The elite travel startup competition, supported by the Australian Government and Asian Development Bank, includes Asia’s most prominent travel-specialized venture capitalists among its advisors. MIST’s second prize comes with a $5,000 innovation grant. Ecohost enables quality tourism experiences in the Vietnamese countryside, working village-by-village to develop tours and activities while improving the capacity of rural homestays to serve international guests. Ecohost came in second to BambooLao from Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. They have produced more than 80,000 reusable bamboo straws and other bamboo utensils, using indigenous bamboo varieties and a proprietary natural treatment process. Their straws are used by Aman Group, Pullman, Rosewood Group, and Sofitel properties, and EXO Travel tours. MIST supports high-growth-potential emerging market startups in travel and hospitality – especially startups that generate positive impacts for communities, culture, and the … [Read more...] about Vietnamese startup Ecohost takes second prize in travel startup competition
Travel
Vietnam wins 2nd prize in regional travel startup competition
Foreign tourists enjoy cycling in Viet Hai Village, Cat Ba Island. (Photo: goodmorningcatba.com) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese startup travel company Ecohost beat 110 competitors to take second prize in the 2018 Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) challenge. The elite travel startup competition, supported by the Australian Government and Asian Development Bank, includes Asia’s most prominent travel-specialised venture capitalists among its advisors. MIST’s second prize comes with a 5,000 USD innovation grant. Ecohost enables quality tourism experiences in Vietnam’s countryside, working village-by-village to develop tours and activities while improving the capacity of rural homestays to serve international guests. “The MIST innovation grant will enable us to deliver skills training courses across three villages and upgrading homestays for 15 families,” said Ecohost CEO Bui Thi Nhan. Ecohost came in second to BambooLao from Luang Prabang, Laos. … [Read more...] about Vietnam wins 2nd prize in regional travel startup competition
Floods cause great disruption for children travelling to school
High water levels during the flood season have divided many areas of the Mekong delta province of Long An. Many routes have been submerged, making it hard for children to get to school. For almost two months now, local children have had to wake up early and travel to school by boat. At 6am, these pupils and their parents climb aboard motorboats in front of their houses to travel to school. The small boats run through the middle of a flooded field, where it is impossible to make out the edges. The path to school contains many risks for pupils and their parents. Vinh Dai is one of the lowest-lying localities in the Dong Thap Muoi wetlands of the Mekong Delta. Over the past few days, floods have continuously increased, inundating not only roads, but schoolyards too. Although sandbags have been placed along school playgrounds to create a pathway for pupils, it is not entirely safe with children often falling down in the surrounding waters. It is not only Vinh Dai, but many other localities … [Read more...] about Floods cause great disruption for children travelling to school
Mekong Delta gets a high travel recommendation
By Bao Ngoc  October 18, 2018 | 02:49 pm GMT+7 The UK's Business Insider names the Mekong Delta in Vietnam as a “one-of-a-kind” destination for year-end travel. The site’s editors selected 13 best destinations for year-end travel, based on flight cost trends, climate information and international cultural calendars. Among three Asian destinations in the list is the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. A boat tour in the mangrove forest in An Giang Province, Mekong Delta. The site recommended several must-try travel experiences in ther region, including guided boat tours on the labyrinthine Mekong river and its many distributaries. It also said visitors should not miss out on the unique floating markets in the Mekong Delta, the most notable of them being the Cai Rang Market in Can Tho City. A floating market in Can Tho. Photo by VnExpress The Sam Mountain in Chau Doc District, An Giang Province, is also endorsed as one of the spectacles … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta gets a high travel recommendation
Mekong residents await highway for easier traveling
So far, Mekong's traffic infrastructure is the weakness of the region in spite of more bridges and roads being built. The national highway No.1 is still the only way connecting the region and other provinces. Poor infrastructure deters investors from pouring money in the region. Currently, Trung Luong - Can Tho faces heavy traffic in the country with over 50,000 vehicles per day and traffic is snarled up all the time. It takes 3.5 - 4 hours to travel in a 150 kilometer path from the Mekong delta City of Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, demand for a new expressway connecting Can Tho and HCMC is becoming urgent. Authorities in Mekong delta and residents have petitioned the government to solve infrastructure problem because most of agro-products of the Mekong delta are exported through ports in HCMC and connection will facilitate transportation of commodities and develop economy between the two cities in the South. Trung Luong - My Thuan highway project with the length of … [Read more...] about Mekong residents await highway for easier traveling