Disappointing tourist destinations

The travel news site Reisereporter has just published an article that highlights some of the famous tourist destinations and landscapes in Vietnam, including Hanoi. In the article titled “Vietnam: You shouldn’t miss these sights”, www.reisereporter.de suggests tourists to visit some hidden "treasures" and undiscovered natural wonders in this wonderful country in the Southeast Asia region, in addition to popular tourist attractions. A Vietnamese girl in her charming ao dai (long dress) and non la (conical hat) walks through the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Photo: Yeu Ha Noi According to Daniel Schramm, staff writer for www.reisereporter.de , Vietnam is a fascinating destination with a wide variety of sights and experiences. From historic cities like Hanoi and Hue to stunning natural landscapes like Halong Bay and Sapa to culinary adventures in street kitchens and markets, the country offers something for every taste. Vietnam's … [Read more...] about German press: Vietnam is a fascinating travel destination

Vietnam ranked 19th in a list of 40 most visited countries based on an analysis of flight bookings between July 1 and August 31 by Spain-based travel data and analytics company ForwardKeys. Most Southeast Asian countries, except Thailand, stood behind Vietnam on the list, including the Philippines at 23rd, Singapore 24th, Indonesia 27th, and Malaysia 36th. Thailand was 14th and one of the only two Southeast Asian countries to break into the top 20 along with Vietnam. The number of foreign tourists arriving in Vietnam by air this summer jumped 12% over the same period last year but was 28% lower than pre-pandemic levels, the report said. Vietnam welcomed 2.3 million international visitors in July and August, equivalent to 80% of the figure during the same period in 2019. Of these, nearly 2 million visitors arrived by air, about 88% of pre-pandemic levels, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Starting August 15, Vietnam's new immigration policy accepts … [Read more...] about Vietnam world’s 19th most visited destination this summer

Chau Doc Floating Village in An Giang Province, located in the Mekong Delta region, houses colorful floating houses and fishing rafts along a one-kilometer stretch of the Chau Doc River banks, promising to offer tourists a thrilling and distinctive experience. The provincial investment and trade promotion center on Wednesday opened a vibrant waterway route through the village to tourists. The waterway route runs from the Chau Doc River confluence to Cham Village past 160 eye-catching floating houses, which were painted red, yellow, orange, green, blue and violet. The opening of the route is expected to make the unique village an exciting destination for visitors in southwestern Vietnam. A floating house in Chau Doc Floating Village. Photo: Chi Hanh / Tuoi Tre A waterway route runs through Chau Doc Floating Village. Photo: Chi Hanh / Tuoi Tre Orange-painted floating houses in Chau Doc Floating Village. Photo: Chi Hanh / Tuoi Tre … [Read more...] about Vibrant floating village emerges as unique Mekong Delta destination

French tourist Laurine, who visited HCMC for the first time earlier this month, said before her trip to Vietnam her friends told her she should haggle at half the initial price when buying items in HCMC. When Laurine visited Ben Thanh in downtown area, she was impressed by the beauty of the century-old market with French colonial architecture. She dropped by souvenir stalls inside the market and asked to buy conical hats and small embroidered paintings, but vendors charged her over VND200,000 (US$8.22) for each item. She then negotiated with the vendors and bargained for 50-70% of the initial price. When the vendors refused, she pretended to walk away and they then chased after her, agreeing to sell each item for VND40,000-80,000. "Rip-offs have become a common issue at traditional markets in many Asian countries, not just Vietnam. Therefore, I was not shocked when I was overcharged, but I just didn't know what the real value of the item was, nor what I deserved for the amount … [Read more...] about Tourists wary of rip-offs in HCMC

Boat service for tourists on the Nho Que River, a popular destination in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam, resumed on Thursday, five days after its suspension. Tu San Agricultural and Tourism Service Cooperative, the only tourist boat service provider on the Nho Que River, located in Meo Vac District, announced on Wednesday that boats transporting tourists to Tu San Canyon through a route to the Nho Que 1 Hydropower Plant would reopen on the Nho Que River from 7:00 am on Thursday. Tu San Canyon, Southeast Asia’s deepest canyon, lies at the foot of the famous Ma Pi Leng Mountain Pass and is surrounded by the Nho Que River. The canyon stretches 1.7 kilometers and features cliffs of up to 800 meters. The resumption came after the directive was issued by the Ha Giang Province People’s Committee and a working session was held between the cooperative, Nho Que 1 Hydropower JSC, which is in charge of arranging boats running through the hydropower plant area, and the Meo Vac District … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Ha Giang restarts tourist boat service on renowned Nho Que River

While discrimination remains a barrier for the LGBT community around the world, four destinations in Vietnam have just been recognized as friendly to this community. Vietnam is one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage and recognized transgender rights in 2015. This has demonstrated the government's openness and helped Vietnam become an attractive market for the LGBT community . Vietnam has always been friendly to the LGBTIQ+ community. Everyone should be free to be themselves, no matter who they are, where they live, and who they love. Photo: Adrian Anh Tuấn As part of its mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, no matter who they love or how they identify, and in celebration of Pride 2023, Booking.com is highlighting four LGBTQ+-friendly destinations in Vietnam. From vibrant capital cities to tropical beach retreats, these havens encourage LGBTQ+ travelers to express themselves freely. Cam Ranh … [Read more...] about Friendly LGBT community destinations in Vietnam

Tourists experience the 5-star service at Wyndham Thanh Thuy Mineral Hot Spring Resort in Thanh Thuy district. (Photo: wyndhamthanhthuyresort.net) Phu Tho (VNA) – Boasting hot springs and unique historical and cultural relics , Thanh Thuy district in the northern midland province of Phu Tho is striving to turn tourism into one of its spearhead economic sectors, raising income for local residents. The district has poured capital into upgrading roads that link local key tourism sites with inter-provincial routes to facilitate traveling and attract investment into tourism projects. Thanh Thuy has lured more than 7 trillion VND (286 million USD) into the tourism sector since 2020. Thus, the infrastructure system serving tourism has been gradually improved. High-quality tourism products are being developed, along with building brands for the district’s tourism products. Vuon Vua Resort & Villas, a popular destination in Thanh Thuy district (Photo: … [Read more...] about District in Phu Tho province taps into hot springs to boost tourism

The 2023 Hanoi Fall Festival from September 29 to October 1 will bring visitors the beauty of Hanoi's landscape, culture and gastronomy. With a vast array of cultural and tourist activities, the Hanoi Fall Festival 2023 is expected to boost the capital's tourism industry, Nguyen Thi Mai Anh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Promotion Agency (HPA), told The Hanoi Times . Foreign tourists enjoy the fall in Hanoi. Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times What is the meaning and purpose of Hanoi Fall Festival 2023 with the theme "Hanoi - Come to fall in love"? Through surveys of tourists' experiences when coming to the capital, we have learned that the ideal time to travel to Hanoi is in the fall, from August to November every year, as this is the most pleasant period in Hanoi in terms of weather, with clear blue skies and fresh breeze. This is the best time for visitors to explore scenic spots and enjoy the capital's unique cuisine. In particular, CNN recently … [Read more...] about Hanoi Fall Festival 2023 to boost capital tourism

If proper efforts are made, using film to promote tourism in Nha Trang might be successful. The coastal province of Khanh Hoa is like a miniature Vietnam, with diverse cultures, natural conditions and historical buildings. In addition, Khanh Hoa hosts popular film festivals and events that bring together actors and directors from other countries, boosting tourism and becoming an attractive destination like Cannes in France, Busan in South Korea, and Hollywood in the US. Do Le Hung Tu, Chairman of the Vietnam Film Association, shared the view following the success of the 2023 edition of the Golden Kite Film Award , which ended this month. The aerial view of Nha Trang City. Photo: Khanh Hoa Tourism Department Echoing Tu, Ta Quang Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the Golden Kite Film Award is a great opportunity for experts and managers to work together and create new cultural projects to make Khanh Hoa's Nha Trang City a popular … [Read more...] about Nha Trang promises to be a city of cinema tourism

Van Ho district in Son La province is bestowed with a cool climate and forest coverage of over 56%. The district is often compared to famous tourism destinations such as Sa Pa, Tam Dao, or Da Lat. Visitors to Van Ho will have the chance to breathe fresh air and admire beautiful tourist attractions such as Chieng Yen hot springs and Xuan Nha ancient forest. All of the residents in Hua Tat village in Van Ho commune are from the Mong ethnic minority. The village now has seven homestays providing accommodation services. Of particular note is the A Chu homestay, which won the 2019 ASEAN Homestay award for excellent tourist destinations. Local resident Trang A Chu has been a pioneer in developing community-based tourism in the village. Many households in the village have followed in Trang A Chu’s footsteps. The breath of fresh air from community tourism has changed the lives of the local Mong ethnic minority people. Many households have thrived through running orchards and offering … [Read more...] about Community tourism development associated with cultural identity preservation