Travel and tourism national 5

The festival will feature a series of captivating activities such as a water procession ceremony to pray for national peace and mild weather, at Truc Lam - Ban Gioc Pagoda, a photo exhibition, and a food fair, among others. Folk games and artistic performances are expected to dazzle visitors, especially a “then” singing performance by local Tay ethnic minority people. Visitors will also be able to take part in chestnut picking at gardens in Chi Vien and Dam Thuy communes in Trung Khanh district. Earlier, the northern mountainous province has announced its plan to launch the pilot operation for one year of tours at Ban Gioc – Detian waterfalls on the Vietnam - China border. The piloted tour is expected to become an eco-friendly cross-border tourism model, helping Cao Bang capitalise on its tourism strengths to develop its socio-economy, while promoting friendship exchanges and mutual understanding of border localities of Vietnam and China./. VNA … [Read more...] about Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourism Festival set for early October

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

Ha Long Bay in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh ranked first on the list of 16 must-visit wonders in Southeast Asia compiled by the UK-based travel magazine Wanderlust. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – The UK-based travel magazine Wanderlust has named Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, Hoi An ancient city, and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park among 16 must-visit UNESCO wonders in Southeast Asia. world heritage site , ranked first on the list. Ancient tiled roofs in Hoi An ancient city. (Photo: VietnamPlus) The ancient town of Hoi An in central Vietnam is placed sixth on the list. "Far removed from the fogs of exhaust that envelop many a visit to Southeast Asia, UNESCO-listed Hoi An is a quiet, sculpted riposte to the pace of modern Vietnamese life," Wanderlust described. "It wasn’t always the case, though. The city was once a thriving port town and home to merchants from across Asia until the Thu Bon River silted up some 200 years ago and the traders moved on … [Read more...] about Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Phong Nha-Ke Bang named must-visit sites

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

Check out the latest events in Vietnam. Vietnam Friendship Medal bestowed on Franco-Vietnamese vaccine specialist Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presents the medal to Aurélia Nguyen in New York on Sept 20 (local time). Photo: Nhat Bac/VGP Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 20 (local time) presented the Vietnam Friendship Medal to high-ranking global vaccine expert Aurélia Nguyen in New York for her efforts and contribution to Vietnam's success in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. The Franco-Vietnamese vaccine expert is the Chief Program Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Aurélia was one of the key people who helped Vietnam receive 70 million vaccine doses from the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative. COVAX had pledged some 38.9 million doses to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City commemorates Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 20 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of … [Read more...] about Vietnam news in brief – September 21

Vietnam stood behind its Southeast Asian neighbors such as Thailand (18th), the Philippines (27th), Singapore (29th), Malaysia (31st) and Indonesia (39th) where retirement visas have already been offered for years. However, it was placed higher than South Korea (50th), Cambodia (52nd), China (62nd) and Myanmar (75th) in the region. The ranking was based on a global survey of more than 17,000 people recording their perceptions on several factors: affordability, favorable tax environment, friendliness, pleasant climate, respect for property rights and a well-developed public health system. This year, Switzerland was voted the best country for retirees, followed by Portugal and Australia. Last year, Vietnam ranked 39th among 85 destinations. Cheap living costs, high-quality healthcare and low levels of violent crime have pushed Vietnam's reputation as an ideal choice for foreign retirees. Tourism industry insiders believe Vietnam has a great opportunity to become a paradise … [Read more...] about Vietnam world’s 40th best country for ‘comfortable’ retirement

The first mentioned by author Daniel Schramm is the Phong Nha-Ke Bang Cave System - the underground treasures - in the central province of Quang Binh. The article wrote that few places in the world can rival the cave landscape of Phong Nha-Ke Bang in Vietnam, as this UNESCO world heritage site is a mecca for those who love adventure and nature, including the famous Son Doong Cave, widely considered the largest cave in the world. The Thien Duong (Paradise) Cave - is a spectacular stalactite cave with impressive formations, and the En Cave - is one of the few caves globally where camping is allowed. Dreamy beaches in Con Dao island district in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau are also recommended by the author. Con Dao is a real insider tip for travelers looking for a remote island paradise, as it boasts some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in Vietnam. These islands, which are part of a national park, have retained their original charm and are a retreat … [Read more...] about German news site introduces overlooked destinations in Vietnam

Participants at the conference (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - A conference to promote trade exchange s between businesses in the north-central region of Vietnam and those in Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani provinces in the northeastern region of Thailand was held in Thailand on September 18-20. As part of the national programme on trade promotion , the event was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Khon Kaen, the Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre of the central province of Quang Tri, and the authorities of Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. Vietnam ese Consul General Chu Duc Dung stressed that there remains great potential for Vietnamese goods to penetrate the Thai market because this country is home to a large community of overseas Vietnamese, with many of whom own supermarkets, distribution and supply stores. He affirmed that the Consulate General is always ready to accompany Vietnamese and Thai businesses in promoting … [Read more...] about Vietnamese firms seek to boost trade ties with businesses in Thailand’s northeastern region

The one-day forum featured one opening and two thematic sessions, and one plenary session - high-level dialogue. In his closing speech, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said in terms of internal capacity and motivations of the economy, delegates opined that it is essential to develop the production sectors of the economy, including agriculture, industry and services; speed up the disbursement of public investment, stimulate consumption demand, develop the domestic market and improve labor productivity. He said they called for synchronous measures to tackle difficulties, restructure various markets, develop and tightly regulate currency, stock, insurance, corporate bond and real estate markets. It is also essential to promote goods distribution via digital platforms and e-commerce, and stimulate domestic tourism demand as well. According to experts, if 95% of the public investment plan for 2023 is disbursed, additional 2 percentage points to the GDP growth in 2023 will … [Read more...] about Vietnam Socio-Economic Forum 2023 wraps up

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang speaks at the conference. (Photo: VNA) Lam Dong (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has identified three main tasks for the development of the Tay Nguyen Central Highlands and required provinces in the region to prioritise those tasks, while addressing the first conference of the Tay Nguyen coordinating council held in Da Lat city , Lam Dong province , on September 20. The Deputy PM said the three main tasks are completing transport infrastructure, enhancing intra-region connectivity, and establishing connectivity with adjacent regions and localities. Localities in the region should devise mechanisms to coordinate with each other in investment attraction and promotion following the principle of putting the region's common interests first, he said, adding that another important task is to set forth a strategy on developing agricultural production chains to make the best use of regional advantages. A view of the … [Read more...] about Deputy PM identifies three main tasks for Central Highlands development