A wide array of traditional Vietnamese cakes, such as two-colored pancake ( banh xeo ), five-colored cylindrical sticky rice cake ( banh tet ), and steamed palm sugar rice cake, are being showcased at a tourism festival in Can Tho City, located in the Mekong Delta region, drawing throngs of visitors. The municipal Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on Monday joined hands with the People’s Committee of Phong Dien District under the city to roll out the 10th Phong Dien - Can Tho Ecotourism Festival. The fest takes place to respond to the World Tourism Day on September 27. Within the framework of the fest, a cake-making contest is expected to improve the festive atmosphere and please visitors. Artisans decorate and arrange a table of folk cakes at the festival in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam. Photo: Lan Ngoc / Tuoi Tre The city’s annual event is meant to popularize cuisine and unique ecotourism products in the district among domestic and … [Read more...] about Eye-catching folk cakes lure visitors to Vietnam’s Mekong Delta city
Sagay city tourist attraction
Nha Trang promises to be a city of cinema 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
Ho Chi Minh City to renovate downtown opera house
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council has approved a plan to revitalize the Municipal Theatre, also known as the Saigon Opera House, as the theater has fallen into a state of degradation. The renovation of the opera house, which is considered as one of the city’s iconic symbols, is estimated to cost VND337 billion (US$13.9 million). The repair is aimed at preserving the architectural values of the establishment to make it a further attractive destination for international tourists visiting the city and a venue for important festivals and events. Chau Huy Toan, who has worked at the opera house for 33 years, said he has witnessed the building undergo two renovations. The Saigon Opera House is situated at 7 Cong Truong Lam Son, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The theater, developed over 123 years ago, is a popular destination for tourists to the city. In 1998, the city launched a large renovation of the theater and equipped it with modern sound … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City to renovate downtown opera house
China simplifies visa procedures to attract foreign tourists
The new version of the forms, which are now available, will help shorten the time needed to fill in the forms, said China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a regular news briefing in Beijing, according to Bloomberg . The applicant now only needs to submit their travel history for a year, instead of five years as previously required. In terms of educational background, it only requires the applicant’s highest academic qualification. Starting from March 15, China fully resumed the issuance of tourist visas, visa exemptions for certain countries, and the use of multiple-entry visas issued before the Covid pandemic. … [Read more...] about China simplifies visa procedures to attract foreign tourists
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
Number of international tourists to Vietnam bounces back
According to the Ministry of Culture , Sports and Tourism , since the beginning of this year, the sector has welcomed 8 million international arrivals, reaching the set target. The county expects to receive about 12 million foreign visitors this year. Meanwhile, many travel agencies reported good business results. Tour operator Vietravel revealed that in the first eight months of 2023, the company completed up to 80% of its plan on welcoming international tourists , including those from the EU and the Republic of Korea (RoK). Hanoitourist Corporation said it has received many orders from previous months for this year’s peak season. Vietnam has also experienced an upward trend in the number of foreign visitors, such as Cambodia with a rise of nearly 340 percent, India, over 230 percent, and Laos, nearly 120 percent. Several programs have been carried out to welcome international arrivals, and introduce new tourism products to attract new markets, such as Islamic … [Read more...] about Number of international tourists to Vietnam bounces back
Ancient Maya grave found in Mexico as tourist rail project advances
MEXICO CITY -- Mexican archaeologists unearthed a richly adorned human body in a grave that could be more than 1,000 years old, in an area where workers were finishing construction on a major tourist rail project, the country's national antiquities institute INAH said on Monday. The discovery took place this month during archaeological salvage work carried out in tandem with building a multibillion-dollar tourist train in southern Mexico designed in large part to draw tourists to southern Mexico's many ancient Maya sites, as well as nearby top beach resorts like Cancun and Tulum. The remains of a human burial, unearthed by Mexican archaeologists during salvage work carried out in Palenque in tandem with building the rail project known as the Maya Train, are seen in this undated Handout photo received from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) on September 25, 2023. Photo: Reuters The rail project, known as the Maya Train, is a top economic … [Read more...] about Ancient Maya grave found in Mexico as tourist rail project advances
Tourists overcharged? It’s a two-way street
"A scam is where you have no choice but to pay inflated prices. Nobody is forcing you to buy conical hats or pictures, if you don't think it is worth it then don't buy it." PhnomPenh "Many tourists are frugal and haggle VND5,000 on a VND25,000 banh mi for example. Stop being so cheap, especially when some get up at 4 a.m. to prepare ingredients and drive one hour to the city center to sell a few sandwiches in the searing downtown heat to help support their family. You're haggling over 20 cents with someone who earns $300 a month." kasperhenry "Why at all do you go to markets? Go to shopping malls with lower and fixed prices, air cons and no beggars and no lottery tickets sellers. Everything is cheaper there than on markets, with more comfy shopping experience. Also you can buy some wooden gifts at [...] normal shopping malls sometimes." Teal Burton "A vendor who is charging just around 8 euro for a souvenir does not earn enough to have a holiday overseas. I wonder why … [Read more...] about Tourists overcharged? It’s a two-way street
Vietnam’s Hai Phong City attracts extra $1.4 billion in foreign investment
Several enterprises from South Korea and Japan were granted investment certificates on Friday to develop FDI projects at industrial parks in the northern port city of Hai Phong, with a total pledged capital reaching nearly US$1.4 billion. The investment certificate handover ceremony was attended by Le Tien Chau, secretary of the municipal Party Committee. The Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board presented an investment certificate to Ecovane, a subsidiary of the South Korean chemicals maker SKC, to develop a hi-tech biodegradable material factory project worth $500 million. Other key projects receiving the certificates at the event included a BW ready-built factory worth $60 million and a $40-million auto parts manufacturing plant by China’s CCTY Bearing Company. Besides, Japan's Kyocera Document Solutions Inc was approved to pour an additional $237.5 million into its machine and equipment manufacturing plant project, raising the project’s total investment to $425 million. … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Hai Phong City attracts extra $1.4 billion in foreign investment
Ho Chi Minh City urged to double down on green goals
Attendees were keen to divulge their ideas on what is needed to fulfill Vietnam’s commitments, photo Le Toan Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai said at the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum 2023 that green transformation and green growth may create many new opportunities but also require large resources for relevant technologies, efficiency, and to minimise production and waste treatment costs. Highly qualified human resources, both in terms of knowledge and skills, are also a key factor for businesses to implement green economic initiatives and solutions. “In addition to the role of banks and financial institutions, Vietnam needs the participation and cooperation of international financial organisations in mobilising green finance,” Khai said. The move towards renewable energy sources, green transportation, and a supply chain of green goods from production to consumption are creating many attractive cooperation opportunities for both domestic and foreign businesses, he … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City urged to double down on green goals