà Quế vegetable garden. The centre said the festival was a major event in a series of cultural and ritual activities among local people held during the first lunar month. Local people often prepare for the festival from the seventh day of the month with ancestor worship and praying for peace at the communal houses of Cẩm Phô, … [Read more...] about Ancient town’s full moon festival named intangible heritage

The meeting took place within the framework of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2023 themed “ASEAN: A Journey to Wonderful Destinations.” Delegates reviewed tourism cooperation outcomes recorded at the 25th ASEAN-China Summit, the 23rd ASEAN-RoK Summit, the 25th ASEAN-Japan Summit, and the 25th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, held in Cambodia from November 11-12, 2022. They also looked into ASEAN+3 tourism cooperation following the 20th ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Ministers Meeting in 2021. The participants noted with pleasure the growth both in the number of international arrivals and tourism revenues in the ASEAN+3 countries as compared with 2021. The tourism sector will further recover in the next two-three years as the countries have continued with COVID-19 vaccinations and paid attention to hygiene and safety of visitors, they said. The meeting highlighted the support of China, Japan and the RoK for ASEAN member nations in enhancing capacity for tourism experts, and creating … [Read more...] about Vietnam attends ASEAN+3 Tourism Ministers Meeting

The cooperation in international issues has made the two countries leading trade partners in ASEAN and those sharing common goals in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Thailand and Vietnam should look toward taking on a more proactive role in shaping the new and emerging international system, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura shared the view in talks with The Hanoi Times . Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura. Photos: VNA The view reflects the two countries’ aspirations for further cooperation as they enter into the 10th year of their Strategic Partnership in 2023. “Through coalition-building and agenda-setting, Thailand and Vietnam can increase our countries’ leverage and strategic position, as well as that of sub-regional and regional groupings like ACMECS, ASEAN, and APEC,” Ambassador Balankura said. Most recently, Thailand hosted the 2022 APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Bangkok on November 14-19, 2022, an event that demonstrated … [Read more...] about Thailand, Vietnam urged to be more proactive in face of new int’l challenges

"What cognac is to France , so the pungent, fermented fish sauce is to Viet Nam : a national treasure that shouldn't be produced anywhere else. And everyone agrees that the best fish sauce, or nuoc mam, comes from the island of Phu Quoc ," said a correspondent of the "Christian Science Monitor". In an article "Vietnamese island guards a national treasure: fish sauce" on March 25, Simon Montlake said: "The islanders use only top-grade black anchovies, natural inputs, and traditional storage methods to make their sauce, as they have done for a century or more." He wrote: "Wherever you travel in Viet Nam , you're never too far from a bottle of fish sauce. It's a protein-rich staple of the cuisine, and a constant companion to any savoury dish. Other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Cambodia produce their own sauces, but nobody does it quite like the Vietnamese." However, he said, Phu Quoc is changing, and so is the fish-sauce industry. … [Read more...] about Phu Quoc island guards a national treasure: fish sauce

Delegates at the 26th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers (Photo: VNA) Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet has called on other ASEAN member countries to support and cooperate with each other in tourism development. Speaking at a press conference on the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2023 in Indonesia on February 5, the official said apart from traditional markets that have experienced difficulties, ASEAN should seek new ones and adjust some policies relating to aviation connection and visas. He also suggested the bloc continue implementing tourism development strategies for 2016-2025 and adjust and update them after each meeting of ASEAN tourism ministers. Viet described culture as the core value of the regional tourism and a unique factor helping the countries attract tourists. Sharing Viet’s view, Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco also suggested the ASEAN countries come together to offer unified tourism packages. “We have … [Read more...] about Vietnam calls for ASEAN cooperation to spur tourism development

The Vietnamese delegation at the 2nd ASEAN-Russia Tourism Ministers Meeting in Indonesia. (Photo: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) Jakarta (VNA) – Russia is an important tourism market of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and had always been a leading source of tourists of Vietnam before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet has said. He made the remarks at the 2nd ASEAN-Russia Tourism Ministers Meeting, which was held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, within the framework of the 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2023). The upgrade of the meeting between ASEAN and Russia from the Tourism Consultation to the Ministers Meeting from 2022 is a solid foundation to further foster cooperation between the two sides in the coming time, Viet noted. The deputy minister said that the Tourism Work Plan for the 2022-2024 period, which was approved by the first ASEAN-Russia Tourism Ministers' Meeting, … [Read more...] about Russia is an important tourism market of ASEAN: official