HCM City targets tourism revenue of $5.3bil

HCM City targets tourism revenue of $5.3bil <p><em>The tourism sector of HCMC is focusing on developing new products to achieve revenue of VND120 trillion (nearly US$5.3 billion) this year, an increase of 16.5% over 2016 and well above the earlier-set goal of VND116 trillion.</em></p> <p><em><br /></em></p> <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Tourists join a river tour in Can Gio District, HCMC" src="http://bit.ly/2nGPuRw" title="Tourists join a river tour in Can Gio District, HCMC" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">Tourists join a river tour in Can Gio District, HCMC</p> </div> <p>The city’s tourism sector looks to attract six million international visitors, up 15.39% from last year.</p> <p>The target for domestic tourists is 25 million, a rise of nearly 15%, but the city will strive to reach 30 million, a surge of 37.6% against 2016, said Bui Ta Hoang Vu, director of the HCMC Department of Tourism.</p> <p>There are currently 2,113 hotels and lodging facilities citywide with about 49,000 guest rooms, which are enough to accommodate over 7.5 million international visitors a year.</p> <p>Nearly 1,200 enterprises are active in tourism with 5,000 tour guides, Vu noted.</p> <p>In the first quarter of 2017, international tourist arrivals to the city are estimated at 1.58 million, a pickup of 15% over the same period last year and meeting 26.4% of the year’s plan, bringing in VND27.77 trillion revenues, up 15.6% year-on-year.</p> <p>In addition to the existing tourism products, the city tourism sector is focusing on potential products such as waterway travel and tourism associated with agriculture.</p> <p>Also, the city is promoting new tourism products such as opening an oriental medicine quarter, a pedestrian street, a music road and weekend markets, together with the tourism stimulus program.</p> <p>“The tourism industry of HCMC in the future will raise its total contribution to the city’s GDP to 12% from the current 10%,” Vu told the meeting on March 29 on the city’s tourism sector performance in the first quarter.</p> <p>However, the director of the tourism department admitted that despite many positive changes in the tourism environment, robberies, unregistered taxis and brand imitation had irritated visitors in HCMC but no remedies are in sight.</p> <p>Tourism promotion publications are unattractive.</p> <p>For the development of river tourism, Tran Hung Viet, general director of Saigontourist, suggested building a proper network of wharves and ports to facilitate river tour programs of travel firms.</p> <p>A representative of the HCMC Department of Transport said a number of locations had been selected as terminals for river tours, such as Bach Dang Wharf and Saigon Port.</p> <p>On April 12, the city will start work on a river bus service and put it into operation in late June.</p> <p>Another service connecting to District 8 will get going in early 2018 to serve travel programs along the canals of Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe and Tau Hu-Ben Nghe.</p> <p>A representative of Can Gio District said the district was in the process of re-planning for the development of a modern coastal city.</p> <p>Currently, the number of visitors to Can Gio is huge at weekends, leading to congestion at the Binh Khanh ferry terminal.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Can Gio Bridge project linking Nha Be and Can Gio, invested by Trung Nam Group and Vingroup, will take at least two more years to complete.</p> <p>Thus, some have proposed the city upgrade the ferry terminal.</p> <p>A representative of Cu Chi District said Tuan Chau Group had just conducted a survey for a project to build a 50-km riverside road from Ham Nghi Boulevard in District 1 to Ben Suc in Cu Chi District.</p> <p>This project is expected to help reduce traffic congestion along the way from the northwest to the city center, contributing to urban rehabilitation and tourism development.</p> <p>HCMC vice chairman Tran Vinh Tuyen asked each district to develop 1-2 new tourism products and find solutions to ensure safety for waterway tourists.</p> <p>He said the biggest weakness of the city’s tourism industry now was coordination between departments, so monthly meetings should be organized in the coming time to work out solutions.</p> <p><em>SGT</em></p> <br /> HCM City targets tourism revenue of $5.3bil Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2nGPuRw" width="200" /><br />

HCM City targets tourism revenue of $5.3bil

HCM City targets tourism revenue of $5.3bil The tourism sector of HCMC is focusing on developing new products to achieve revenue of VND120 t...

+ Read more »

Legendary O Quy Ho pass in Vietnam’s northwest

Legendary O Quy Ho pass in Vietnam’s northwest <p><strong>(VOVworld) – O Quy Ho is one of the 4 most daunting passes in Vietnam’s northwestern region. The other three are Ma Pi Leng in Ha Giang province, Khau Pha in Yen Bai, and Pha Din between Son La and Dien Bien province. The beauty and magnificence of O Quy Ho pass inspires adventure lovers.<br /></strong></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="Legendary O Quy Ho pass in Vietnam’s northwest" src="http://bit.ly/2oG4lt3" title="Legendary O Quy Ho pass in Vietnam’s northwest" width="500" /><br /> <em>Legendary O Quy Ho pass in Vietnam’s northwest</em></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The 50-km long O Quy Ho pass, also known as Hoang Lien Son or May (Cloud) pass runs through the Hoang Lien Son range connecting Lai Chau and Lao Cai province. The pass is associated with a legend about the Love waterfall, where a fairy and a lumberjack named O Quy Ho met and fell in love. Because they could not get married, the fairy turned into a bird and flying over the mountain, called out his name “O Quy Ho”. The pass is also called “Cloud” pass because it is obscured by clouds the year round. Vu Truong Giang of Sa Pa township says that from the pass, visitors can admire the imposing panorama of Fansipan mountain, the highest mountain in Indochina: “O Quy Ho pass, called the Sa Pa heaven’s gate, is the highest point of Vietnam’s roads, 2,000 meters above sea level. At the top of the pass, you can see Lai Chau’s beautiful valleys below. When it is sunny in Lai Chau, the passes of Lao Cai province are often shrouded in clouds.”</p> <p>The climate on either side of O Quy Ho pass, in Lai Chau and Lao Cai province, is often very different during the year. When it’s warm and sunny in Lai Chau, it’s cold and cloudy in Lao Cai and vice versa. Ms Hong Anh of the Sao Viet Travel Company says: “We organize tours of O Quy Ho pass to explore a number of scenic spots there like Thac Bac (Silver) waterfall, one of Lao Cai’s 10 most beautiful waterfalls. The road over O Quy Ho pass has been upgraded making the trip easier for tourists. At 2,000 m above sea level, you can see an ocean of clouds.”</p> <p>As one of the most difficult and winding passes in Vietnam’s northwestern mountains, O Quy Ho inspires a lot of adventure tourists. Minh Trang is a visitor from Hanoi: “I have crossed O Quy Ho pass by motorbike twice, once in the daytime and once under a full moon. I had two very different experiences. Under the full moon, the view from the pass was extremely beautiful and romantic.”</p> <p>O Quy Ho is one of the most attractive destinations in northwestern Vietnam. Blessed by nature, its beauty offers tourists a majestic landscape.</p> <p>Vinh Phong</p> <br /> Legendary O Quy Ho pass in Vietnam’s northwest Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2oG4lt3" width="200" /><br />

Legendary O Quy Ho pass in Vietnam’s northwest

Legendary O Quy Ho pass in Vietnam’s northwest (VOVworld) – O Quy Ho is one of the 4 most daunting passes in Vietnam’s northwestern region. ...

+ Read more »

Enjoying weekend markets in HCM City

Enjoying weekend markets in HCM City <p><em>Rubik Zoo, The New District and Saigon Holiday are good suggestions for young people in Ho Chi Minh City at weekend to visit, go shopping and taste delicious food.</em></p> <p><em><br /></em></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 1" src="http://bit.ly/2oFUUJU" /> <p>Rubik Zoo on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St., Dist. 1 consists of 100 booths selling clothes, fashion accessories, and food.</p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 2" src="http://bit.ly/2ogtAFK" /></p> <p>The market opens at 9:00am and close at 0:00am at weekend.</p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 3" src="http://bit.ly/2oG1Nv1" /></p> <p>The New District on Nguyen Tat Thanh St., Dist. 4 gathers fashion brands including Nosbyn, The Blue T-Shirt, Heverly, Urbanista, and Pop Birdy.</p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 4" src="http://bit.ly/2ogeeBa" /></p> <p>Street food.</p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 5" src="http://bit.ly/2oGfk5s" /></p> <p>Hello Weekend Market in Dist. 1.</p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 6" src="http://bit.ly/2ogqFg3" /></p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 7" src="http://bit.ly/2oFWziI" /></p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 8" src="http://bit.ly/2ogA2wi" /></p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 9" src="http://bit.ly/2oG2Jzf" /></p> <p>Saigon Flea Market on Ton Dat Tien St., Dist. 7 was founded in 2011.</p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 10" src="http://bit.ly/2ogot8t" /></p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 11" src="http://bit.ly/2oFRfft" /></p> <p>Saigon Holiday Market on Vo Van Tan St., Dist. 3.</p> <p><img alt="Nhung phien cho cuoi tuan khien ban de 'chay tui' tai TP.HCM hinh anh 12" src="http://bit.ly/2ogd48t" /></p> <p>Saigon Urban Flea Market in Dist. 2.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><em>Zing/VOV</em></p> <br /> Enjoying weekend markets in HCM City Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2oFUUJU" width="200" /><br />

Enjoying weekend markets in HCM City

Enjoying weekend markets in HCM City Rubik Zoo, The New District and Saigon Holiday are good suggestions for young people in Ho Chi Minh Cit...

+ Read more »

Phu Quoc Island increasingly appealing to European tourists

Phu Quoc Island increasingly appealing to European tourists <p>Phu Quoc Island increasingly appealing to European tourists</p> <p>Dao Loan</p> <p>HCMC – An increasing number of European tourists have booked tours to Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province in recent months.</p> <p>Tour bookings to Phu Quoc have grown steadily in recent years. Meanwhile, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet have experienced a decrease in tourist arrivals, according to Ung Phuong Dung, director of ICS Travel Group.</p> <p>Bui Viet Thuy Tien, managing director of Asian Trails Co Ltd., said many European partners had asked her company for information about Phu Quoc at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade fair early this month.</p> <p>She added bookings of Phu Quoc tours have posted strong growth. “European tourists frequently flock to the island, especially from November to March, to escape freezing winter.”</p> <p>The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said that on the occasion of the fair, representatives of two major European tour operators, TUI Group and Alpitour World, have expressed keen interest in co-launching chartered flights to transport British and Italian travelers to Phu Quoc on a weekly basis, starting from the end of this year.</p> <p>TUI Group is expected to bring at least 8,000 tourists to Vietnam’s laid-back island in the first five years.</p> <p>Western tourists are more inclined to visit islands. Hence, with its largely unspoiled natural beauty, the off-the-beaten-track destination has become more attractive to them than crowded places like Nha Trang and Phan Thiet.</p> <p>However, an increasingly large amount of untreated waste and wastewater on the island has raised environmental concerns among travelers and tour operators.</p> <p>Tien said some of her European partners have recently visited the island to explore tourism potentials. By the end of the trip, the most frequent question they asked her was whether the marine environment would be safe for their customers.</p> <p>Those at the fair also had the same concern, asking about the treatment of wastewater in the area.</p> <p>“Products and competitive prices are the first two key factors to persuade them into bringing customers, but the environmental factor is also another major issue. Phu Quoc has been very attractive to tourists, so (the local government) needs to clean up the environment. Otherwise, the destination will gradually lose its appeal,” she said.</p> <br /> Phu Quoc Island increasingly appealing to European tourists Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Phu Quoc Island increasingly appealing to European tourists

Phu Quoc Island increasingly appealing to European tourists Phu Quoc Island increasingly appealing to European tourists Dao Loan HCMC – An...

+ Read more »

Japan assists local firms in tour arrangements

Japan assists local firms in tour arrangements <p>Japan assists local firms in tour arrangements</p> <p>Dao Loan</p> <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="" src="http://bit.ly/2omdjwj" width="500" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">Tourism officials of Japan and HCMC attend the inauguration of the representative office of the Japan Tourism Agency in Vietnam – PHOTO: DAO LOAN</p> </div> <p>HCMC – The Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) has pledged to work closely with Vietnamese travel firms specializing in arranging Japan tours for local guests, JTA said at a conference on the “Visit Japan” program on March 29.</p> <p>Takahashi Ayumi, the agency’s chief representative in Vietnam, said Vietnam is a potential source market for Japan’s tourism sector. In the five years to 2016, Vietnamese visitors to Japan increased fourfold to over 233,000.</p> <p>Japan will participate in many tourism fairs such as the International Travel Expo (ITE) in HCMC and organize seminars to provide information and cooperate with domestic tourism companies to open more attractive tours from Vietnam to Japan.</p> <p>“We are ready to directly support Vietnamese enterprises. They can now ask us for help and we will give advice on a case-by-case basis,” said Ayumi at the “Visit Japan” conference in HCMC. This is also the event for the Japan Tourism Agency to introduce its representative office, which was inaugurated in Hanoi on Wednesday.</p> <p>At the conference, Japan introduced new tourist destinations in Chubu and Kyushu to provide Vietnamese tourists with more tour options. Currently, the most attractive destinations for Vietnamese tourists are Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.</p> <p>The Japanese side has done plenty of activities to help Vietnamese tourism firms organize tours to Japan, including sharing advertising costs.</p> <p>On March 29 in Hanoi, representatives of the Japan Tourism Agency and the Japan National Tourism Organization signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to promote tourism cooperation between the two countries.</p> <p>The two sides expect Japanese arrivals in Vietnam to rise to one million by 2018, compared to 740,000 last year, and the number of Vietnamese tourists to Japan to reach half a million by then.</p> <br /> Japan assists local firms in tour arrangements Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2omdjwj" width="200" /><br />

Japan assists local firms in tour arrangements

Japan assists local firms in tour arrangements Japan assists local firms in tour arrangements Dao Loan Tourism officials of Japan and HCM...

+ Read more »

Foreign tourists to Vietnam rise 21% in first quarter

Foreign tourists to Vietnam rise 21% in first quarter <p>More than 3.2 million foreign tourists visited Vietnam in the first three months of 2017, up 29% over a year earlier, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).</p> <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Foreign tourists visiting Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in Ho Chi Minh city. (Photo: VNA)" src="http://bit.ly/2nPq1FE" title="Foreign tourists visiting Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in Ho Chi Minh city. (Photo: VNA)" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">Foreign tourists visiting Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in Ho Chi Minh city. (Photo: VNA)</p> </div> In March alone, Vietnam welcomed nearly 1 million foreigners, down 16.1% from the previous month but up 21.2% year-on-year. <p>This significant result showed the efforts of the tourism industry, creating the premise for the year’s target of receiving 11.5 million international arrivals and serving 66 million domestic visitors, grossing a revenue of VND460 trillion.</p> <p>From the start of the year, Vietnam tourism actively joined overseas promotion and cooperation, especially participating in the 2017 ASEAN – China Tourism Cooperation Year in the Philippines from March 15^th to 17^th.</p> <p>Also in March, Vietnam participated in the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition, one the five biggest tourism fairs in the world. At the fair, Vietnam’s destinations, attractive tourism types, activities of the 2017 National Tourism Year and special cultural activities were introduced with the hope of attracting more foreigners to the country./.</p> <p>BTA</p> <br /> Foreign tourists to Vietnam rise 21% in first quarter Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2nPq1FE" width="200" /><br />

Foreign tourists to Vietnam rise 21% in first quarter

Foreign tourists to Vietnam rise 21% in first quarter More than 3.2 million foreign tourists visited Vietnam in the first three months of 20...

+ Read more »

Boundaries to be broken around Hanoi Opera House under ministry plan

Boundaries to be broken around Hanoi Opera House under ministry plan <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Boundaries to be broken around Hanoi Opera House under ministry plan" src="http://bit.ly/2nzkSzD" width="500" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">Hanoi’s Opera House seen from above. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy</p> </div> <p>The goal is to turn what was built for an elite French audience into a cultural destination for everyone.</p> <div> <p>Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced plans to pull down the fence around the Hanoi Opera House and turn the area into an attractive cultural spot for members of the public and tourists to enjoy.</p> <p>Minister Nguyen Ngoc Thien said at a meeting on Wednesday in Hanoi that the ministry will invite foreign designers and consultants to advise on the project, which will involve connecting the building with attractions like the National History Museum, which is a three-minute walk away.</p> <p>Both landmarks were built by the French during colonial times.</p> <p>Thien said the complex will serve as a public stage for arts performances to highlight the capital’s cultural side and attract tourists, but added the plan was not aimed at financial gain.</p> <p>“The Opera House is not a place for commercial shows. It should be developed into Vietnam’s leading cultural destination.”</p> <p>Nguyen Thai Binh, a ministry spokesman, said the project will be funded by the state budget and private investors.</p> <p>The French built the Opera House between 1901 and 1911, erecting the fence as the house mainly served a French audience who came to watch touring artists performing French and Italian repertoire. The Saigon Opera House was built at around the same time.</p> <p>Hanoi received more than four million foreign visitors last year, up 23 percent against 2015.</p> </div> <div>Related News: <div> <ul> <li><a href="http://bit.ly/2oeYb79">Art tours to take visitors inside Hanoi’s iconic Opera House</a></li> <li><a href="http://bit.ly/2nziKHW">Giant turtle statue proposal fails to float Hanoi’s boat</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <br /> Boundaries to be broken around Hanoi Opera House under ministry plan Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2nzkSzD" width="200" /><br />

Boundaries to be broken around Hanoi Opera House under ministry plan

Boundaries to be broken around Hanoi Opera House under ministry plan Hanoi’s Opera House seen from above. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy Th...

+ Read more »

Jetstar Pacific launches Hai Phong-Quang Binh route

Jetstar Pacific launches Hai Phong-Quang Binh route <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="" src="http://bit.ly/2nyKfS3" width="500" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">A Jetstar airplane (Photo courtesy of Jetstar)</p> </div> <strong><br /> Hanoi (VNA)</strong> – Travel from the northern port city of Hai Phong and Dong Hoi in central Quang Binh province will become much easier when the low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacfic launch its flight on the route from April 29. <p>Accordingly, three round-trip flights will be operated a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with flight duration of one hour, using 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft, the carrier announced on March 30.</p> <p>The flight from Hai Phong will depart at 17:35 and the return leg at 19:10.</p> <p>In celebration of the new route, the airline is offering promotional fares priced from only 40,000 VND (1.76 USD). The promotion is applicable from 11:00-24:00 on March 30.</p> <p>The tickets are available on www.jetstar.com for flights between September 11 and October 29, 2017.</p> <p>The opening of Hai Phong-Dong Hoi air route is part of a tourism development cooperation programme between Jetstar Pacific, Hai Phong city and Quang Binh province. It is also part of the dual-brand strategy between the carrier and Vietnam Airlines to enlarge the flight network, meeting demands from customers and stimulating tourism growth.</p> <p>Quang Binh province is home to a line-up of stunning landscapes, which have drawn increasing attraction from both domestic and foreign holiday-makers. Meanwhile, Hai Phong is one of the significant economic centres in the north with huge potentials for tourism development.</p> <p>On the occasion, cheap tickets on domestic and international routes are provided from 88,000 VND (3.86 USD) to 348,000 VND (15.28 USD), depending on different routes.</p> <p>The Hai Phong-Dong Hoi route is the 40th of Jetstar Pacific’s flight network, which is linked with the network operated by Jetstar Group connecting 80 destinations in 17 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.</p> <p>Jetstar Pacific is a member of the Jetstar Group. It has two major shareholders: Vietnam Airlines and Qantas of Australia.-VNA</p> <br /> Jetstar Pacific launches Hai Phong-Quang Binh route Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2nyKfS3" width="200" /><br />

Jetstar Pacific launches Hai Phong-Quang Binh route

Jetstar Pacific launches Hai Phong-Quang Binh route A Jetstar airplane (Photo courtesy of Jetstar) Hanoi (VNA) – Travel from the northe...

+ Read more »

A move to boost VN-JP tourism exchanges

A move to boost VN-JP tourism exchanges <table> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="" src="http://bit.ly/2nyVpX6" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>At the opening ceremony, the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and the JNTO inked a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance destination promotion and visitor exchange; and share experience and information on areas of mutual interest.</p> <p>Speaking at the event, VNAT Director Nguyen Van Tuan noted that tourism co-operation between the two countries has gained considerable results in the past years with an average increase of 9% per year in the number of Japanese visitors to Vietnam in the 2010-2016 period.</p> <p>Last year, the country welcomed 740,000 Japanese visitors, up 10% compared to 2015 while about 233,000 Vietnamese visitors travelled to Japan, up 26% over 2015, he said.</p> <p>The launching of a Japanese tourism representative office in Viet Nam will contribute to promoting the exchange of visitors between the two countries with an expected 1.5 million visitors each year, Tuan added.</p> <p>Takahashi Ayumi is head of the JNTO representative office in Viet Nam which will carry out a tourism stimulus policy to promote Vietnamese tourists to travel to Japan as well as assisting Vietnamese travel companies in organising tours to Japan.</p> <p>The office is scheduled to join the 2017 Viet Nam International Travel Mart from April 6-9.</p> <p><strong>By Vien Nhu</strong></p> <br /> A move to boost VN-JP tourism exchanges Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2nyVpX6" width="200" /><br />

A move to boost VN-JP tourism exchanges

A move to boost VN-JP tourism exchanges At the opening ceremony, the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and the JNTO ...

+ Read more »

Breaking trans barriers one barbell at a time in Vietnam

Breaking trans barriers one barbell at a time in Vietnam <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Breaking trans barriers one barbell at a time in Vietnam" src="http://bit.ly/2nyr3E0" width="500" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">This picture taken on February 19, 2017 shows Kendy Nguyen posing in front of a mirror at a gym in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam</p> </div> <p>It feels strange, but bodybuilder Kendy Nguyen must sometimes strap a bikini top over his rock-hard pecs and pretend he is once again a woman.</p> <div> <p>Kendy’s not happy about the official rules that force him to compete with other women, but it’s a small price to pay to live the rest of his life as a man, says Vietnam’s first openly transgender competitive bodybuilder.</p> <p>“It’s weird to wear the uniform during competition, I don’t really like it, but because (bodybuilding) is my passion, I accept it,” said 28-year-old Kendy, wearing a black sleeveless shirt showing off his bulging biceps.</p> <p>With more than 6,000 Facebook followers, an outspoken nature and Adonis-like physique, Kendy is breaking transgender barriers in Vietnam.</p> <p>He’s also changing what it means to be a male bodybuilder in a world awash with body oil, fake tans and protruding muscle veins, typically thought of as a boys club for only the most macho of men.</p> <p>“I want to be a role model for transgender people, specifically female-to-male,” Kendy told <em>AFP</em>, after busting out a quick workout at his local gym in Ho Chi Minh City.</p> <p>“They have a lot of difficulties coming out to their families, and I want them to see themselves in a positive way by going to the gym.”</p> <p>He speaks from experience.</p> <p>His parents rejected him when they found out he was trans, and they barely talk today.</p> <p>Kendy fell into bodybuilding through some friends at the hotel where he worked after injuring himself doing karate.</p> <p>His physical transformation accompanied his emotional transition, and he now trains six days a week — twice a day when preparing for a competition.</p> <p>He’s raked in dozens of medals since he started competing in 2012, including a silver and a gold at last year’s national championship.</p> <p>But he insists he doesn’t have an unfair advantage over the women he must compete with according to the organizers’ strict rules.</p> <p>“In bodybuilding, using hormones is normal for men and women, everyone uses them,” he said.</p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="This picture taken on February 19, 2017 shows Kendy Nguyen (R) talking with two women during a training session at a gym in Ho Chi Minh City." src="http://bit.ly/2odUmia" width="500" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>This picture taken on February 19, 2017 shows Kendy Nguyen (R) talking with two women during a training session at a gym in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong>Looking up to Schwarzenegger</strong></p> <p>The Vietnam Sports Administration officially bans any hormone use as doping, but admits it is hard to control, and said in the absence of any regulations on trans competitors Kendy has to compete according to his legal gender at birth.</p> <p>“If Kendy legally changes his identity, then he could compete with men,” said Do Dinh Khang, head of weightlifting and bodybuilding at the organization.</p> <p>The Vietnamese government is drafting a landmark law that could allow some trans people to legally change their gender, but it’s not yet clear who will be eligible.</p> <p>Kendy said he’s not ready to have sex-reassignment surgery, currently not available in Vietnam.</p> <p>It’s also not clear whether the law — which will take at least two years to pass — will allow him to change his gender if he doesn’t have the surgery.</p> <p>Kendy isn’t the first trans role model in Vietnam, where Nguyen Huong Giang shot to stardom on the ultra-popular Vietnam Idol — one of several well-known trans singers in the country.</p> <p>But female-to-male celebrities are not as well-known as their ultra-feminine counterparts, and there are few role models outside the entertainment industry.</p> <p>“Kendy has proven that trans people have the freedom to choose their jobs like everybody else,” said Luong The Huy, LGBT rights program manager at the non-profit institute iSEE.</p> <p>Kendy said he had few people to look up to while he was growing up trans in Vietnam, but doesn’t hesitate when asked who his idol is today.</p> <p>“Arnold Schwarzenegger,” he said, flashing a broad smile.</p> </div> <div>Related News: <div> <ul> <li><a href="http://bit.ly/2lpOJJR">Vietnamese law to recognize transgender people in 2017</a></li> <li><a href="http://bit.ly/2odGODE">Travel sector zooms in on lucrative gay market</a></li> <li><a href="http://bit.ly/2ny9nIQ">Saigon boarding school says no to homosexual students</a></li> <li><a href="http://bit.ly/2odRfH7">Lesbian stories revealed at Hanoi art exhibition</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <br /> Breaking trans barriers one barbell at a time in Vietnam Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2nyr3E0" width="200" /><br />

Breaking trans barriers one barbell at a time in Vietnam

Breaking trans barriers one barbell at a time in Vietnam This picture taken on February 19, 2017 shows Kendy Nguyen posing in front of a mi...

+ Read more »

Quang Ninh sets new sightseeing fees in Ha Long Bay

Quang Ninh sets new sightseeing fees in Ha Long Bay <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="" src="http://bit.ly/2odQr5k" width="500" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">Illustrative image (Source: VNA)</p> </div> <br /> <strong>Quang Ninh (VNA)</strong> – The northern province of Quang Ninh has set new sightseeing fees in Ha Long Bay, to be applied from April 1, while abolishing the kayak service in the bay. <p>According to Decision No. 4278/2016/QD-UBND issued by the provincial People’s Committee, the new fees for five sightseeing routes in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays will range between 200,000 – 250,000 VND ( 9-11 USD) per route.</p> <p>Previously, visitors had to pay an entrance fee of 120,000 VND and additional fees for each single site they visited, ranging from 30,000 – 50,000 VND for one site.</p> <p>The fees for boat transport and overnight accommodation services in Ha Long Bay will range between 500,000 – 750,000 VND ( 22 – 33 USD) per person, doubling the old levels of 200,000 – 350,000 – 400,000 VND for one, two, and three nights, respectively.</p> <p>Meanwhile on March 29, the Ha Long City issued a document on ending kayak boat services on Ha Long Bay from April 1.</p> <p>According to local authorities, this kind of service has quickly developed while the service prices are not listed and service providers tend to overcharge, which may affect the reputation of Ha Long Bay.-VNA</p> <br /> Quang Ninh sets new sightseeing fees in Ha Long Bay Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2odQr5k" width="200" /><br />

Quang Ninh sets new sightseeing fees in Ha Long Bay

Quang Ninh sets new sightseeing fees in Ha Long Bay Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Quang Ninh (VNA) – The northern province of Quang ...

+ Read more »

Number of Vietnam’s foreign tourists continues to exceed 1 million arrivals

Number of Vietnam’s foreign tourists continues to exceed 1 million arrivals <div><i>The Hanoitimes</i> – In March alone, Vietnam received more than 1 million international visitiors, up over 21% compared to the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office.</div> <div> <div>According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the Northeast Asian market was down 20% against from February, tourists from China decreased 26.2% (297,915 arrivals), while visitors from Japan rose 13.7% (reaching 71,917 arrivals).<br /> The ASEAN market increased by 5.7% compared to last month, of which the strongest growth was Singapore with 29.9% (22,991 arrivals), and Malaysia with 9.5% (42,150 arrivals). The European markets fell by 6.8% against February: Russia reduced by 3.5% to 57,407 arrivals, the UK fell 10.4% to 24,061, and France increased by 0.8%, reaching 26,739 visitors.<br /> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="Foreign tourists visit walking streets around the Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi city. Photo by Hong Hanh." src="http://bit.ly/2nywqmR" /> <div>Foreign tourists visit walking streets around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi city. Photo by Hong Hanh.</div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The Americas and Oceania markets were down 20% against February, with the United States down 23% (48,888 arrivals), Canada down 22% (13,762 arrivals). Other groups fell by 2.5% compared to last month.<br /> The tourist arrivals are forecasted to increase in the next month, according to the VNAT.<br /> Over 3.2 million foreign tourists visited Vietnam in the first three months of 2017, representing a year-on-year increase of 29 percent.<br /> The rise is a good signal, laying a foundation for the tourism sector to realise its goal of receiving 11.5 million foreign holidaymakers and serving 66 million domestic visitors, earning total revenue of 460 trillion VND (around 20.5 billion USD) from tourism activities in 2017.<br /> The estimated number of domestic tourists in the first quarter of this year reached 22.2 million arrivals, and the tourism revenue is estimated at 131.9 trillion VND, up 20.85% over the same period in 2016.<br /> Since earlythe beginning of 2017, Vietnam’s tourism sector has actively joined tourism promotion and cooperation activities abroad, including the ASEAN–China Tourism Cooperation Year 2017 in the Philippines from March 15-17. The event was expected to enhance tourism flows and people-to-people exchange between the two sides.<br /> In addition, in March, Vietnam participated in the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Fair (MITT), one of the five biggest tourism fairs in the world, which attracted the participation of nearly 2,000 travel companies from 158 countries and territories worldwide.<br /> During the fair, Vietnam introduced attractive tourism destinations and forms, and activities in the National Tourism Year 2017 and updated information related to tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Russia as well as new, specific tourism products for the Russian market.</p> </div> </div> <div>Translated by Minh Hong</div> <div>Source: Hong Hanh-kinhtedothi.vn</div> <br /> Number of Vietnam’s foreign tourists continues to exceed 1 million arrivals Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2nywqmR" width="200" /><br />

Number of Vietnam’s foreign tourists continues to exceed 1 million arrivals

Number of Vietnam’s foreign tourists continues to exceed 1 million arrivals The Hanoitimes – In March alone, Vietnam received more than 1 m...

+ Read more »

Famous dining spots in HCM City

Famous dining spots in HCM City <p><em>HCMC, the country’s most vibrant economic center, has won the hearts of many visitors, including those from abroad, thanks to an abundance of dining venues where food lovers can enjoy tasty dishes of different areas of the country.</em></p> <p><em><br /></em></p> <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="A dim sum dish which costs VND45,000 to VND50,000 and can be found on Ha Ton Quyen Street in District 11, HCMC" src="http://bit.ly/2nlzEZH" title="A dim sum dish which costs VND45,000 to VND50,000 and can be found on Ha Ton Quyen Street in District 11, HCMC" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">A dim sum dish which costs VND45,000 to VND50,000 and can be found on Ha Ton Quyen Street in District 11, HCMC</p> </div> <p>Dim sum lovers are recommended to drop by Ha Ton Quyen Street in District 11 in Cho Lon area where many Vietnamese of Chinese descent are residing.</p> <p>Authentic Chinese dim sum can be found at a lot of eateries.</p> <p>Guests who come there for the first time, especially at night or weekends, may be captivated by the busy and noisy atmosphere of what is like a pre-Tet (Lunar New Year) night market.</p> <p>Those who love Thai-style sweet soups should come to Nguyen Tri Phuong Street in District 10 where there are a slew of shops including Y Phuong, Coco5 Thai street food, and Nguyet Hy.</p> <p>Lying next to the busy Tan Dinh Market in District 1, Nguyen Huu Cau Street could be an ideal gathering place for fans of Hue-style dishes such as banh beo (steamed round and flat rice cakes), banh nam (flat rice dumpling with pork wrapped in banana leaf) and banh bot loc (cassava flour cake stuffed with shrimp), bun bo Hue (Hue-style beef vermicelli soup), and banh canh Nam Pho (rice noodle soup).</p> <p>Hong Ha in Tan Binh District is famous for selling specialties of northern Vietnam such as bun dau mam tom (fried tofu and fresh rice vermicelli with fermented shrimp paste), bun oc (noodles with snails, bun cha (vermicelli served with fried pork dipped in fish sauce), and banh da cua (pancake soup served with crab).</p> <p>On Nguyen Canh Chan Street in District 1, different kinds of fruit are served.</p> <p>Customers can order a combination of fresh fruits such as dragon fruit, papaya, mango, and watermelon plus yogurt, fresh milk, and shaved ice. It is a great treat for those people who want to cool themselves in a hot day.</p> <p><em>SGT</em></p> <br /> Famous dining spots in HCM City Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2nlzEZH" width="200" /><br />

Famous dining spots in HCM City

Famous dining spots in HCM City HCMC, the country’s most vibrant economic center, has won the hearts of many visitors, including those from ...

+ Read more »

Over 600 tourism enterprises to join VN International Travel Mart in April

Over 600 tourism enterprises to join VN International Travel Mart in April <p><em>Hundreds of enterprises and tourism authorities from 25 countries and territories will join with Vietnam at the 5th Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM Hanoi 2017) in Hanoi.</em></p> <div><em><br /></em></div> <div><em><br /></em> <div><em><br /></em></div> <div> <div><em><img alt="Over 600 tourism enterprises to join VN International Travel Mart in April, travel news, Vietnam guide, Vietnam airlines, Vietnam tour, tour Vietnam, Hanoi, ho chi minh city, Saigon, travelling to Vietnam, Vietnam travelling, Vietnam travel, vn news" src="http://bit.ly/2mREj9S" /></em></div> <div><em>Vietnam International Travel Mart 2016</em></div> </div> <div> <p>The event was recently introduced by the Vietnam Tourism Association, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Hanoi’s Department of Tourism.</p> <p>Vu The Binh, vice chair of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said that VITM Hanoi 2017 will be titled Hanoi – The destination of Vietnam which focuses on promoting tourism for the capital city.</p> <p>“As the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi has been an important destination in the country as well as in the region,” Binh explained.</p> <p>“The city has recently seen a robust development in tourism industry”.</p> <p>According to the organisers the travel mart is expected to attract about 450 booths of 652 tourism enterprises, tourism authorities from 43 provinces, cities of Vietnam and 25 countries.</p> <p>VITM Hanoi 2017 will host B2B meeting where the Vietnam Society of Travel Agents will sign a co-operation agreement with the American Society of Travel Agents.</p> <p>VITM 2017 also aims to boost inbound, outbound and domestic tourism through activities of direct sales; product and destination presentations.</p> <p>The tourism promotion programmes at the mart are also expected to attract many visitors with about 45,000 airline tickets and 15,000 promotional tours with special discounts.</p> <p>About 20 conferences, workshops, and meetings on tourism products and services in different localities, new regulations and policies on Vietnam’s tourism industry, and preservation activities, will also be organised during this time.</p> <p>One of the highlights of the event is the International Street Food Festival held for the first time.</p> <p>The festival will have the participations of dozens of domestic and international famous chefs with the purpose of promoting street food of Vietnam and bringing visitors unique street food experiences of Vietnam and some countries in the region.</p> <p>During the travel mart, various cultural and art performances will be introduced to visitors.</p> <p>VITM 2017 will take place from April 6-9 at Hanoi International Centre for Exhibition at 91 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoan Kiem District.</p> <p><em>Dtinews</em></p> </div> </div> <br /> Over 600 tourism enterprises to join VN International Travel Mart in April Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2mREj9S" width="200" /><br />

Over 600 tourism enterprises to join VN International Travel Mart in April

Over 600 tourism enterprises to join VN International Travel Mart in April Hundreds of enterprises and tourism authorities from 25 countries...

+ Read more »

Tour operators fret over rising air fares

Tour operators fret over rising air fares <p>Tour operators fret over rising air fares</p> <p>The Saigon Times Daily</p> <p>HCMC – That airlines have lately increased fares and surcharges has exposed tour operators to high risks of losses, as their tour prices were fixed long ago, Tuoi Tre newspaper reports.</p> <p>Tran Van Long, general director of Viet Media Travel, said air transport costs account for 35-45% of tour tickets. Therefore, a recent rise in air fares has caused a big headache for his company and others.</p> <p>“Domestic tourism is certain to suffer from increasing tour costs,” he said.</p> <p>A local air carrier said most airlines only made profits during the Lunar New Year holiday and summer vacation seasons, while in the rest of the year, they either break even or incur losses.</p> <p>The source said input costs have been on the rise, forcing airlines to hike ticket prices.</p> <p>Tran The Dung, deputy director of Young Generation Co Ltd, said while stimulus programs launched by airlines for the local tourism industry bring little benefit, the rising air fares would dent their business operations.</p> <p>According to regulations of air carriers, tour operators wishing to purchase air tickets at competitive prices under the stimulus programs have to register tickets for flights with fixed schedules in advance for each quarter. Meanwhile, arranging tours depends on bookings, meaning flight schedules offered by airlines are not aligned to tourists’ demand.</p> <p>Dung added airlines often offer tickets which are cheaper than those of tourism stimulus programs, but in fact, tour operators could get five to 10 tickets for each flight no matter how many bookings they get from customers.</p> <p>Flight tickets, as a result, may come with different prices even for a single tour, putting tourism firms in a disadvantageous position.</p> <p>He wished airlines would maintain stimulus policy like what was successfully implemented in the 2008-2012 period. That policy allowed tour operators to buy discounted air tickets without being required to register flights long before departures.</p> <p>He said if the policy is adopted again, prices of inbound tours would fall, encouraging local residents to travel at home; otherwise, they are more inclined to tour abroad.</p> <br /> Tour operators fret over rising air fares Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Tour operators fret over rising air fares

Tour operators fret over rising air fares Tour operators fret over rising air fares The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – That airlines have latel...

+ Read more »

American and Canadian activists hold national meeting of solidarity with Cuba

American and Canadian activists hold national meeting of solidarity with Cuba <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="(VOVworld) - The National Conference for the Full Normalization of Relations between Cuba and the US took place in Manhattan, New York, last weekend." src="http://bit.ly/2ngwHcf" title="(VOVworld) - The National Conference for the Full Normalization of Relations between Cuba and the US took place in Manhattan, New York, last weekend." /> <p class="wp-caption-text">(VOVworld) – The National Conference for the Full Normalization of Relations between Cuba and the US took place in Manhattan, New York, last weekend.</p> </div> <br /> More than 200 activists attended the 2-day event and discussed ways to overcome obstacles to normalization. <p>Cuban Ambassador to the UN Anayansi Rodríguez spoke highly of the solidarity American and Canadian activists have with the Cuban people. She said the conference discussed the current situation in Cuba to bilateral relations between Washington and Havana, in particular the end of economic, commercial and financial sanctions and the return of the territory occupied by Guantánamo Naval Base to Cuba.</p> <p>Attendees suggested multiple plans to lift remaining embargoes and travel restrictions to Cuba and dismantle the disinformation campaign against Cuba.</p> <br /> American and Canadian activists hold national meeting of solidarity with Cuba Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2ngwHcf" width="200" /><br />

American and Canadian activists hold national meeting of solidarity with Cuba

American and Canadian activists hold national meeting of solidarity with Cuba (VOVworld) – The National Conference for the Full Normalizati...

+ Read more »

Vietnam, Japan ink MoU to boost tourism

Vietnam, Japan ink MoU to boost tourism <p><em>Viet Nam and Japan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to boost tourism cooperation between the two countries.</em></p> <p><em><br /></em></p> <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="The Japan National Tourism Organisation officially opened its representative office in Viet Nam on Tuesday." src="http://bit.ly/2oa0GHI" title="The Japan National Tourism Organisation officially opened its representative office in Viet Nam on Tuesday." /> <p class="wp-caption-text">The Japan National Tourism Organisation officially opened its representative office in Viet Nam on Tuesday.</p> </div> <p>The two sides were represented by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).</p> <p>Under the MoU, both nations will work together to promote tourism initiatives, introducing attractive destinations, encouraging visitor exchanges, and sharing experience and information in areas of mutual concern.</p> <p>On the same day, the JNTO officially opened its representative office in Viet Nam.</p> <p>Speaking at the opening ceremony, VNAT general director Nguyen Van Tuan said the results of bilateral tourism cooperation have already been positive. In the 2010-16 period, the number of Japanese tourists coming to Viet Nam increased at an average of 9 per cent per year.</p> <p>In 2016, Viet Nam saw 740,000 visitors from Japan, up 10 per cent from a year earlier. Around 233,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Japan, a year-on-year increase of 26 per cent, Tuan said.</p> <p>He added that the opening of the JNTO office in Viet Nam would further increase the number of outbound and inbound tourists between the two countries.</p> <p>The two sides have set a target of one million Japanese visitors to Viet Nam and 500,000 Vietnamese tourists to Japan by 2018.</p> <p>JNTO president Ryoichi Matsuyama said his organisation plans to launch dozens of tours to Japan so that Vietnamese travellers can experience the different cultural aspects of Japan, such as cuisine, cherry blossoms and the various festivals.</p> <p>Takahashi Ayumi, chief representative of JNTO office in Viet Nam, said that by opening the office, the JNTO would be able to improve tourist information on websitecamnhannhatban.vn and other channels, stimulate the tourism demand of people living in Viet Nam’s big cities as well as support Vietnamese tour operators in selling tours to Japan.</p> <p>The JNTO is scheduled to participate in the 2017 Viet Nam International Travel Mart, to be held from April 6 to 9.</p> <p><strong>Q1 results</strong></p> <p>Viet Nam welcomed 3.2 million foreign tourists in the first three months of the year, up by 29 per cent against the same period last year.</p> <p>This was announced by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on Tuesday.</p> <p>In term of markets, the highest number of people visiting Viet Nam was from Asia from January to March with 2.3 million people, followed by Europe with nearly 560,000 people.</p> <p>The American region ranked third with 247,000 visitors.</p> <p>The number of Asian visitors in the three months was 34 per cent higher than the figure in the corresponding period last year.</p> <p>If categorised by means of transport, people traveling by air to Viet Nam accounted for 82 per cent. Although the percentage of visitors coming to the country by sea was the least (making up merely 3.5 per cent), the absolute number saw the highest surge of 66 per cent year-on-year.</p> <p>In March alone, more than one million foreign visitors came to the country, representing a month-on-month decrease of 16 per cent but a year-on-year rise of 21 per cent.</p> <p>These were good results and were largely thanks to the efforts made by the tourism sector, according to the VNAT.</p> <p>They will lay a foundation for the tourism sector to realise its target of receiving 11.5 million foreign tourists and serving 66 million domestic visitors, earning total revenue of VND460 trillion (US$20.4 billion) this year.</p> <p><em>VNS</em></p> <br /> Vietnam, Japan ink MoU to boost tourism Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2oa0GHI" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam, Japan ink MoU to boost tourism

Vietnam, Japan ink MoU to boost tourism Viet Nam and Japan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to boost tourism cooperatio...

+ Read more »

The problem with traveling to Vietnam just because it’s cheap

The problem with traveling to Vietnam just because it’s cheap <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Foreign tourists taking a rickshaw (cyclo) ride along a street in the old quarter of Hanoi. Photo by AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam" src="http://bit.ly/2o9z9WS" title="Foreign tourists taking a rickshaw (cyclo) ride along a street in the old quarter of Hanoi. Photo by AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam" width="500" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">Foreign tourists taking a rickshaw (cyclo) ride along a street in the old quarter of Hanoi. Photo by AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam</p> </div> <p>Let’s not mince words: tourists love the country because it’s one of the cheapest places on earth, but low costs come with risks.</p> <div> <p>Yet another travel list has named Vietnam among the must-visit places in the world because it’s cheap.</p> <p>This time, it’s Emily Zemler, a writer from Refinery29, who describes Vietnam as one of the best “super cheap” destinations in the world.</p> <p><em>“Asian destinations like Japan and Singapore can be pricy, but Vietnam is notably budget-friendly. The food, which is just as good from a street cart as it is from a sit-down restaurant, is cheap (usually less than 10 bucks a pop) and hotels are reasonable, with luxury properties averaging around $80 per night…</em></p> <p><em>Don’t be afraid to sample the street food, which includes signature dishes like beef pho and bun cha, and make sure to spring for a countryside bicycle tour from Hoi An, which run $17 and up.”</em></p> <p>To be fair, cost-based recommendations like these are what Vietnam, still an emerging travel destination, needs now.</p> <p>It’s perfectly fine to love something when it doesn’t bankrupt you – it’s even better when that something is also <em>good</em>. “Cheap” is not a dirty word. We don’t need to avoid it and replace it with pretentious phrases like “budget-friendly” or “best value for your buck” when we promote a product or a travel destination.</p> <p>But “cheap” does come with a connotation: some sort of compromises must be made and accepted.</p> <p>For cheap travel, the biggest compromises are on quality and safety. In Vietnam, this can mean anything: drinking a beer that tastes like water, sleeping on a hostel bed with a dirty sheet, getting food poisoning after a meal at a delicious sidewalk joint, drinking toxic moonshine, or falling from a waterfall. And the list goes on.</p> <p>Many travelers will take these risks without blinking an eye. Ask any backpacker in Saigon and they will tell you how happy they are when they only need a few hundred bucks to travel in Vietnam. Diarrhea and those serious <a href="http://bit.ly/2n8yNec">travel safety warnings</a> don’t faze them one bit.</p> <p>Such carefree attitudes have boded well for Vietnam’s tourism industry so far. If travelers are fully aware of all these risks and they still want to come, let them in by all means. After all, a trip to Vietnam is not complete without at least one story of crazy, unforgettable mishaps.</p> <p>But a great travel destination should never be associated with risks. Eating street food must not feel like gambling. A night on a Ha Long Bay ship must not end with a quick dive into the cold water to avoid getting burnt alive. Even adventure tourism should be about the illusion and the thrill, not real risks.</p> <p>Like the economy as a whole, the industry can’t thrive on being cheap forever if being cheap only means low standards and corner-cutting. Vietnam must step up its game to make sure no travel writer will ever have to write this line: “Don’t be afraid to sample the street food.”</p> <p>* <em><em>The article does not necessarily reflect the views of VnExpress International or VnExpress.</em></em></p> </div> <br /> The problem with traveling to Vietnam just because it’s cheap Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2o9z9WS" width="200" /><br />

The problem with traveling to Vietnam just because it’s cheap

The problem with traveling to Vietnam just because it’s cheap Foreign tourists taking a rickshaw (cyclo) ride along a street in the old qua...

+ Read more »

Việt Nam, Japan ink MoU to boost tourism

Việt Nam, Japan ink MoU to boost tourism <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="http://bit.ly/2o68I3L" width="500" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">The Japan National Tourism Organisation officially opened its representative office in Việt Nam on Tuesday. – Photo toptravel.vn</p> </div> <div><a href="http://bit.ly/24En4mq">Viet Nam News</a> <p>HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam and Japan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to boost tourism cooperation between the two countries.</p> <p>The two sides were represented by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).</p> <p>Under the MoU, both nations will work together to promote tourism initiatives, introducing attractive destinations, encouraging visitor exchanges, and sharing experience and information in areas of mutual concern.</p> <p>On the same day, the JNTO officially opened its representative office in Việt Nam.</p> <p>Speaking at the opening ceremony, VNAT general director Nguyễn Văn Tuấn said the results of bilateral tourism cooperation have already been positive. In the 2010-16 period, the number of Japanese tourists coming to Việt Nam increased at an average of 9 per cent per year.</p> <p>In 2016, Việt Nam saw 740,000 visitors from Japan, up 10 per cent from a year earlier. Around 233,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Japan, a year-on-year increase of 26 per cent, Tuấn said.</p> <p>He added that the opening of the JNTO office in Việt Nam would further increase the number of outbound and inbound tourists between the two countries.</p> <p>The two sides have set a target of one million Japanese visitors to Việt Nam and 500,000 Vietnamese tourists to Japan by 2018.</p> <p>JNTO president Ryoichi Matsuyama said his organisation plans to launch dozens of tours to Japan so that Vietnamese travellers can experience the different cultural aspects of Japan, such as cuisine, cherry blossoms and the various festivals.</p> <p>Takahashi Ayumi, chief representative of JNTO office in Việt Nam, said that by opening the office, the JNTO would be able to improve tourist information on website <em>camnhannhatban.vn</em> and other channels, stimulate the tourism demand of people living in Việt Nam’s big cities as well as support Vietnamese tour operators in selling tours to Japan.</p> <p>The JNTO is scheduled to participate in the 2017 Việt Nam International Travel Mart, to be held from April 6 to 9. – VNS</p> </div> <br /> Việt Nam, Japan ink MoU to boost tourism Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2o68I3L" width="200" /><br />

Việt Nam, Japan ink MoU to boost tourism

Việt Nam, Japan ink MoU to boost tourism The Japan National Tourism Organisation officially opened its representative office in Việt Nam on...

+ Read more »

Giant turtle statue proposal fails to float Hanoi’s boat

Giant turtle statue proposal fails to float Hanoi’s boat <div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img alt="Giant turtle statue proposal fails to float Hanoi's boat" src="http://bit.ly/2o67cPk" width="500" /> <p class="wp-caption-text">Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake. Photo by Vietnam News Agency</p> </div> <p>It could be Vietnam’s Eiffel Tower or Statue of Liberty, or it could just get in the way – you decide.</p> <div> <p>A Hanoian man’s proposal for a bronze and gold statue of a legendary turtle god to be erected in the capital by Hoan Kiem Lake has drawn widepread criticism.</p> <p>Ta Hong Quan, a local artist, said the city could raise money from private sources to build an 11-foot statue weighing up to 10 tons along the walking area of the iconic lake.</p> <p>Quan said he first submitted the idea to the city’s People’s Committee in 2011, but has never received a response. Late last year, he sent the proposal directly to city chairman Nguyen Duc Chung.</p> <p>Chung has not commented on the idea either.</p> <p>Quan recently approached local media to draw public attention to the plan, which he said is “more suitable” than the culture ministry’s suggestion early this month to build a <a href="http://bit.ly/2ni0WQD">Kong statue</a> in Hanoi, after the “Kong: Skull Island” <a href="http://bit.ly/2o68MQY">blockbuster</a>.</p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="proposal-to-build-turtle-god-statue-in-hanoi-raises-eyebrows-ed" src="http://bit.ly/2ni4LoV" width="500" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Proposed locations for the statue around Hoan Kiem Lake.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The turtle is one of the four holy animals, according to Chinese beliefs, together with the dragon, lion and phoenix.</p> <p>In Vietnam, the turtle god is worshipped and part of many legends. One says that it helped An Duong Vuong, a Vietnamese ruler during the third century BC, build his spiral, shell-like Co Loa Citadel.</p> <p>Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword) Lake was thus named after a legend that says a golden turtle god showed up in the lake to take back the sword it had given to King Le Loi in the 15th century to help him fight Chinese invaders.</p> <p>“Vietnam now lacks a recognizable icon with strong traditional values, like France’s Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty in the U.S.,” Quan said.</p> <p>He said if the plan is approved, a competition should be launched to find the best design.</p> <p>Historian Duong Trung Quoc supported the idea but said it must be executed with great caution because it could collide with the city’s urban planning, and also because it has to successfully serve its spiritual purpose.</p> <p>“Officials should listen to the experts and the public to make the right decision,” Quoc said.</p> <p>Actually, thousands of members of the public have given their opinions on the idea in a survey conducted by <em>VnExpress</em>.</p> <p>The survey asked readers if they thought it was a good idea for a statue to be built by Hoan Kiem Lake, and out of more than 13,200 responses received in less than a day, 78 percent said “no.”</p> <p>Many said it would be a waste of money, and that the “clear and beautiful” space around the central lake should not be obstructed by an artificial project.</p> <p>The lake and its Turtle Temple are a picturesque symbol of Hanoi. The lake used to be home to a rare giant turtle which was loved by many Hanoians. It died in January last year due to pollution.</p> <p>Some said the money should be used to clean up the lake and raise another turtle in there.</p> </div> <div>Related News: <div> <ul> <li><a href="http://bit.ly/2lui8F2">Big cleanup planned for Hanoi’s Sword Lake</a></li> <li><a href="http://bit.ly/2mNcHRD">Hanoi beats its chest at plan to build Kong statue near Hoan Kiem Lake</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <br /> Giant turtle statue proposal fails to float Hanoi’s boat Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/2o67cPk" width="200" /><br />

Giant turtle statue proposal fails to float Hanoi’s boat

Giant turtle statue proposal fails to float Hanoi’s boat Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake. Photo by Vietnam News Agency It could be Vietnam’s Eiffe...

+ Read more »