(VEN) - Taking a Mekong River trip from Ho Chi Minh City or My Tho in Tien Giang Province to Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh and Siem Reap Province is a relaxing, rewarding experience enhanced by beautiful landscape and local specialties. Three to five-star boats carry passengers from Ho Chi Minh City along the Sai Gon River towards the Cho Gao Canal, which connects the Vam Co and Tien rivers, and then to Ben Tre Province, Tra On District in Vinh Long Province, the city of Can Tho, and An Giang Province’s Long Xuyen and Chau Doc cities. At the Cai Be stop in Vinh Long Province, visitors are offered the use of small boats to sail through canals and nipa palm forests, followed by a walk or bicycle ride through island villages, where they can experience local life. In addition to sampling local food, visitors can learn how to cook local food, work together with local residents to make rice paper and coconut candy, and weave vases with dried water hyacinth trunks, among other … [Read more...] about The lure of travelling along the Mekong River
Travel
Foreign OTAs dominate Vietnam’s online travel market
Global online travel agencies (OTAs) currently hold up to 80% of Vietnam’s online travel market share, said Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Rapidly-developing technology has had an impact on many sectors, including tourism Tuan gave the information at Online Tourism Forum 2018 held by Vietnam E-Commerce Association (VECOM) and VNAT in Hanoi on March 29. Rapidly-developing technology has had an impact on many sectors, including tourism. Over the past two years, personal and group experience travel booked using smartphones to search information has been on the rise, replacing travel agents. Visitors often book flights tickets or rooms through OTAs. At the meeting, Tuan cited VECOM’s information as saying that OTAs such as Agoda.com, booking.com, Traveloka.com and Expedia.com account for up to 80% of Vietnam’s online travel market share. Most foreign visitors who come to Vietnam and domestic holidaymakers use … [Read more...] about Foreign OTAs dominate Vietnam’s online travel market
Int’l Travel Expo promotes tourism cooperation
The 14th International Travel Expo HCM City, the largest event of its kind in the Mekong sub-region, will be held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre from September 6-8. This year, ITE HCMC will be bigger and better, with more than 300 booths from airlines, hotels and resorts, travel firms and tourism representatives from more than 40 countries and territories like Germany, Japan, Russia, Turkey, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and the UAE. La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of HCM City’s Department of Tourism, said the event is a platform for international and regional buyers, suppliers and trade professionals from tourism and travel organisations in both inbound and outbound markets in the Mekong sub-region. This year, the country’s tourism sector will focus on tourism promotion and marketing activities for tours in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Northeast Asia, Khanh said. The expo will feature a … [Read more...] about Int’l Travel Expo promotes tourism cooperation
Men travel 200km to save a stranger’s life
Teacher Nguyễn Quý Hùng (left) and Government officer Nguyễn Văn Quân (right) receive the merits for donating their rare blood to save a stranger. - Photo thanhnien.vnViet Nam News HÀ TĨNH — Two men from the central province of Quảng Bình have been praised by the health ministry for travelling more than 200km at night to donate their rare blood to save a dying patient. The 38-year-old Nguyễn Quý Hùng, a secondary teacher of the Cao Quảng School in Tuyên Hóa District, and 33-year-old Nguyễn Văn Quân, an officer of Lệ Thủy District People’s Committee, on Monday were granted the merit certificate signed by the Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến at Hà Tĩnh Province General Hospital. During the night of March 3, the hospital received a 70-year-old patient Hồ Thị Thi whose stomach was bleeding severely. Thi needed an … [Read more...] about Men travel 200km to save a stranger’s life
Australia warns travellers of ‘anti-West sentiment’ in Russia
By AFP  April 1, 2018 | 10:57 am GMT+7 The warning comes less than three months before Australian fans are expected to follow the Socceroos football team to the World Cup in Russia. Photo by AFP Moscow on Friday expelled diplomats from 23 countries, including Australia. Canberra on Sunday warned Australian travellers in Russia of the risk of "anti-Western sentiment or harassment" as the diplomatic fallout builds over a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain. The warning comes less than three months before Australian fans are expected to follow the Socceroos football team to the World Cup in Russia. Australia on Tuesday joined the United States and other British allies in expelling two Russian diplomats over the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. In response, Moscow on Friday expelled diplomats from 23 countries, including Australia. "Due to heightened political tensions, you should be aware of the … [Read more...] about Australia warns travellers of ‘anti-West sentiment’ in Russia