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
Kashimira tourist destinations
Vietnam’s Ha Giang restarts tourist boat service on renowned Nho Que River
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
District in Phu Tho province taps into hot springs to boost tourism
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
Hanoi to host Autumn Festival in late September
At a press briefing for the event on September 20, Nguyen Mai Anh, deputy director of Hanoi Centre for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion (HPA), which is hosting the event, said, “The festival aims to promote Hanoi as a tourist destination and showcase the city's unique culture and cuisine.” The event is expected to host representatives from 14 different cities and provinces, all seeking to promote their own tourism products and services, including Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Hai Duong, Thai Binh, and Ninh Binh. Several activities will be held over the weekend to help both tourists and locals experience cultural activities such as how to make an Ao Dai, traditional music lessons, artistic street performances, and visits to historic villages. A seminar on events organisation and golf tourism will also be held, along with a photography exhibition displaying images of autumn in Hanoi. The highlight of the event will be an impressive performance of dragon dancing. … [Read more...] about Hanoi to host Autumn Festival in late September
Exploring Thien Duong Cave – a fairy scene on earth
Magnificent beauty of Thien Duong Cave (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - For those who love to experience caves, Son Doong is the most famous place in Vietnam that many people wish to explore once in their lifetime. However, there is another cave system in the central province of Quang Binh that is also attractive to tourists, which is the Thien Duong (Paradise) cave. Thien Duong cave is located in the core ecosystem of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park – a UNESCO-recognised world natural heritage site. The cave, about 70km to the northwest of downtown Dong Hoi city, was discovered by local residents in 2005. In addition to the characteristics that can also be found at other caves in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park , this cave features a unique and magnificent system of stalactites and stalagmites while boasting the title as one of the largest caves in the world. The discovery of the Thien Duong Cave immediately drew attention from officials, scientists, explorers, … [Read more...] about Exploring Thien Duong Cave – a fairy scene on earth