Improve tourism services

The Vietnamese government issued a resolution on solutions to accelerate tourism recovery and develop tourism sustainably and effectively on Thursday, moving toward turning Vietnam into one of the world’s 30 leading countries with the highest tourism competitiveness. As per the resolution, the government tasks the Ministry of Public Security with completing the immigration policy and creating more favorable conditions for foreign visitors to enter, stay in, and leave the country. Besides, the ministry is also in charge of expanding the list of nations eligible for e-visa application. The government will also propose the lawmaking National Assembly extend the e-visa validity to 90 days from 30 days to lure international tourists, especially those who want to stay long in Vietnam. Besides, many tourism experts and travel firms have put forward numerous measures to woo international travelers to Vietnam. Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of … [Read more...] about Vietnam looks to be among 30 most competitive tourism nations worldwide

Vi Ro Ngheo Village, known as Homestay Village, in Dak Tang Commune of Kon Tun Province’s Kon Plong District in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam brings tourists unique community-based tourism experiences. Surrouned by gigantic mountains and forests, the Xo Dang ethnic minority group’s village has emerged as a popular destination for travelers who love exploring the culture and nature of the Central Highlands region. Homestay Village filled with flowers The charming village of the Xo Dang ethnic group, about 45 kilometers from the famous Mang Den Town, was recognized as a community tourist site in April this year. The village is home to 63 households with nearly 300 Xo Dang ethnic people. The locals mainly grow rice, catch fish, and raise buffaloes for a living. Most locals in the village do not drink alcohol or beer. Apart from their work, they often play sports and join traditional art performances, such as beating a gong, singing folk songs, and dancing. Vi Ro … [Read more...] about Picturesque tourism village in Vietnam’s Central Highlands awakens visitors to travel

International tourists wear Vietnam's signature conical hats. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Will Vietnam's tourism see a boost soon? Industry insiders are optimistic about future prospects as the Government weighs up a 90-day e-visa to gain a competitive edge as a leading tourism destination. Travel companies are anticipating that if the decision is finalised in the ongoing National Assembly’s meeting, which started on May 22, the sector could take advantage of the change right from the travelling season starting in September and achieve the goal of eight million foreign tourists for this year. As of the end of April, Vietnam has welcomed nearly 3.7 million international arrivals, reaching nearly half of the goal it has set for 2023. However, these figures hint that Vietnam's tourism rebound is still underway - the 2023 goal is modest compared to the country's record 18 million international arrivals in 2019. Pham Ha, CEO of travel business Lux Group told Vietnam … [Read more...] about Industry insiders anticipate tourism boost as 90-day visa brought to NA meeting

Accordingly, relevant forces will carry out inspections in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An in the Northern and North-central regions in June, and in Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Binh Thuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Kien Giang in the Central, South-central and Southern regions from July to October. The ministry said this activity aims to raise awareness of state management agencies, investors, and managers and operators of accommodation establishments about the necessity to maintain and control tourism service quality towards sustainable tourism development, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the VNAT, tourist accommodation establishments nationwide have developed strongly in terms of quantity and quality, enabling the tourism industry to compete with other countries in the region and the world. The investment inflow into this sector has concentrated on sea and mountain resorts. Besides international corporations and brands such as Hyatt, … [Read more...] about Tourism accommodations to be inspected towards improved quality of services

Illustrative image (Source: balitravelnewspaper) Jakarta (VNA) – Garuda Indonesia , the national flag carrier of Indonesia, and Singapore Airlines plan to enter into a joint venture (JV) to increase passenger capacity between the two countries as post-COVID tourism in Southeast Asia ramps up. The proposed JV would allow the carriers to potentially synchronise schedules, improving passengers' connectivity and convenience, and explore new initiatives, including joint fare products and an alignment of corporate programmes, Indonesian Vice Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Kartika Wirjoatmodjo said on May 29. The plan will cover routes between Singapore and Denpasar, Jakarta, and Surabaya, and deepen the existing cooperation between the two carriers./. VNA … [Read more...] about Indonesia, Singapore cooperate in stepping up aviation services post COVID-19

Travel companies are anticipating that if the decision is finalized in the ongoing National Assembly’s meeting, which started on May 22, the sector could take advantage of the change right from the travelling season starting in September and achieve the goal of eight million foreign tourists for this year. As of the end of April, Vietnam has welcomed nearly 3.7 million international arrivals, reaching nearly half of the goal it has set for 2023. However, these figures hint that Vietnam's tourism rebound is still underway - the 2023 goal is modest compared to the country's record 18 million international arrivals in 2019. Pham Ha, CEO of travel business Lux Group told Vietnam News: “Open policies like this will be a driving force for tourism. “I believe that with other comprehensive policies, Vietnam can receive eight million foreign visitors within the year 2023.” The visa validity extension has been a long-awaited decision for many travel agencies, as it allows easier, … [Read more...] about Industry insiders anticipate tourism boost as 90-day visa brought to N.A. meeting

Boats move on Ngo Dong River in Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Four provinces in the southern part of the Red River Delta , namely Ninh Binh, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, and Thai Binh, have been taking steps to tap into their natural advantages to develop agricultural and rural tourism . The Nhan dan (People) daily cited tourism experts and culture researchers as saying that the southern region of the Red River Delta boasts a large farmland area, mainly fertile alluvial soil, relatively developed intensive farming, and favourable climate conditions for not only agricultural development but also agricultural and rural tourism. Over the past years, a number of domestic and international travellers have viewed agricultural and rural tourism as a novel experience worth to try, especially in the post-COVID period, when a trend of low-cost travel in rural places with pristine and beautiful landscapes has been rising. Grasping that chance, these … [Read more...] about Red River Delta provinces move to promote agritourism

Industrial production improved slightly but remained weak. Source: WB Specifically, the WB reported industrial production improved slightly but remained weak. The industrial production index increased marginally by 0.5 per cent on-year in April, an improvement from the 2 per cent on-year contraction in March. Production of textile, footwear, and leather products, electronics, computers, cell phones (including parts), motor vehicles and transportation equipment continued contracting in April as well as in the first four months of the year compared to the same period of 2022, reflecting weaker than expected exports. Continued expansion of industrial production for domestic consumption, including food and beverage as well as petrol, partly mirrors growth in domestic demand in April. Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 46.7 in April 2023 from 47.7 in March, indicating continued pessimistic business conditions. Retail sales growth moderated as 2022 as … [Read more...] about External headwinds continue to hurt Vietnam’s economy: World Bank

Hospitality properties have long been considered a lucrative and long-term profitable investment for real estate investors operating in Vietnam. Pockets of opportunities for hospitality real estate are present in Vietnam though the tourism recovery in Vietnam lags behind other Asian markets, and uncertainties remain due to the economic slowdown, according to Colliers. “Vietnam has good fundamentals for developing hospitality properties. There is the rise of the middle class, increasing accessibility to travel thanks to improved infrastructure, the country’s openness to international trade, which drives business travel, events, and conferences, etc. Investing in hospitality real estate is a smart bet,” David Jackson, CEO of Colliers (Vietnam) said. A hospitality property project - Vega City Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province. Colliers experts have said that, in 2019, occupancy rates in hospitality establishments (hotels, resorts and villas) reached 52%. On … [Read more...] about Investment opportunities for hospitality real estate in Vietnam: Colliers

Foreign visitors now enjoy only 30 days of stay in Vietnam, while the durations in other Southeast Asian countries are 45-90 days. National legislators have proposed that e-visa validity for foreign visitors should be extended to 60-90 days, higher than the average of 45-90 days in other regional nations. Visitors at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi. Photo: Cong Hung/The Hanoi Times A single foreign visitor can now live in Vietnam for a maximum of 30 days. The amended law on immigration, migration, residency, and layover for foreigners may enable the individual to stay in the country for 45 days. The projected cap is moderate compared to other nations in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Myanmar, deputy Ha Phuoc Thang from Ho Chi Minh City said at a National Assembly's group discussion session on May 27. "If the validity is capped at 60-90 days, that will undoubtedly boost tourist, economic, and … [Read more...] about E-visa expiry should be in 60-90 days: Lawmakers