Costume of Ha Nhi ethnic people in Ha Giang province. (Photo: VietnamPlus) It is hoped that 2022 will be a more optimistic year for the tourism sector. A survey revealed that up to 80 percent of Vietnamese people said they are planning vacations to make up for what the COVID-19 pandemic has deprived them of, and 43 percent said they want to experience a lesser-known place, instead of the destinations too familiar to them. It is also noteworthy that booking by tourists in Vietnam to share popular destinations is becoming a dominating trend. Ethnic minority culture paradise Up to 84 percent of Vietnamese tourists said they want to visit Meo Vac in Ha Giang province. It is a small but attractive valley in the northeast, surrounded by limestone mountains and inhabited by H’Mong and Ha Nhi ethnic groups, boasting a unique dish – thang co – cooked from the inner organs of cattle, of which 70 percent of Vietnamese tourists said they want to try during their 2022 tours. For … [Read more...] about 2022 destination selection trend of Vietnamese tourists
Growing trends
Champion to defend WBA belt in hometown next month
"After many days of waiting, the date is finalized. I will have my first pro match in my hometown, the land that fed me and saw my growing up," he wrote on his Facebook page. "I will try my best to give boxing lovers and my home a beautiful match. See you at Buon Ma Thuot city on February 26." Hoang, 32, has a perfect professional record after three pro bouts. He became Vietnam's first WBA Asia East Super Middleweight champion after defeating Korean rival Lee Gyu-hyun in 2019. On February 2, 2020, he knocked out Yuttana Wongda of Thailand to lift the WBA Asia belt. In his most recent outing, Hoang floored Indonesian Robert Kopa in the 'LEAD: The Beginning' event last October. Last month, he cruised to a gold medal at the ninth National Sports Games, which he declared his last amateur boxing competition. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about Champion to defend WBA belt in hometown next month
Apartment market to continue slumping this year
Decreasing demand for apartments in the region is also forecast to continue through at least the middle of the year. But it may begin to gradually rise by the last quarter of 2023 as legal bottlenecks and obstacles to credit are slated to be at least partially removed by the government, according to DKRA real estate consultants. DKRA Vietnam deputy R&D director Vo Hong Thang said apartment market liquidity, this year, would concentrate in affordable housing projects with prices of below VND50 million ($2,118) per square meter in HCMC and less than VND35 million per square meter in Binh Duong. Such social housing projects promise to be a ray of light in the otherwise gloomy 2023 market, he said, while adding the caveat that supply would still be limited. According to Thang, businesses are gradually supplying fewer high-priced homes and more affordable apartments and social housing units this year. He said this trend may last until 2025, with new supply focusing on the city’s … [Read more...] about Apartment market to continue slumping this year
2023 a promising year for tourism: official
Statistics released by the VNAT on January 29 showed that over 871,000 foreigners arrived in Vietnam in January, up 23.2% month-on-month. Of them, 91.9% travelled by air, 7.5% by road, and 0.6% by sea. Tourism revenue during the month was estimated at VND 2.2 trillion (USD 95.6 million), up 113.4% annually. Several localities posted spikes in receipts such as Hai Phong up 541.5%, Da Nang 387.1%, Tien Giang 380.2%, Lao Cai 196.3%, Hanoi 113.8%, and Ho Chi Minh City 98.7%. International flights and maritime travel services have returned to the pre-pandemic level. This year, the VNAT will also partner with the South-central coastal province of Binh Thuan to hold National Tourism Year 2023 themed “Binh Thuan – Green convergence,” which is expected to attract more domestic and foreign tourists. Recently, the VNAT’s Tourism Information Center debuted the first 2023 video clip “Golf Tourism - Enjoying every moment" in a media campaign entitled “Vietnam: Travel to Love,” introducing … [Read more...] about 2023 a promising year for tourism: official
Gia Lai – Ideal place for travelers wanting to explore wild nature
Gia Lai is an ideal destination for travelers wanting to explore the wild nature and the unique culture of the Central Hughlands ethnic groups who are known for their gong heritage. When visiting Gia Lai, you do not need to go far to find beautiful scenery. Right in its provincial capital, Pleiku, you can find scenic Bien Ho (Sea Lake), Bien Ho Che (Tea Sea Lake), Chu Dang Ya and Ham Rong volcanoes and Chu mountain. All you need is a motorbike to drive around in Pleiku in the sun and wind of the Central Highlands to reach the best sightseeing places in town. You can enjoy the gorgeous view of Bien Ho with its cool and clear air or wander in immense green tea hills in Bien Ho Che. You can also see beautiful wild sunflowers dyeing yellow the sides of old volcanoes which have slept for millions of years, or enjoy the wild and dreamy beauty of rubber forests in their season of changing leaves. For those who love adventurous trips, Kon Chu Rang and Kon Ka Kinh (an ASEAN heritage park) … [Read more...] about Gia Lai – Ideal place for travelers wanting to explore wild nature
Vietnam’s tourism, trade, FDI rosy amid China’s reopening: HSBC
According to its latest report on Southeast Asia, HSBC said Thailand will benefit the most from China’s reopening. It said further that tourism in Vietnam was also expected to perform well as Chinese tourists account for some 30% of international arrivals to the country. This month Khanh Hoa Province is expected to have nine charter flights which will bring Chinese visitors to Vietnam after a 3-year suspension due to the pandemic. Hotels in Hoi An, in the central province of Quang Nam, have also received bookings from Chinese tourists. Regarding trade, since 2020 ASEAN has surpassed the E.U. to become China’s largest trading partner. Last year Vietnam was one of three Southeast Asian countries, along with Indonesia and Malaysia, reporting increases in exports to China. Vietnam is also benefiting from more favorable trade ties with China because exports no longer have to undergo strict Covid testing. Concerning FDI, Japan and South Korea are the leading countries in terms of … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s tourism, trade, FDI rosy amid China’s reopening: HSBC
Debt buries farmers trying to flip property in frozen market
Like so many others in Lam Dong Province and other rural areas of southern Vietnam, Toan saw the value of his agricultural land skyrocket in 2020-2021. He took it as an opportunity to start flipping properties for profit. But the market froze last year and short-term loans at high interest rates have now sunk him and many other farmers-turned-inexperienced-traders in impossible debt instead. The veteran coffee grower sold his land 7 km from the center of Di Linh District for several billions of dong in profit during a property price bubble in 2021. He then took out short-term, high-interest loans and used them plus money he made from his land sale to by several more plots he planned to resell for profit in what he thought would be at most 1-2 months. He said he thought he’d be able to sell some of the land back in even just a couple of weeks. But the properties still haven’t sold. In early 2022, Toan poured another VND15 billion ($635,600), including VND6 billion from another … [Read more...] about Debt buries farmers trying to flip property in frozen market
Viet Nam among world’s 10 biggest recipients of remittances
Remittance flows into Viet Nam approximated $19 billion in 2022. — Photo baotintuc.vn Viet Nam remains one of the 10 countries receiving the most remittances in the world, according to the recent Migration and Development Brief by the World Bank and the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development (KNOMAD). Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s major impacts on the global economy over the last two years and growing inflation in many countries, remittance flows into Viet Nam remained relatively stable compared to previous years, the report noted. Total remittances to Viet Nam increased by nearly 5 per cent in 2022 and may go up 3.6-4.5 per cent in the following years after growing 5 per cent in 2021, according to statistics of WB and KNOMAD. Last year, the value rose about US$1 billion to approximate $19 billion, making the country one of the three biggest recipients in the Asia-Pacific and among the top 10 globally in terms of remittances. Some banks perceived that … [Read more...] about Viet Nam among world’s 10 biggest recipients of remittances
Market’s uptrend may slow down in the near future
Employees of HCM City Securities Corporation (HSC). The market's uptrend in the near future may slow down and the risk of correction is increasing. — Photo HSC The market's uptrend in the near future may slow down and the risk of correction is increasing, brokerages have said. The market's gaining momentum lingered in the first session of the Year of the Cat, said Viet Dragon Securities Co. However, the uptrend somewhat slowed down before the profit-taking supply, as shown by the Shooting Star candle. On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, the VN-Index gained 0.81 per cent, to close Friday at 1,117.10 points. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index rose 0.40 per cent to close Friday at 220.76 points. “Market still remained in green at the end of the session, showing that the pressure of supply is not great. It is expected that the market will temporarily step back in the next session to find a balance after the recent rise,” said Viet Dragon Securities Co. “Therefore, … [Read more...] about Market’s uptrend may slow down in the near future