Bali, known as the island of the Gods, was the most popular destination for Australian tourists while Bangkok was a top choice of Singaporeans, according to the report by Agoda analyzing flight bookings between January 1 to June 30 this year. Vu Ngoc Lam, Agoda's country director for Vietnam and Indochina, expressed excitement about the increasing enthusiasm for Vietnam as a top-notch travel destination. "Vietnam has an incredible ability to appeal to a wide range of travelers, offering a unique and authentic experience. Its diverse cultural tapestry, breathtaking landscapes, and exceptional hospitality are truly captivating, and it's tremendous to see Vietnam's increasing appeal to visitors from all around Asia Pacific reflected in Agoda's flight booking data," Lam said. Da Nang is the busiest tourist city in central Vietnam and it is used as a springboard to access three worldwide famous heritage sites – the Hue Imperial Capital, My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An Town. Da Nang is … [Read more...] about Da Nang favorite tourist destination of South Koreans, Thais
Popular tourist destinations in bali
Indonesian resort island to use tourist tax for waste management, cultural preservation
At Kuta beach, Bali (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) - The Bali administration has said that funds collected from a tax of 150,000 IDR (10 USD) per person to be levied from all foreign tourists starting next year will be used for waste management and cultural preservation programs. During a working session with Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry Secretary Ni Wayan Giri Adnyani on September 25, Bali acting governor Mahendra Jaya said Bali will use the revenue from the tourist tax for the purposes, adding that the tourism activities in Bali have resulted in waste piling up on the resort island. Meanwhile, cultural preservation is another important part of Bali tourism since culture is the backbone of tourism to the island, he said. With the improvement of waste management and cultural preservation programs because of the additional funding from the tourist tax, Bali can maintain its status as a world-class tourist destination for its environment and culture, the Bali … [Read more...] about Indonesian resort island to use tourist tax for waste management, cultural preservation
German press: Vietnam is a fascinating travel destination
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
Italian tourist deported from Bali for having sex in public
The man, identified only as LS, who entered with a visa on arrival, is also banned from returning to Bali for six months, the Indonesian National Police said at a press briefing. On September 9 he was found engaging in sexual activities with a woman in front of a house in the Seminyak area. They were caught on a security camera, and local police identified him and took action. They arrested him on September 23 and transferred him to Ngurah Rai Immigration for deportation. He told the police he had met a local woman at a club and they decided to find a hotel to have sex. But they evidently could not wait to reach a hotel. This year 227 foreign nationals have been deported from Bali for various offenses, including overstaying their visas and involvement in criminal activities. … [Read more...] about Italian tourist deported from Bali for having sex in public
Quang Ninh seeks ways to attract Muslim tourists
The “big piece of cake” is available There are about 2.1 billion Muslims globally. The yearly amount of money they spend is estimated at about USD 10 trillion. Most of Muslim tourists to the province come from the Middle East, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia with stable and strong financial resources and willingness to pay. According to experts, Islamic tourism, also known as Halal tourism is shifting to Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam. However, according to Ms. Tran Nu Ngoc Anh, an E.U. project expert, CEO of Dong A Hotel Group Joint Stock Company, to tap Islamic tourism, it requires tourist destinations, accommodation facilities, restaurants to have separate reception space and other facilities that meet their dietary needs, strict religious living habits, respect for different religious rituals, and separate reception times to avoid overlapping with reception times for other guests. Therefore, it needs the synchronicity and accuracy in … [Read more...] about Quang Ninh seeks ways to attract Muslim tourists
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
Foreign tourist arrivals to Hanoi surpass yearly plan
Of the figure, foreign tourist arrivals reached 3.2 million, marking a four-fold increase compared to the same period of last year and surpassing this year's target of 3 million, while the number of domestic visitors rose by 20.2% year on year to 15.7 million. Total tourism revenue was estimated at 69.3 trillion VND (2.88 billion USD), up 66.9% year-on-year. Hanoi has consistently received high praise from international tourism organizations, ranking among the most attractive destinations in the world. On September 6, Hanoi was once again recognized as the top city destination in Asia for 2023. Director of the Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang said the sector has launched various types of tourism that align with the strengths of each area, such as sport tourism in outlying district of Soc Son, community-based tourism with a focus on health care in Ba Vi and Soc Son districts, and hot air balloon tourism in Tay Ho and Long Bien districts and Son Tay township. It has … [Read more...] about Foreign tourist arrivals to Hanoi surpass yearly plan
Vietnam world’s 19th most visited destination this summer
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
Tourists wary of rip-offs in HCMC
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
Vibrant floating village emerges as unique Mekong Delta destination
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