Quang Binh welcomes over 3.3 million visitors in 2017

Quang Binh welcomes over 3.3 million visitors in 2017 <p>NDO – The central province of Quang Binh received over 3.3 million visitors in 2017, up 70.9% over the same period last year, as reported by the provincial Department of Tourism.</p> <p>International arrivals reached 100,000, an annual increase of 120%. The province’s earnings from tourism this year topped over VND3.7 trillion (US$162.8 million), 64.7% higher than the same period last year.</p> <p>Quang Binh has a 116.04-km coastal line and a 201.87 km border line with Laos. The province is famous for its cave systems, incredible mountain scenery and sprawling beaches.</p> <p>It is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park and the world’s largest cave, Son Doong.</p> <p>The biggest cave in the world, Son Doong, is hidden in the park. Since the cave was discovered in 2009 by a group of scientists from the British Cave Research Association, it has become internationally known and has drawn tourists from all over the world.</p> <br /> Quang Binh welcomes over 3.3 million visitors in 2017 Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Quang Binh welcomes over 3.3 million visitors in 2017

Quang Binh welcomes over 3.3 million visitors in 2017 NDO – The central province of Quang Binh received over 3.3 million visitors in 2017, up 70.9% over the same period last year, as reported by the provincial Department of Tourism. International arrivals reached 100,000, an annual increase of 120%.…

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The charming steamed sticky rice in Phu Thuong

The charming steamed sticky rice in Phu Thuong

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When it gets cold, it’s time for some greasy seaworms

When it gets cold, it’s time for some greasy seaworms <p><em>VietNamNet Bridge – Every late Autumn, when sunbeams gently light up trees, turning them yellow, and light cold front approaches in the north, the ruoi (seaworm) season begins, as it has done for a thousand years.</em></p> <p>In Hanoi, Nguyen Thi Huyen, also known as Huyen “Ruoi”, has been famous for years, with generations of residents having enjoyed her cha ruoi (fried seaworm cake).</p> <p>Huyen said that ruoi (scientifically named Nereididae, mainly lives in brackish water fields in Hai Duong and Nam Dinh provinces) can be cooked many ways, citing the ruoi kho nieu dat ( seaworm braised in a small clay pot), mam ruoi (fermented seaworm), and other dishes as example.</p> <p>But she has stuck to selling seaworm cakes, having carved out a niche for herself.</p> <p>Different from other seaworm sellers in downtown Hanoi, like Hang Chieu, Lo Duc and Gia Ngu, who make and sell dishes all year round by freezing the worms, Huyen cooks and sells her dish only during the season, which usually falls between the ninth and 11th lunar months.</p> <p>She told Viet Nam News that in the early 80s, she’d earned a living by travelling to Hai Duong, Hai Phong and Nam Dinh provinces to buy fresh seaworms, which was very cheap at that time, to sell them in Hanoi markets.</p> <p>“Every day I sell a dozen baskets or hundreds of kilos of worms. Thanks to the trade, I was able to earn a stable income and raise my six children, although earning a decent income was very difficult then (when the country was very poor).”</p> <p>She did well until the early 90s when she fell ill and suffered for a long time.</p> <p>“I was not able to travel to those provinces to buy seaworms. One of my close friends advised me to make seaworm cakes and sell them instead. I agreed because I’d learnt how to make tasty and delicious ruoi cakes from my trading counterparts in Hai Duong and Hai Phong years ago.</p> <p>“I decided to sell seaworm cakes on the corner of Hoe Nhai Street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where I stayed,” said Huyen, adding that she opens her shop at 11am and closes it at between six and seven in the evening.</p> <p>“My dish sells very well because I know how to choose fresh seaworm, the most important factor, and also mandarin peels,” she said.</p> <p>Huyen said she orders mandarin peels from the northern province of Lang Son, which is the fruit’s native place. Other sellers use peels imported from the south or China, and this might be making a difference in taste, she feels.</p> <p>“Whether the cha ruoi is tasty or not defends a lot on the mandarin peels. The ones I get from Lang Son are a main ingredient in giving my dish a special flavour, compared to others,” she said.</p> <p>The dish’s ingredients are fresh worm, dried onion, dill, minced pork, mandarin peel, egg, pepper, fish sauce, and a little of chilli. These ingredients are mixed and stirred well before being scooped into a big spoon and fried in a pot of oil.</p> <p>Culinary expert Le Kim Chi of the Quan An Ngon Restaurant Chain said she admired and appreciated Huyen for preserving a traditional food of the old Hanoi.</p> <p>Pham Trong The of Hanoi’s Hai Ba Trung District said he was addicted to Huyen’s seaworm cakes.</p> <p>“During the seaworm season, I ask my son to drive the five kilometres from my house to buy her cakes. All of us love the dish, particularly during winter days.”</p> <p>The said many of his friends in the northern provinces of Cao Ban and Lang Son also ask him to send Huyen’s seaworm cakes to them.</p> <p>Herbalist Nguyen Van Hoa of the National Hospital of Traditional Medicine said seaworm stir-fried with cu nieng (tuberous traditional herb) is very good for the heart. He said it cools down the body heat and is also a diuretic.</p> <p>“Seaworm is also rich in calcium and folic acid, and can help patients with weak digestion and blood pressure,” Hoa said.  </p> <p><em><strong>By Ha Nguyen</strong></em></p> <p><em>Source: VNS</em></p> <br /> When it gets cold, it’s time for some greasy seaworms Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

When it gets cold, it’s time for some greasy seaworms

When it gets cold, it’s time for some greasy seaworms VietNamNet Bridge – Every late Autumn, when sunbeams gently light up trees, turning them yellow, and light cold front approaches in the north, the ruoi (seaworm) season begins, as it has done for a thousand years. In Hanoi, Nguyen Thi Huyen, also…

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A voyager who dares to travel the world

A voyager who dares to travel the world <p><em>VietNamNet Bridge – A voyager who dares to dream, dares to make dreams come true, who owns true patience and keeps to his chosen path.</em></p> <p>That’s how people talk about Tran Dang Dang Khoa. Right now, the 30-year-old is on his way around the world, travelling by motorbike.</p> <p>He spent 20 years dreaming of this journey and two years preparing to make the dream come true. Now he intends to travel 50,000km through 35 countries and territories over the course of two years. His passion is epic and inspires many young people.</p> <p>“Never give up on your dreams, because nothing is impossible,” said Khoa. “One only lives their life once. That’s enough belief and motivation for me to go.”</p> <p>Khoa posts a number of photos and stories on his Facebook page everyday, attracting thousands of followers.</p> <p>He captured photos of the places he visited, people he met and his experience of new cultures.</p> <p>Recently, when he arrived in Hamburg (Germany), he posted a livestream, giving details of the trip and how he prepared for it.</p> <p>Khoa was born in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang. Since his childhood, he spent a lot of time reading books on adventure. He dreamed of journeys around the world where he could feel free to discover new lands without adhering to a schedule.</p> <p>He loves travelling. The trips he took along Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries can be considered preparation for the journey of a lifetime around the world. That journey started on June 1 this year.</p> <p>Khoa said the most difficult part was applying for visas to various countries and the Carnet de Passage en Douane (CPD), an international customs document which covers the temporary admission of a motor vehicle, the passport for his motorbike, nicknamed Memo.</p> <p>“I couldn’t apply for the CPD in Vietnam so I had to acquire it in Malaysia,” he said.</p> <p>“You think travelling abroad is cool and easy, right? It’s definitely not. I have to work hard to get travel visas to many countries, especially when I don’t have information of hotel bookings and flight tickets.”</p> <p>Khoa submitted detailed plans of his trip, and through sheer determination managed to get permission to enter most countries.</p> <p>“I can apply for visas to several countries in Vietnam, such as India and the members of the European Union. Some countries like Georgia, Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey allow electronic visa applications.”</p> <p>There are deadlines to apply for visas. That’s why Khoa considered the process like a real job.</p> <p>“If I don’t meet the deadline, a chance to discover a dream land would slip out of my hands,” he said.</p> <p>That’s why for some countries where acquiring a visa is not easy, Khoa started the procedure when he was close to the countries. For example, he applied for a visa to Iran when he arrived in Pakistan, to Argentina and other Latin American countries when he arrived France, to Australia when he arrived in Chile.</p> <p>“English speaking ability is the deciding factor,” Khoa said.</p> <p>“I prepare the documents and motivation letter carefully and politely to present the plan and convince the authorities to support me.”</p> <p>“My English knowledge also helps me learn from other travellers around the world.”</p> <p>“It might require a lot of effort and complicated preparation, but it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible,” he said.</p> <p>He also packed carefully for the trip. The first thing was to keep personal papers in waterproof bags.</p> <p>“Once when I was on the way to leave Athens, I was caught in the rain but I couldn’t stop because I was riding on the highway,” Khoa said.</p> <p>“Thanks to the habit of keeping papers in waterproof bags, they were still dry while I was soaked.”</p> <p>Khoa also carried cash, bank cards, portable water filters and three phones.</p> <p>“I use one phone to take photos and get in touch, one GPS-enabled phone glued to my motorcycle handlebars and one phone switched-off in my bag to use in case the two other phones are broken.”</p> <p>The trip has helped him to “eat dishes [he’s] never tried before, play games [he’d] never thought of, witness castles, world heritage sites and landscapes [he] only saw on TV before or had never even heard of.”</p> <p>It also gave him the opportunity to meet interesting people, and other travellers and riders.</p> <p>“I had a chance to visit the places with stunning beauty, learn about different cultures and religions. I took so many photos.”</p> <p>However, there were also times when he felt scared and depressed, such as when he rode through Iran’s scorching hot desert on roads that seemed endless.</p> <p>Memo has broken down multiple times but Khoa has always managed to put it back together.</p> <p>Though he certainly had ups and downs, Khoa said the journey had given him some remarkable experiences.</p> <p>“One thing I felt lucky about was that I never had any serious accidents or illnesses while on the road,” he said.</p> <p>Khoa reached the halfway point of his journey to “explore the world” by motorbike in October.</p> <p>The first half of Khoa’s journey was 20,000km, costing him 500 litres of gasoline and 25 bottles of motor oil, and taking him through 23 countries and territories: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France.</p> <p>After arriving in Paris, Khoa spent time planning his onward route, expected to include northern Europe, South, Central and maybe North America, and Australia, before returning to Southeast Asia and Vietnam in the next 365 days.</p> <p>Currently he’s in Chile learning Spanish, with the aim of exploring Latin America.</p> <p>“A journey is not measured by the number of kilometres covered but by the number of friends made. Only now do I fully understand that statement,” Khoa said.</p> <p>Khoa estimated the trip will cost a total of VND1 billion (US$500,000). The money will come from his savings, a salary from writing travel blogs, news and advertisements, and money from sponsors.</p> <p>After the trip around the world, he will have a short break before planning another trip to the South Pole. </p> <p><em><strong>Minh Thu</strong></em></p> <p><em>VNS</em></p> <br /> A voyager who dares to travel the world Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

A voyager who dares to travel the world

A voyager who dares to travel the world VietNamNet Bridge – A voyager who dares to dream, dares to make dreams come true, who owns true patience and keeps to his chosen path. That’s how people talk about Tran Dang Dang Khoa. Right now, the 30-year-old is on his way around the world, travelling by mo…

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Vietnam attracts record tourist numbers in 2017 but still can’t escape bad reputation

Vietnam attracts record tourist numbers in 2017 but still can’t escape bad reputation <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">2017 has been another record breaking year for tourism as foreign visitors to Vietnam surged 29.1 percent over the previous year, reaching an all-time high of 12.9 million, according to the General Statistics Office.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">The country consistently makes it into “world’s top 10 lists” by reputable travel sites and newspapers like <em>The Guardian</em>, <em>CNN</em>, <em>Lonely Planet</em>, <em>TripAdvisor</em> and <em>Rough Guides</em>.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">But just as it is famous for pristine beaches, misty mountains, buzzing cities, mouth watering food and friendly people, the “rough side” of the country hasn’t escaped its global image either.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">Visa issues aside, robbery, petty crimes, traffic accidents and service quality continue to put visitors off one year after Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue asked tourism agencies to solve them.</p> <p class="Normal"><span>There’ve been some improvements but Vietnam still has a long way to go, said Nguyen Quoc Ky, CEO of travel company Vietravel.</span></p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">Many hotlines set up to resolve tourism incidents don’t operate outside working hours while that’s the time when they’re most likely to be needed, Ky said. He added that most hotline staff don’t actually know how to respond to issues like food poisoning. </p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">Echoing Ky, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan said the issues have been frequent, and could not be fully eliminated.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">In September, an officer from the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City was pinned down and robbed in a taxi, according to police reports.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">Earlier this year, police in Ho Chi Minh City also detained a man for fatally stabbing an American tourist, allegedly over an argument about the poor quality of drugs the foreigner had bought from him.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">Foreign tourists have also faced hassling in Vietnam. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay has earned its reputation as one of the country’s biggest tourist traps for vendors following foreigners as soon as they leave buses, often refusing to give up until they finally sell something.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">In Da Lat, a resort town in the Central Highlands, groups of gangsters have reportedly forced tourists to pay for unwanted products and services. <span>The situation got so bad that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had to step in, asking local authorities to end this practice, which has threatened security in Da Lat and tainted its image as a favorite travel destination.</span></p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">But in a country where on average 24 people die from traffic accidents per day, it is lack of road safety that taint Vietnam’s image the most, according to tourism companies.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">Even though Vietnam is generally classed as safe overall due to “low” terror threat according to a report issued in January this year by <em>The</em> <em>Telegraph, </em>Vietnam is listed among the more dangerous countries in terms of road deaths.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">“It is very, very dangerous,” said Kasia Tomaszewska, a visitor from Poland. “Local people don’t have the culture of respecting pedestrians. You have to cross the street, knowing that nobody will stop.”</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">The governments of the UK, U.S., Canada, France, Switzerland and Australia all warn their citizens of potential dangers awaiting them in Vietnam.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">“Compliance with local road regulations is poor….There are frequent road traffic accidents and fatal crashes,” according to a UK government website.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr"><strong>‘Bittersweet’</strong></p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">At a bar in Ta Hien, a backpacker street in Hanoi, Elena Dalaeva, 30, from Russia shrugged off the risks. “Nowhere in the world is quite safe. Most of foreign tourists don’t have a problem here. Respect laws, learn the basics and use common sense, you will be fine.”</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">Traffic in Vietnam seems to either puzzle, impress or annoy outsiders, and even locals sometimes. The seemingly chaotic streets have even inspired Enomoto Kaori, a 30-year-old Japanese woman and game designer who arrived in Vietnam in July 2015, to create a mobile game called Vietnamese Road that trains people how to cross the streets.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">The game has become so popular that last October it received a $40,000 grant in the form of tools and services from a Facebook start-up fund.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr"><em>ABC News</em> quoted Mark Bowyer, who edits the popular Southeast Asian travel website <em>Rusty Compass</em>, as saying that Vietnam was paradoxically “both a very safe and very unsafe travel environment” and tourists needed to be proactive about their safety.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">Sometimes, it boils down to how visitors choose to see Vietnam’s tourism vices. They could be part of a wild adventure, or a reason to never return.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">Official data published in August show that the latter are the majority as 80 percent of foreign visitors to Vietnam don’t actually return.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">In order to resolve these issues, Tuan said the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism cannot simply act alone but has to coordinate with the<span> transport sector, the police and local governments.</span></p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">Ken Atkinson, chairman of Grant Thornton and vice chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, said he “personally believes the actual return rate for tourists is actually lower than the quoted 20 percent, as some reports record return tourists at less than 10 percent.”</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">The main reason for the low return rate is that Vietnam has yet to really establish itself as a destination for family holidays, as Thailand and Indonesia have managed to do. It is believed that the return rate for tourists in Thailand is closer to 50 percent, he told <em>VnExpress International</em>.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">In order to establish itself as a family destination, he suggested that Vietnam should have a more friendly visa regime, more activities for family recreations and better infrastructure, as well as higher quality services and safer roads.</p> <p class="Normal" dir="ltr">“Nevertheless, our tourism numbers continue to boom but we need to start to look at the quality of those tourists and their average spend in country,” he said.</p> <p class="Normal">After all, the country aims to welcome 17-20 million foreign visitors in 2020, and reach tourism revenue of $35 billion by the year.</p> <br /> Vietnam attracts record tourist numbers in 2017 but still can’t escape bad reputation Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam attracts record tourist numbers in 2017 but still can’t escape bad reputation

Vietnam attracts record tourist numbers in 2017 but still can’t escape bad reputation 2017 has been another record breaking year for tourism as foreign visitors to Vietnam surged 29.1 percent over the previous year, reaching an all-time high of 12.9 million, according to the General Statistics Offic…

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HCM City-based Tan Dinh Church becomes tourist destination

HCM City-based Tan Dinh Church becomes tourist destination <div class="article-photo"><span>Tan Dinh Church in downtown Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Vietnam-Guide.com)</span></div> <p><strong><br /> HCM City (VNA)</strong> – Located at289 Hai Ba Trung Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 3, Tan Dinh Church hasbeen a destination for Catholics as well as tourists who come to admire theimposing French-influenced architecture and find peace for their soul.</p> <p>Built by the French between 1870 and 1876,the church was built in a Gothic architectural style featuring Roman-styledesigns.</p> <p>The church, better known as the Church ofthe Sacred Heart of Jesus, was painted with a vibrant pink colour on both theexterior and interior, drawing huge attention from passersby and those fromabroad.</p> <p>The church is just a short walk from Tan DinhMarket, which has existed for nearly 100 years and houses a food court andthousands of stalls selling groceries, clothing, footwear, fruits and textiles.-VNA</p> <br /> HCM City-based Tan Dinh Church becomes tourist destination Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

HCM City-based Tan Dinh Church becomes tourist destination

HCM City-based Tan Dinh Church becomes tourist destination Tan Dinh Church in downtown Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Vietnam-Guide.com) HCM City (VNA) – Located at289 Hai Ba Trung Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 3, Tan Dinh Church hasbeen a destination for Catholics as well as tourists who come to …

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HCM City eyes 7.5 million foreign visitors in 2018

HCM City eyes 7.5 million foreign visitors in 2018 <div align="center"></div> <p>The number of domestic arrivals is expected to rise by a more modest 15 percent to 29 million, said Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the city’s Department of Tourism.</p> <p>The tourism sector would focus on efforts to develop cultural and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) tourism, he told a press meeting on December 28.</p> <p>It plans to diversify its products and organise a series of tourism events through the year to attract visitors, he said.</p> <p>It will devise marketing strategies and organise promotional activities broad to attract potential international tourists.</p> <p>The marketing and promotional activities will focus on markets such as Thailand, India, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the US, which have recorded strong growth this year.</p> <p>It will also address lingering problems that drive foreign tourists away, such as overcharging, street vendors and taxi drivers’ poor attitude.</p> <p>The department will work with the city’s Tourism Association to welcome the first international and domestic tourists of 2018 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on January 1.</p> <p>This year the city saw more than 6.3 million international arrivals, 1 million higher than last year.</p> <p>China was the biggest source of visitors, followed by the Republic of Korea, Japan, the US, Taiwan and Russia.</p> <p>The number of domestic tourists visiting the city numbered nearly 25 million, a year-on-year increase of 14.6 percent.</p> <p>Tourism revenues are estimated at nearly 116 trillion VND (5.1 billion USD).</p> <p>The HCM City Tourism Association on December 29 kicked off the domestic tourism stimulus programme for 2018.</p> <p>It has signed agreements with Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific, and Saigon Railway Transport Joint Stock Company to offer domestic tour packages by air and rail with discounts of up to 70 percent and 50 percent respectively.</p> <p>Next year tour packages offered under the programme will focus on three central provinces, namely Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, said Tran Hung Viet, chairman of the association.</p> <p>More than 353,800 air tickets were sold this year under the programme, 160 percent higher than last year.</p> <p>A total of 38,140 train tickets were also sold compared to 13,000 in 2016.</p> <p>Most of the package tours were from HCM City to Phu Quoc Island and Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue, and Quy Nhon cities.</p> <br /> HCM City eyes 7.5 million foreign visitors in 2018 Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

HCM City eyes 7.5 million foreign visitors in 2018

HCM City eyes 7.5 million foreign visitors in 2018 The number of domestic arrivals is expected to rise by a more modest 15 percent to 29 million, said Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the city’s Department of Tourism. The tourism sector would focus on efforts to develop cultural and MICE (Meetings, Ince…

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Pho Bang: charming and peaceful

Pho Bang: charming and peaceful <p><em>VietNamNet Bridge – After hearing about its discreet charm and tranquility, we were eager to visit Pho Bang old town in Dong Van District in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang.</em></p> <p>The border town, which lies 20km away from Dong Van District and 117km away from Ha Giang Township, seems to be long forgotten.</p> <p>Pho Bang is hidden between the centuries-old limestone mountains, and is remote from the road; so it isn’t widely known.</p> <p>To get into the town, we have to travel nearly 5km more from the Dong Van Karst Plateau to the Vietnam-China border, where there are only rugger rock mountains rising up to the deep blue sky.</p> <p>Through Sung La, a place, which was chosen to be the background of the Vietnamese famous film, Chuyen cua Pao (The Story of Pao) and after passing a forest, Pho Bang finally appears.</p> <p>From the distance, we see beautiful houses, the kind we are told about in legends.</p> <p>We are enchanted with the earthen walls of the houses, painted in unique colours, a little brown mixed with red and light yellow. </p> <p>It is hard to imagine that this tiny town was the administrative centre – the socio-economic hub of Dong Van District.</p> <p>Here, there are only two main streets with several hundreds of ancient houses. Most people here are Mong and Chinese.</p> <p>The silent walls are covered with green moss, the cracks in the walls, old doors, double tiles, ancient parallel sentences in Chinese. Everything is marked with the stamp of time, amounting to several hundreds of years.</p> <p>The road through the town is short. In a short while, it will be time to head back home. So we walk slowly and carefully, in a bid to delay our adventure.</p> <p>Time seems to pass slowly in this small town, with local women sitting next to a stove, doing housework or cooking. Corns and beans are dried on the road and hung in front of houses.</p> <p>Suddenly, we are surprised to see a picturesque rose valley under curving slopes.</p> <p>Pho Bang’s roses aren’t big but they are very perfumed and radiant.</p> <p>We ask several locals and find out that most local people are gardeners. Growing roses gives a boost to their income and improves their standard of living.</p> <p>Our surprise only multiplies when we see a peach blossom in the front of Pho Bang Market. The peach blossoms in Ha Giang often bloom late in February and March, following the Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival). So visitors also call Ha Giang a place where peach blossoms bloom late.</p> <p>It is perhaps telling us that spring is coming early. The beauty of the peach blossoms and roses imbues with the isolated place, located deep in a valley in the rock plateau.</p> <p>On the day of the market, the whole town comes alive.</p> <p>People wear beautiful, traditional costumes to the market. Some arrive on horses or ponies and many on motorbikes. They bring all kinds of goods to the market, such as chicken, pigs, vegetables and knives, as well as skirts and scarves to be sold.</p> <p>Groups of men have a drink, women laugh, bargain or eat in scattered groups.</p> <p>Children frolic around with pleasure. The shouting and screaming causes a stir in the market, which often opens at 5am and runs until 3-4pm.</p> <p>We see a boy carrying a 2kg cock. He says he will sell it at a price of VND100,000 (US$4.3). What a pity that we have to return to Hanoi by car; so we can’t buy the cock from him.</p> <p>We get a chance to taste pho bo (noodle soup with beef) made by the Mong people, on the occasion. It is very delicious and cheap, being sold at VND20,000 (nearly $1) a bowl.</p> <p>Having had a small taste of the area, its people and its view, we vow to return in the near future. </p> <p><em><strong>by Lam Giang</strong></em></p> <p><em>Source: VNS</em></p> <br /> Pho Bang: charming and peaceful Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Pho Bang: charming and peaceful

Pho Bang: charming and peaceful VietNamNet Bridge – After hearing about its discreet charm and tranquility, we were eager to visit Pho Bang old town in Dong Van District in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang. The border town, which lies 20km away from Dong Van District and 117km away from…

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Tet arrives early for Tham Phang Village

Tet arrives early for Tham Phang Village <p><em>VietNamNet Bridge – Villagers in Tham Phang Village in Muong Ang District of Dien Bien Province are celebrating Tet during one of the coldest winters in the region.</em></p> <p>Belong to the Mong ethnicity, one of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, locals here usually celebrate Tet a month earlier than the rest of the country. This year, Tet came even sooner because of an extra month in a leap year.</p> <p>There are 30 days in a month in the Mong calendar with no exception. The 361st day is the Mong’s Tet, their biggest celebration of the year.</p> <p>Banh giay (a white, flat and round glutinous rice cake) is the holiday’s must-have food. Locals typically make a lot of banh giay for ceremonies and also to give families, friends and visitors to their village.</p> <p>On the last day of the year, the Mong cleaned their house with a small bamboo branch while praying for health and prosperity for the household in the year to come.</p> <p>In another Tet ritual, a member of the household, who holds a rooster and a hen while he or she stands by the front door along with a shaman. The shaman occasionally tosses a bamboo branch outside while chanting in a symbolic gesture to throw out all sadness and misfortune of the old year.</p> <p>On the morning of the first day, a Mong household erects a tall tree in the middle of the front yard. Using a rope and tree branch, they create a ceremonial U-shaped gate. All members of the household then follow the eldest under the gate, men seven times and women nine times, in a ceremony to bring good luck.</p> <p>The holiday season is also a time for the people to enjoy outdoor activities, musical performances and traditional games. </p> <p><em>Source: VNS</em></p> <br /> Tet arrives early for Tham Phang Village Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Tet arrives early for Tham Phang Village

Tet arrives early for Tham Phang Village VietNamNet Bridge – Villagers in Tham Phang Village in Muong Ang District of Dien Bien Province are celebrating Tet during one of the coldest winters in the region. Belong to the Mong ethnicity, one of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, locals here usually celebrate…

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Vietjet Air offers 2 million tickets from 0 VND

Vietjet Air offers 2 million tickets from 0 VND <div align="center"></div> <p>The airline will also give away cash prizes with a total value of up to 1 billion VND (44,000 USD) and more free tickets. </p> <p>During the first week of the promotion, Vietjet will have a series of ‘golden days’ from December 28 to December 30, 2017 with millions of promotional tickets priced only from 0 VND for all domestic and international routes from Vietnam to the Republic of Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia. The flight period for the promotion is from January 3, 2018 to May 31, 2018.</p> <p>This is one of Vietjet’s biggest-ever promotions for this Lunar New Year, which takes place under the banner “Enjoy Sky Festival with Vietjet.”</p> <p>Adding extra festive joy to the promotion, passengers flying with Vietjet on all domestic and international routes  during the promotional period will have chances to participate in lucky draws everyday and win domestic return tickets, ‘lucky money’ prizes up to 10 million VND (440 USD) as well as a special cash prize worth 100 million VND (4,400 USD). </p> <p>Passengers can also experience the online game “Vietjet Sky Fun” to win more gifts including a pair of domestic or international return tickets. </p> <p>The promotional tickets are available during Vietjet’s daily ‘golden hours’ from 12:00 to 14:00 at www.vietjetair.com (also compatible with smartphones at http://bit.ly/1BDdBzh) or http://bit.ly/1zyybAq (just click the “Booking” tab); payment can be easily made with debit and credit cards of Visa/ MasterCard/ AMEX/ JCB/ KCP and any ATM card issued by 32 Vietnamese banks that have been registered with internet banking.</p> <p>With an aim to become a “Consumer Airline,” Vietjet is continually opening new routes, adding more aircraft, investing in modern technology and offering more added-on products and services to serve all demands of international and domestic travelers. </p> <p>Vietjet is a pioneering airline that is loved by many for its exciting promotional and entertainment programs, especially during the festive season. </p> <p>With high-quality services, diverse ticket classes and special low-fare tickets, Vietjet offers its passengers flying experiences on new aircraft with comfy seats, delicious hot meals, beautiful and friendly cabin crews, and other added-on services.</p> <br /> Vietjet Air offers 2 million tickets from 0 VND Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Vietjet Air offers 2 million tickets from 0 VND

Vietjet Air offers 2 million tickets from 0 VND The airline will also give away cash prizes with a total value of up to 1 billion VND (44,000 USD) and more free tickets.  During the first week of the promotion, Vietjet will have a series of ‘golden days’ from December 28 to December 30, 2017 with mi…

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Tourism sector works to improve service quality

Tourism sector works to improve service quality <div class="ExternalClass8C7A620D535A4A809B2FE49FD2C42A52"> </div> <div class="ExternalClass8C7A620D535A4A809B2FE49FD2C42A52"><strong><br /> Hanoi (VNA)</strong> – Twenty travel companies werefined and another had its business licence revoked for 18 months for violating administrativeregulations in travel business activities in 2017, according to the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism. <p>The firms’ violations were mainly failure to set up and store documents,use of tour guides without labour contracts, lack of tour guides, and having noreport of travel operations to authorised agencies.</p> <p>During the year, inspectors from the Ministry of Culture, Sports andTourism conducted inspections at 55 agencies in seven provinces and cities,namely Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kien Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Vinh Long, TienGiang and Quang Ninh, which are popular tourism destinations in the country.</p> <p>A series of measures were also taken to improve the quality of travelservices and human resources; and enhance inter-sectorial coordination and managementwork.</p> <p>About 13 million foreigners chose Vietnam as their holiday destinationin 2017, a year-on-year rise of nearly 3 million.  Meanwhile, the sector served 73.2 milliondomestic tourists. It earned 510.9 trillion VND (22.5 billion USD) from tourismactivities this year.</p> <p>At a recent meeting in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head ofthe state steering committee for tourism, asked the tourism sector to improveproducts, accommodation facilities, manpower, while devising appropriatestrategies and plans.</p> <p>More attention should be paid to quality, he noted, stressing that itmust successfully carry out the plan on restructuring the tourism sector so asto develop tourism into a spearhead economic industry.-VNA</p> </div> <div class="article-photo"><span>A corner of Ha Long bay, Quang Ninh province (Source: VNA)</span></div> <br /> Tourism sector works to improve service quality Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Tourism sector works to improve service quality

Tourism sector works to improve service quality   Hanoi (VNA) – Twenty travel companies werefined and another had its business licence revoked for 18 months for violating administrativeregulations in travel business activities in 2017, according to the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism. The …

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Kien Giang welcomes 6 million tourists in 2017

Kien Giang welcomes 6 million tourists in 2017 <div align="center"></div> <p>The department said the province earned a total tourism revenue of over 4,582 billion, exceeding its target by 20%.</p> <p>Phu Quoc Island, Ha Tien, Nam Du Islands, and Ba Lua are the most popular destinations in Kien Giang. Phu Quoc Island performed particularly well in tourism, attracting nearly 1 million visitors, an increase of over 35.17% compared to 2016’s figure.</p> <p>According to many tourism experts, the province’s hospitality sector has improved the quality of its service in recent years to meet tourists’ increasing demands for travel with promotional activities, traditional festivals, and beauty pageant contests.</p> <p>The province aims to attract 650,000 – 700,000 foreign arrivals and 8.4 million domestic tourists by 2020 to generate an estimated tourism revenue of US$808 million, creating 14,000 jobs in the travel industry.</p> <br /> Kien Giang welcomes 6 million tourists in 2017 Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Kien Giang welcomes 6 million tourists in 2017

Kien Giang welcomes 6 million tourists in 2017 The department said the province earned a total tourism revenue of over 4,582 billion, exceeding its target by 20%. Phu Quoc Island, Ha Tien, Nam Du Islands, and Ba Lua are the most popular destinations in Kien Giang. Phu Quoc Island performed particula…

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Hanoi streets pedestrianised for New Year 2018 holiday

Hanoi streets pedestrianised for New Year 2018 holiday <div align="center"></div> <p>Accordingly, the operational period for the pedestrianised zone at HoanKiem Lake will be from 7pm on December 29, 2017 (Friday) to 0:00am on January 1, 2018 (Monday).</p> <p>This is to accommodate a variety of art music performances being held during the New Year 2018 holiday such as the New Year 2018 Countdown Festivals at August Revolution Square,  Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, and the flower garden area near the statue of King Ly Thai To.</p> <p>In addition, several exhibitions will be organized around the city centre to provide visitors with insights into Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago and the cultures of different regions around the country.</p> <br /> Hanoi streets pedestrianised for New Year 2018 holiday Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Hanoi streets pedestrianised for New Year 2018 holiday

Hanoi streets pedestrianised for New Year 2018 holiday Accordingly, the operational period for the pedestrianised zone at HoanKiem Lake will be from 7pm on December 29, 2017 (Friday) to 0:00am on January 1, 2018 (Monday). This is to accommodate a variety of art music performances being held during t…

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Vietnam’s leading luxury boutique resort wins asia’s best atthe World Luxury Hotel Awards in Switzerland

Vietnam’s leading luxury boutique resort wins asia’s best atthe World Luxury Hotel Awards in Switzerland <p>The prestigious recognition as ‘Asia’s Best’ in the Luxury Romantic Beach Resort category is afirst-ever win by any resort property in Vietnam. The award was given at a gala event attended by hundreds atthe 10th edition of the annual World Luxury Awards.</p> <p>The World Luxury Hotel Awards – “The Oscars of the Hotel Industry” –  is a recognized global organization honoring luxury hotels around the world for their world class facilities and service excellence provided to guests. Each year, over 300,000 international guests, travelers and industry players alike vote, during a four-week period to select winners. This year, La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc MGallerywas recognized as the Luxury Romantic Beach Resort for the continent of Asia.</p> <p>“Being recognized as Asia’s best in the Luxury Romantic Beach Resort category is a true source of pride for the entire team at La Veranda Resort PhuQuoc. I would like to thank our peers who voted and believed in us and our business partners for beingfans of the experiences we create & the memorable storytelling that we weave for our guests.” said General Manager Jean Pierre Gerbet.</p> <p>He further added that: “This global award simply propels us to continue to strive to set the industry benchmark for boutique luxury and exceptional guest experiences not only in Vietnam and Asia, but worldwide.”</p> <p>Established in 2006, this 70-room luxury boutique resort, part of theMGallery By Sofitel collection, is the first luxury property on Phu Quoc Island. Located centrally on Duong Dong beach, La Veranda provides an experience evocative of a French colonial mansion by the sea. Its architectural design and atmosphere creates a distinctive style with comfort and indulgence reminiscent of a bygone Indochine era.  The resort has two restaurants and a bar – The Peppertree, Le Jardin and Le Bar. With Le Spa, a luxurious organic spa center, as well as its new innovative product, the ‘La Veranda Romance Menu’ comprising of 12 memorable romantic experiences, the resort becomes a magnificent setting for a relaxed beach holiday, romantic getaway, spa vacation, destination nuptials or honeymoons. </p> <p>Phu Quoc island, located in the southern province of KienGiang,aims to lure over 1.8 million tourists annually. The tourism sector aims to fetch more than 11.15 trillion VND (499 million USD) in revenues this 2017.</p> <p>Vice Chairman of the district’s People’s Committee Huynh Quang Hung said to realize the aforesaid goals, the district will push ahead with trade and tourism promotion activities, host traditional festivals, and improve the quality of maritime services. Phu Quoc aims to be a high-end tourism destination in the region and beyond by 2020.</p> <p>With the latest World Luxury Award, La Veranda Resort receives its 4th awards win for the year. Earlier this year, the property was awarded TripAdvisor’s Travelers Choice 2017, Asian Lifestyle Tourism Awards – Outstanding Beach Resort 2017, The Guide Awards 2017.</p> <p>ABOUT MGALLERY BY SOFITEL                                                                                                      </p> <p>MGallery by Sofitel is AccorHotels’ collection of inimitably enchanting, unique boutique hotels offering the excellence of hospitality “à la française”.</p> <p>MGallery by Sofitel has 85 unique and fascinating addresses in 23 countries around the world, all of which are havens for those who relish off-the-beaten-track experiences. Each address is remarkable for its singular personality and deep-rooted local history.</p> <p>AccorHotels, the world’s leading hotel operator, is present in 95 countries with more than 4,000 hotels and 240,000 employees.</p> <p style="text-align: right;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px"></p> <br /> Vietnam’s leading luxury boutique resort wins asia’s best atthe World Luxury Hotel Awards in Switzerland Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam’s leading luxury boutique resort wins asia’s best atthe World Luxury Hotel Awards in Switzerland

Vietnam’s leading luxury boutique resort wins asia’s best atthe World Luxury Hotel Awards in Switzerland The prestigious recognition as ‘Asia’s Best’ in the Luxury Romantic Beach Resort category is afirst-ever win by any resort property in Vietnam. The award was given at a gala event attended by hun…

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Childhood nostalgic with Hanoi’s street food

Childhood nostalgic with Hanoi’s street food <p><em>Cotton candy bikes, Fried ball-cake vendors… many of Hanoi street cuisines remind tourists and local about their dreamy childhood.</em></p> <p><strong>Sugar cotton candy</strong></p> <p class=" a-c"><em>A cotton candy bike</em></p> <p>Wandering around Hanoi’s Old quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, you can easily catch the sight of cotton candy made on bikes. The candy is called ‘kẹo bông gòn’ in Vietnamese which is a form of spun sugar confection with dashes of colour and flavour which change from place to place.</p> <p>However, like other countries, in Vietnam, the candy is made by heating and liquefying sugar and spinning it out through a minute holes with a centrifuge. Once in air, thin molten sugar strands re-solidify as cotton candy, which mostly contains air. </p> <p>It is sold on a stick or in a poly bag. The machines in Vietnam are small and automatically produce single-servings of sugar cotton candy in which the spinning head moves at a speed of several thousand revolutions per minute. Most tourists have Vietnamese sugar ball candy to get nostalgic about their childhood experience.</p> <p><strong>Bánh rán (fried rice ball)</strong></p> <p>Bánh rán is a deep-fried glutinous rice ball from northern Vietnamese cuisine. In Vietnamese, bánh is a category of food including cakes, pies, and pastries, while rán means “fried.” Its outer shell is made from glutinous rice flour, and covered all over with white sesame seeds.</p> <p>Its filling is made from sweetened mung bean paste, and scented with jasmine flower essence.photo Traditionally, the filling should be separated from the shell so that if one shakes the bánh rán, one can feel the filling rattle against the inside of the shell. Many of Hanoi children keep this kind of sweet gift in memory. In the past, bánh rán ‘s often the gift from their parents for a great performance at school.</p> <p><strong>Kẹo kéo (stretch candy)</strong></p> <p>This candy made from malt, peanuts, sesame. The seller pull until the length of the rods is exceedingly perfect, he cuts the rob of candy by his hand, which brings about delighted sound.</p> <p class=" a-c"><em>A phase in making “kẹo kéo”</em></p> <p>Now the candy is on your hand is pretty sticky, have fragrant smell from nuts and sesame. It seems that how long the vendor take, the more interesting the buyers interested in. Nowadays, children hardly know about this candy, but you can have “a ticket to childhood” when strolling around Hanoi’s night market to seek for vendors selling this sweet gift.</p> <p><strong>Cháo sườn – rib porridge</strong></p> <p>Spare rib porridge is made of two main ingredients: white rice and spare ribs. The ribs are first stewed for one hour. The cook then takes them out, put the rice in the broth and cook until it turns into porridge. Next, the ribs are deboned before being put back into the porridge pot.</p> <p>A perfect bowl of spare rib porridge is the combination between the sweetness of the broth, thanks to ribs stewed for hours, and the tenderness of the pork and porridge. Lingering in many Hanoian childhood’s memory, rib porridge is served as the “afternoon-meal” after school  for them.  </p> <p><strong>Tràng Tiền ice cream</strong></p> <p>Kem Tràng Tiền is nothing fancy but everything about it is extraordinary.  Lying in Trang Tien Street (Hanoi), the ice cream street shop has been famous for more than half of century.</p> <p>Though it looked like everyone was fixing their motorbikes, on closer inspection I realized that everyone was sitting aboard their motorcycles, slowly chitchatting, waiting for another round of the treat that was making everyone so happy. With nearly 60 years of history, the ice cream here remains in memory of many Hanoians’ generations.</p> <p><em>Hanoitimes </em></p> <br /> Childhood nostalgic with Hanoi’s street food Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Childhood nostalgic with Hanoi’s street food

Childhood nostalgic with Hanoi’s street food Cotton candy bikes, Fried ball-cake vendors… many of Hanoi street cuisines remind tourists and local about their dreamy childhood. Sugar cotton candy A cotton candy bike Wandering around Hanoi’s Old quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, you can easily catch the sight …

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Int’l tourist arrivals to VN increases 29.1 percent over 2016

Int’l tourist arrivals to VN increases 29.1 percent over 2016 <p>2017 marks new success of Vietnam’s tourism industry. In the first six months of 2017, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced that Vietnam was ranked the sixth position in the world and the Aisa- Pacific region in the  tourism growth and attractive tourism destination. </p> <p class="author cms-author">BY MAI AN- Translated by Huyen Huong</p> <br /> Int’l tourist arrivals to VN increases 29.1 percent over 2016 Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Int’l tourist arrivals to VN increases 29.1 percent over 2016

Int’l tourist arrivals to VN increases 29.1 percent over 2016 2017 marks new success of Vietnam’s tourism industry. In the first six months of 2017, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced that Vietnam was ranked the sixth position in the world and the Aisa- Pacific region in the  tourism g…

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Many essential policies for tourism development

Many essential policies for tourism development <p>NDO – According to report by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnamese tourism sector welcomed 13 million international visitors and served 73.2 million domestic tourists in 2017, earning VND510.9 trillion.</p> <p>The number of international visitors to Vietnam and domestic tourists increased by 30% (three million) and 18% (11.2 million) compared to the last year, while the total revenue of the tourism sector was up 27.7% (VND110.9 trillion). Notably, Vietnamese tourism received the appreciation and recognition of international organisations. The country ranked sixth among ten destinations with fastest development in the world; Vietravel Company was named the World’s Leading Group Tour Operator 2017 at the World Travel Awards 2017 (WTA); and the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort was voted as the Best Luxury Resort Worldwide.</p> <p>In addition, the 2017 APEC High-Level Declaration on tourism which is themed ‘Promoting Sustainable Tourism for an Inclusive and Interconnected Asia-Pacific’ was approved to encourage long-term and feasible economic contributions, bringing benefits to relevant sides among the APEC community; create competitive environment and support all tourism businesses, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; and take full advantage of the changes from new advanced technologies.</p> <p>The above achievements were the result of drastic and essential policies by the Party and State. On January 16, 2017, the Politburo issued the Resolution No.08-NQ/TW on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector. The third session of the 14th National Assembly adopted the 2017 Tourism Law. These policies have set out strategic development directions for the country, particularly the tourism sector as well as promoted the innovation thinking in developing tourism under the market economy laws, creating a legal corridor and clearing resources for the development of tourism.</p> <p>The policies have been gradually implemented by the tourism sector and relevant agencies, bringing some positive changes. In 2017, a large number of enterprises were mobilised to participate in the tourism promotion, while popular channels were diversified through the internet and social networks. The issuance of e-visa and reform of the entry procedure towards a more simple system have created favourable conditions for visitors; meanwhile the tourism infrastructure has been upgraded, contributing to improving the quality of service. Cultural and heritage tourism forms have been increasingly exploited as a special strength, attracting numerous international friends.</p> <p>The tourism sector’s achievements this year are very encouraging. However, it is straightforward to admit that Vietnamese tourism still has many shortcomings and weaknesses, such as lack of seriousness in planning leading tourist destinations, causing disorder and breaking the natural beauty and environment of many coastal areas and national tourism areas. In addition, the lack of tourist accommodation and special tourism products as well as human resources serving for the sector is one of limitations of the country’s tourism sector. Therefore, it is essential to drastically implement projects to restructure tourism, considering as a core measure to maintain sustainable growth.</p> <br /> Many essential policies for tourism development Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Many essential policies for tourism development

Many essential policies for tourism development NDO – According to report by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnamese tourism sector welcomed 13 million international visitors and served 73.2 million domestic tourists in 2017, earning VND510.9 trillion. The number of international visitor…

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Airlines to provide 3,000 extra flights for Tet

Airlines to provide 3,000 extra flights for Tet <div align="center"></div> <p>As of December 26, airlines had registered to add nearly 3,000 extra flights and 582,000 more seats on 22 air routes served at 18 airports.<br /> <span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> Accordingly, there will be an extra 790 flights on the Noi Bai-Tan Son Nhat route, with Tan Son Nhat-Phu Bai adding 335 flights, Tan Son Nhat-Cam Ranh 324 flights, Tan Son Nhat-Da Nang 262 flights, Tan Son Nhat – Vinh 185 flights, and Tan Son Nhat-Tho Xuan 182 flights.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> From January 30 to March 4, there will be more than 22,300 domestic flights, offering passengers 4.1 million seats, an increase of 15% and 19% respectively, against the same period last year.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> Presently there are more than 70% of seats on domestic flights available. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam advises passengers to access information about flights and tickets on the official channels of airlines to avoid misinformation.</span></p> <br /> Airlines to provide 3,000 extra flights for Tet Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Airlines to provide 3,000 extra flights for Tet

Airlines to provide 3,000 extra flights for Tet As of December 26, airlines had registered to add nearly 3,000 extra flights and 582,000 more seats on 22 air routes served at 18 airports. Accordingly, there will be an extra 790 flights on the Noi Bai-Tan Son Nhat route, with Tan Son Nhat-Phu Bai add…

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Quang Binh one of the top ten destinations in Vietnam: Trip Advisor

Quang Binh one of the top ten destinations in Vietnam: Trip Advisor <div align="center"></div> <p>Dang Dong Ha, vice director of the provincial Department of Tourism, said Quang Binh is known as the kingdom of caves and is a paradise waiting to be discovered on interesting tours of fascinating locations like Son Doong, Tu Lan cave system, Da Nhay beach, Thien Duong cave, Phong Nha-Tien Son, Chay River, and Toi cave.<br /> <span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> Quang Binh welcomed 100,000 foreign visitors for the first time in 2017, a year-on-year rise of 120%.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> Mr Ha attributed such a rise in popularity to the localities’ efforts in improving service quality and new tourism products, organizing a variety of promotional programs for local tourism like Quang Binh cave festival, and hosting Miss Grand International, all of which lured more visitors to the province.</span></p> <br /> Quang Binh one of the top ten destinations in Vietnam: Trip Advisor Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Quang Binh one of the top ten destinations in Vietnam: Trip Advisor

Quang Binh one of the top ten destinations in Vietnam: Trip Advisor Dang Dong Ha, vice director of the provincial Department of Tourism, said Quang Binh is known as the kingdom of caves and is a paradise waiting to be discovered on interesting tours of fascinating locations like Son Doong, Tu Lan ca…

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Hanoi, Da Nang among world’s top trending destinations in 2018: Airbnb

Hanoi, Da Nang among world’s top trending destinations in 2018: Airbnb <p class="Normal">The year is closing in and vacation enthusiasts around the world have made numerous travel plans for 2018, and they have expressed much bigger interest in Hanoi and Da Nang.</p> <p class="Normal">New data from Airbnb, an accommodation service that allows people to list their homes and hotels for holiday rentals, named the Vietnamese cities among the top 10 trending destinations based on booking increases over last year.</p> <p class="Normal">Vietnam is seeing booking surges in the cities of Hanoi (212 percent) and Da Nang (255 percent), “which blend gleaming waterfronts and centuries-old architecture with cosmopolitan amenities,” the site said in report earlier this month.</p> <p class="Normal">Da Nang in the central coast ranks fifth and the 1,000-year-old capital Hanoi ninth in the list, which is dominated with laid-back beach towns and mountain retreats.</p> <p class="Normal">The two cities are among the most popular destinations in Vietnam’s fast-growing tourism market. Hanoi expects 4.3 million foreign visitors this year, up more than 7 percent from 2016. <span>Da Nang, which hosts the annual </span><a href="http://bit.ly/2C2NmMG"><span>international fireworks festival</span></a><span> </span><span>and welcomed world leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (</span><a href="http://bit.ly/2zFo6G7"><span>APEC</span></a><span>) Summit in November</span><span>, is seeing a staggering 37 percent increase in foreign arrivals, to 2.3 million.</span></p> <p class="Normal">Airbnb has received bookings for the first half of 2018 and it expects the biggest year for the booking service.</p> <p class="Normal">Gangneung of South Korea is the most trending destination with bookings rising 2,175 percent from last year, indicating excitement for the 2018 Winter Games.</p> <p class="Normal">Midwestern cities in the United States with new restaurants, nightlife and local arts, and ocean-side communities in southern America also expect surges in number of visitors.</p> <p class="Normal">The biggest bookings go through the familiar popular destinations Tokyo, Paris, Osaka, New York, London and Rome.</p> <br /> Hanoi, Da Nang among world’s top trending destinations in 2018: Airbnb Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Hanoi, Da Nang among world’s top trending destinations in 2018: Airbnb

Hanoi, Da Nang among world’s top trending destinations in 2018: Airbnb The year is closing in and vacation enthusiasts around the world have made numerous travel plans for 2018, and they have expressed much bigger interest in Hanoi and Da Nang. New data from Airbnb, an accommodation service that all…

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2017 marks busiest year ever for Vietnam airports

2017 marks busiest year ever for Vietnam airports <p class="Normal">Vietnam served more than 94 million air passengers this year, a 16 percent on-year increase, pressing further needs to improve the country’s aviation services and its strained facilities.</p> <p class="Normal">A source from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) said the country’s aviation market has seen outstanding growth. The number of passengers has surged 17 times from two decades ago to the all-time high this year, which includes 13 million foreign passengers.</p> <p class="Normal">Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi welcomed the 94 millionth passenger on Wednesday, who was a Vietnamese man flying from Saigon.</p> <p class="Normal">“The services at Vietnamese airports have improved in many ways, but I hope carriers can reduce flight delays and cancellations as they mess with people’s schedules,” said Nguyen Van Huynh, the special flyer.</p> <p class="Normal">Airports across Vietnam accommodated more than 800,000 safe flights by 67 foreign carriers and four Vietnamese ones in 2017, up 10 percent from last year.</p> <p class="Normal">Yet delays and cancellations still bothered many customers.</p> <p class="Normal">CAAV reported 1,150 cancelled flights by the four domestic carriers in the first 10 months this year due to technical problems, weather conditions and other reasons. The unit earlier counted 14,000 delayed flights in the first six months of 2017, or 12.2 percent of all flights operated by Vietnamese carriers.</p> <p class="Normal">The country’s biggest airports Tan Son Nhat in Saigon and Noi Bai in Hanoi are usually crowded.</p> <p class="Normal">Rapid expansion at Tan Son Nhat hopefully will give it more space as of early next year. The airport now can afford to host 57 aircraft at a time but sometimes receives more than 70.</p> <br /> 2017 marks busiest year ever for Vietnam airports Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

2017 marks busiest year ever for Vietnam airports

2017 marks busiest year ever for Vietnam airports Vietnam served more than 94 million air passengers this year, a 16 percent on-year increase, pressing further needs to improve the country’s aviation services and its strained facilities. A source from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) s…

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VN aims to boost tourism

VN aims to boost tourism <p><em>VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam wants to make tourism a key economic sector by 2020 that creates a driving force for the development of other sectors.</em></p> <p>The country expects to attract 17-20 million foreign visitors and 82 million domestic ones by then.</p> <p>Visitors are expected to spend US$35 billion in the country in 2020, on-the-spot exports through tourism are expected to reach $20 billion and the sector is hoped to create jobs for four million people including 1.6 million direct jobs.</p> <p>Such ambitious goals are part of a Politburo resolution on developing tourism into a key economic sector, issued early this year.</p> <p>Nguyen Van Tuan, General Director of National Administration of Tourism, told a workshop on restructuring Vietnam’s tourism sector yesterday that the resolution created motivation for the sector’s development and it also helped change public awareness about tourism – as not a single sector but a collective one relating to other sectors.</p> <p>He said that last year, Vietnam welcomed 10 million foreign visitors and the World Tourism Organisation ranked it in top ten countries with highest tourism growth globally.</p> <p>In 2017, Vietnam expected to host 13 million foreign visitors and it was ranked in top six countries with highest tourism growth, Tuan said, adding that the expectation would likely become real and the National Administration of Tourism would greet the 13 millionth visitor next week.</p> <p>“The tourism sector made achievements but these are still modest compared to Vietnam’s tourism potential and expectations as well as those made by neighbouring countries,” Tuan said.</p> <p>“Restructuring is an urgent need for Vietnam’s tourism sector,” Tuan said, noting six issues that need restructuring – resources and funding for tourism, tourism products, developing tourism markets, tourism companies, human resources for tourism and management.</p> <p>Vietstar Airlines Deputy General Director Luong Hoai Nam said that Vietnam’s tourism was “good at some things but bad at many things.”</p> <p>Last year, Vietnam received 10 million foreign visitors but Thailand received 32.6 million, Malaysia 26.8 million, Singapore 16.4 million and Hong Kong 26.7 million.</p> <p>Cambodia, with a population of about 15 million people, received 5 million foreign visitors. This means a neighbouring country with a population a sixth as big as Vietnam has welcomed half as many visitors.</p> <p>Nam said that with advantages in natural resources and human resource, Vietnam’s tourism was hindered by bottlenecks relating to visa policies, information and communications technology readiness, health and hygiene, safety and security, airport infrastructure, ground and port infrastructure and tourist service infrastructure.</p> <p>According to Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index 2017 of World Economic Forum, Vietnam’s tourist service infrastructure ranked 113 out of 136 economies.</p> <p>“Few tourist products with high creativeness are available in Vietnam,” Nam said, adding that there are opportunities to develop new tourist products based on the conditions of individual localities.  </p> <p>Certain types of tourism could be exploited, for example, war tourism allows visitors to learn about wars in Vietnam through battle sites, golf tourism is popular in Asia and hiking and trekking tourism has possibilities as Vietnam has much natural beauty.</p> <p>Vietnam ranked 82th out of 136 economies in the same survey index in terms of health and hygiene, necessitating an improvement in fighting rubbish and better quantity and quality of public toilets.</p> <p>In addition, Nam said that the country should have opener visa policies for tourists.</p> <p>“The matter is not the visa fee but the inconvenience and displeasure people experience when applying for a visa,” he said.</p> <p>Vietnam exempts tourist visa for citizens from 23 countries but Thailand does the same for 61 countries, Singapore 157 countries, Malaysia 155 countries, Indonesia 169 countries and the Philippines 157 countries.</p> <p>Nguyen Quoc Ky, chairman and director general of Viettravel said tourism consists of four major components – travel, accommodation, transport and services. So, restructuring the tourism sector means implementing synchronised measures in related sectors like transport, commerce, services and customs.</p> <p>Nguyen Dinh Cung, director of the Central Institute for Economic Management said that investment priority should be given to developing tourist infrastructure.</p> <p>In any economic restructuring plan, enterprises should be placed at the centre, he said, calling for stronger administrative reform and improved business environment so enterprises can run freely, safely and more creatively. </p> <p><em>Source: VNS</em></p> <br /> VN aims to boost tourism Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

VN aims to boost tourism

VN aims to boost tourism VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam wants to make tourism a key economic sector by 2020 that creates a driving force for the development of other sectors. The country expects to attract 17-20 million foreign visitors and 82 million domestic ones by then. Visitors are expected to spe…

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Quang Ninh to host 100 events during National Tourism Year

Quang Ninh to host 100 events during National Tourism Year <div> <div align="center"></div> </div> <p>The provincial People’s Committee unveiled a plan for the National Tourism Year 2018 – Ha Long – Quang Ninh on December 27.</p> <p><span>The events will be organised by Quang Ninh, some other provinces and cities and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.</span></p> <p><span>The province will chair the opening and closing ceremonies of the National Tourism Year 2018, Carnival Ha Long, the opening of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 (ATF 2019) and the Ha Long Open Golf Tournament 2019.</span></p> <p><span>The opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year 2018, themed “Ha Long – Heritage, Wonder – Friendly Destination” and Carnival Ha Long is slated for April 28, 2018.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px">Meanwhile, the closing ceremony of the National Tourism Year and the opening of ATF 2019 and the Ha Long Open Golf Tournament 2019 are scheduled to take place in early January 2019.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px">Other activities include festivals and cultural and sports programmes gathering all 14 localities of Quang Ninh, giving visitors a chance to learn about local culture.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px">Information about the National Tourism Year 2018 can be found at the website http://bit.ly/2C3Towg and at Quang Ninh province’s website www.quangninh.gov.vn.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px">Also on December 27, the Tourism Department of Quang Ninh and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of central Ha Tinh province held a conference to promote their tourism potential.</span></p> <br /> Quang Ninh to host 100 events during National Tourism Year Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Quang Ninh to host 100 events during National Tourism Year

Quang Ninh to host 100 events during National Tourism Year The provincial People’s Committee unveiled a plan for the National Tourism Year 2018 – Ha Long – Quang Ninh on December 27. The events will be organised by Quang Ninh, some other provinces and cities and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and T…

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Vietnam welcomes 1.3 million international tourists in 2017

Vietnam welcomes 1.3 million international tourists in 2017

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The 6 best shopping streets in Hanoi

The 6 best shopping streets in Hanoi

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Eco-tourism expanded in Tram Chim National Park

Eco-tourism expanded in Tram Chim National Park <div class="article-photo"><span>Birds at Tram Chim National Park (Photo: VNA)</span></div> <p><strong>DongThap (VNA)</strong> – Eco-tourism development in a sustainable manner willbe promoted in Dong Thap province’s Tram Chim National Park– the “green lung”of the Mekong Delta.</p> <p>According to Vo Tien Thanh, Director of the provincial Tourism DevelopmentCentre, surveys will be carried out, with the data used to take measures to balancetourism development and ecosystem preservation.</p> <p>It is also necessary to get locals involved in conserving natural resources andproperly exploiting tourism, he said.</p> <p>Director of the Tram Chim Tourism Area Le Hoang Long underlined the need todevelop local specialities and homestay services to improve incomes for local communities,contributing to reducing illegal exploitation of natural resources and huntingof wild animals.</p> <p>In 2017, a project funded by the World Wide Fundfor Nature in Vietnam was implemented, aiming to encourage eco-tourism andsustainable use of natural resources in the park, and improve livelihoods forlocals through community-based tourism.</p> <p>The park, flooded for half the year and dry for the other six months, spansmore than 7,300 hectares in Tam Nong district. It is home to 250 species ofwater birds, 100 species of freshwater fish and 190 species of plants.</p> <p>It is the fourth Ramsar site of Vietnam and the 2000th Ramsar site of Wetlandsof International Importance in the world. </p> <p>The park has become a destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. In2017, it welcomed more than 134,000 holiday-makers, a year-on-year surgeof 28.87 percent.-VNA</p> <br /> Eco-tourism expanded in Tram Chim National Park Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Eco-tourism expanded in Tram Chim National Park

Eco-tourism expanded in Tram Chim National Park Birds at Tram Chim National Park (Photo: VNA) DongThap (VNA) – Eco-tourism development in a sustainable manner willbe promoted in Dong Thap province’s Tram Chim National Park– the “green lung”of the Mekong Delta. According to Vo Tien Thanh, Director of…

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Vietnam Airlines welcomes 94 millionth passenger

Vietnam Airlines welcomes 94 millionth passenger <div align="center"></div> <p>It also marked the 800,000th flight managed by Vietnam Air Traffic Management (VATM) in 2017.</p> <p>Flight VN220 from HCM City to Hanoi landed at Noi Bai International Airport at 10:05am, carrying the 94 millionth passenger, Nguyen Van Huynh from Vietnam, and the 1.5 millionth member of the Golden Lotus Program of Vietnam Airlines, Nguyen Thanh Son, also of Vietnam.</p> <p>Compared to 2016, the numbers of passengers passing through ACV’s aviation ports in 2017 surged by 16% to 94 million passengers. ACV has implemented a number of solutions to improve management capability, upgrading the infrastructure system with modern technologies and facilities to ensure absolute security and safety for all flights.</p> <p>Established in December 1999, Vietnam Airlines’ Golden Lotus Program has made remarkable achievements, growing to 1.9 million members in 2017. The program has attracted a large number of passengers with its range of incentives such as bonus miles, business class lounges, and priority check-in.</p> <p>At present, more than 80 partners of the program who bring a wide variety of desirable benefits to its members.</p> <br /> Vietnam Airlines welcomes 94 millionth passenger Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam Airlines welcomes 94 millionth passenger

Vietnam Airlines welcomes 94 millionth passenger It also marked the 800,000th flight managed by Vietnam Air Traffic Management (VATM) in 2017. Flight VN220 from HCM City to Hanoi landed at Noi Bai International Airport at 10:05am, carrying the 94 millionth passenger, Nguyen Van Huynh from Vietnam, a…

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Dalat calls for domestic investors in restoring Dalat-Thap Cham railway

Dalat calls for domestic investors in restoring Dalat-Thap Cham railway <p>The 84km train route linking the central highlands city of Dalat and the central province city of Thap Cham was closed for long time.</p> <p>At present, 7km of the route connecting Dalat to Trai Mat in Dalat city’s ward 11 has been put into use to serve tourists since 1991.  </p> <p class="author cms-author">M.V-Translated by K.Lien</p> <br /> Dalat calls for domestic investors in restoring Dalat-Thap Cham railway Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Dalat calls for domestic investors in restoring Dalat-Thap Cham railway

Dalat calls for domestic investors in restoring Dalat-Thap Cham railway The 84km train route linking the central highlands city of Dalat and the central province city of Thap Cham was closed for long time. At present, 7km of the route connecting Dalat to Trai Mat in Dalat city’s ward 11 has been put…

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Hue, Hoi An among Top 12 must-visit Asian cities

Hue, Hoi An among Top 12 must-visit Asian cities

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Hoian & Hue listed top 12 must-see cities in Asia

Hoian & Hue listed top 12 must-see cities in Asia <p>The magazine wrote, Hoian is one of the most beautiful cities in Vietnam recognized UNESCO World Heritage site while Hue is one of the most stunning places to visit with its endless number of breathtaking pagodas, palaces, temples, century old Citadel walls and traditional dishes.</p> <p>The remaining ten cities include George Town in Malaysia; Banda Seri Begawan in Brunei; Yangon in Myanmar; Chiang Mai in Thailand; Tokyo in Japan; Yogyakarta in Indonesia; Siem Reap in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Shanghai in China and Legazpi in Philippines.</p> <p class="author cms-author">T.N- Translated by Thanh Van</p> <br /> Hoian & Hue listed top 12 must-see cities in Asia Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Hoian & Hue listed top 12 must-see cities in Asia

Hoian & Hue listed top 12 must-see cities in Asia The magazine wrote, Hoian is one of the most beautiful cities in Vietnam recognized UNESCO World Heritage site while Hue is one of the most stunning places to visit with its endless number of breathtaking pagodas, palaces, temples, century old Citade…

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Open visa policy urged to make Vietnam’s tourism more attractive

Open visa policy urged to make Vietnam’s tourism more attractive <p><em>Industry insiders have urged the Government to further open up visa policy for foreign tourists to make Vietnam’s hospitality industry more attractive.</em></p> <p>The visa exemption has been proved an effective measure to attract foreign arrivals.</p> <p>Vietnam has set a target of welcoming 20 million foreign visitors in 2020 and developing tourism into a key economic sector, and one way of achieving that goal is to provide visa waivers for important markets, the insiders said.</p> <p>Luong Hoai Nam, Deputy General Director of Vietstar Airlines, said that the open visa policy is one of preconditions for attracting arrivals, adding that most of tourists don’t care about visa costs but feeling uncomfortable when applying for a visa. </p> <p>According to Nam, tourism visa is not a bilateral issue, which means that expanding or tightening visa depends on tourism policies of each country.</p> <p>Vietnam’s visa policy has been considered a “bottleneck” of tourism. The complicated procedures and visa costs make Vietnam less attractive for foreigners than neighboring countries.</p> <p>Visa exemptions are a global trend and Vietnam’s tourism competitors in the region are “very open” with their policies, Vu The Binh, vice chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said.</p> <p>Currently, Vietnam offers visa waivers to visitors from only 23 countries including ASEAN co-members. Indonesia, one of the world’s most liberalized countries for visas, grants visa-free travel to 169 countries. Singapore allows 158 nationalities to enter visa-free, while the figure for Malaysia is 155 and Thailand 61.</p> <p>The visa exemption has been proved an effective measure to attract foreign arrivals to the country.</p> <p>According to Binh, the visa-exemption policy for citizens from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy that has been in force since July 2015 has boosted the number of European tourists to the country and did not decrease tourism revenue, he said.</p> <p>The exemption policy attracted 720,000 tourists from these countries in the first 12 months – an increase of 96,000 tourists compared to the period in 2014 – yielding total revenues of US$126 million, while the deficit in visa fees caused by the exemption was $21.6 million, Binh said.</p> <p>Similarly, 58,000 more European tourists visited the country last year and yielded $76 million in revenues, while the deficit in visa fees was $2.3 million, he said, adding that the increased number of tourists and revenues created development opportunities for several types of tourism service.</p> <p>Binh also suggested that the government should extend its visa waivers by five years instead of reviewing them annually.</p> <p>Travel firms also said they cannot use the visa exemptions for promotional campaigns as the policy could change after a year.</p> <p>This short-term policy only works for individual tourists while businesses that offer large tours need a more stable policy, they said.</p> <p><em>Hanoitimes</em></p> <br /> Open visa policy urged to make Vietnam’s tourism more attractive Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Open visa policy urged to make Vietnam’s tourism more attractive

Open visa policy urged to make Vietnam’s tourism more attractive Industry insiders have urged the Government to further open up visa policy for foreign tourists to make Vietnam’s hospitality industry more attractive. The visa exemption has been proved an effective measure to attract foreign arrivals…

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Da Nang lures tourists on New Year 2018 holiday with diverse activities

Da Nang lures tourists on New Year 2018 holiday with diverse activities <div> <div align="center"></div> </div> <p>Along with a Winter Festival in Ba Na Hills tourist site, Da Nang Museum will hold an event to welcome the first visitor of 2018 on January 1.</p> <p><span>In Ngu Hanh Son tourist site, the management board will present gifts to the first tourist of the year. Meanwhile, other destinations across the city will be decorated to welcome visitors, while launching promotion programmes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px">According to the municipal Department of Tourism, the city expects nearly 143,000 tourists for the New Year 2018 holiday, up 17.9% over the same time last year, including 81,530 foreign visitors, a rise of 16.2% year on year.</span></p> <p><span>In the Christmas and New Year 2018 holiday this year, several new air routes were launched to connect the city and Incheon, Busan and Daegu cities of the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong (China) and Osaka in Japan.</span></p> <p><span>The department will host a ceremony to welcome the first flight of 2018 at Da Nang International Airport.</span></p> <p><span>In the Christmas and New Year 2018 holiday this year, four tourist ships are scheduled to dock in Cat Tien Sa port of Da Nang. The department will also welcome the first cruise visiting the city on New Year’s Day.</span></p> <br /> Da Nang lures tourists on New Year 2018 holiday with diverse activities Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Da Nang lures tourists on New Year 2018 holiday with diverse activities

Da Nang lures tourists on New Year 2018 holiday with diverse activities Along with a Winter Festival in Ba Na Hills tourist site, Da Nang Museum will hold an event to welcome the first visitor of 2018 on January 1. In Ngu Hanh Son tourist site, the management board will present gifts to the first to…

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13 million foreigners spend holidays in Vietnam in 2017

13 million foreigners spend holidays in Vietnam in 2017 <div class="ExternalClassA015FF84C883421BA0048A1166078B24"><strong>Hanoi (VNA)</strong> – About 13 million foreigners choseVietnam as their holiday destination in 2017, which is considered a record ofthe tourism sector and marked a year-on-year rise of nearly 3 million in thenumber of foreign visitors for the first time. <p>Meanwhile, the sector served 73.2 milliondomestic tourists. It earned 510.9 trillion VND (22.5 billion USD) fromvisitors this year, according to statistics unveiled at a meeting of the Statesteering committee for tourism in Hanoi on December 26.</p> <p>Local tourism accommodation has been developed,surpassing 25,000 establishments with more than 500,000 rooms. There are now116 five-star hotels with over 33,000 rooms, 259 four-star hotels, and 488three-star hotels nationwide.</p> <p>The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism(MCST) reported that the tourism sector successfully fulfilled the target of30-percent rise in the number of foreign visitors.</p> <p>While promotion activities have been enhancedand reformed, the sector has also attracted much social investment in tourism,especially the high-end segment. Many localities have made efforts to attractinvestment in tourism and develop tourism products. </p> <p>Vietnam has also won a number of tourism awardsand titles in 2017, which helped promote the country’s image during integrationinto the world, the ministry noted.</p> <p>The MCST also admitted certain shortcomings inthe industry, including limited services at some tourism areas, low competitiveness,a shortage of strong tourism brand names, and flaws in ensuring security andsafety for tourists at some places of interest.</p> <p>Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime MinisterVu Duc Dam, head of the State steering committee for tourism, applauded the 30-percentincrease in the foreign tourist number, noting that more attention should bepaid to quality.</p> <p>He asked the tourism sector to improve products,accommodation facilities, manpower, as well as museum and theme parks, whiledevising appropriate strategies and plans. It must successfully carry out theplan on restructuring the tourism sector so as to develop tourism into aspearhead economic industry.-VNA</p> </div> <div class="article-photo"><span>Visitors to Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang province (Photo: VNA)</span></div> <br /> 13 million foreigners spend holidays in Vietnam in 2017 Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

13 million foreigners spend holidays in Vietnam in 2017

13 million foreigners spend holidays in Vietnam in 2017 Hanoi (VNA) – About 13 million foreigners choseVietnam as their holiday destination in 2017, which is considered a record ofthe tourism sector and marked a year-on-year rise of nearly 3 million in thenumber of foreign visitors for the first tim…

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Vietnam welcomes more than 13 million foreign visitors in 2017

Vietnam welcomes more than 13 million foreign visitors in 2017 <p>According to latest statistics of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Vietnam ranks first in Asia and sixth among ten countries with the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations for 2017. The achievement is attributed to great efforts of all ministries, departments and localities to develop tourism into a spearhead economic industry.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> In November alone, the number of foreign tourists to Vietnam hit nearly 1.2 million, up 14.4% compared to October. This is the eighth month of this year the country welcomed more than 1 million foreign arrivals.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> Foreign arrivals to the country have grown sharply over the last two years. The growth brings turnover of the tourism industry to nearly VND515 trillion (US$23 billion) this year, which is up 25.2% against last year and contributes 7% to the country’s GDP.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> Worthy of note is that early this year, the Politburo issued Resolution No8 on developing tourism into a key economic industry. The National Assembly passed the revised Law on Tourism. The Government also approved two visa policies, namely granting e-visas for foreigners and exempting visas for visitors from five Western European countries – the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, which has facilitated travelling and attracting more tourists to Vietnam.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> Besides, the promotion of Vietnam images through the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Central Da Nang City and comprehensive measures that the tourism sector has carried out recently have also contributed to the growth of the tourism industry.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has implemented marketing campaigns, taken part in international travel fairs such as Travex in Singapore, ITB in Germany, MITT in Russia, JATA in Japan and Top Resa in France and welcomed Famtrip delegations to Vietnam to study the tourism market.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> It has also organized many tourism promotion programs in Australia, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px"><br /> Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the VNAT, said 2017 closes with remarkable achievements of the tourism sector. It shows that the goals set by the Politburo are likely to be reached.</span></p> <br /> Vietnam welcomes more than 13 million foreign visitors in 2017 Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam welcomes more than 13 million foreign visitors in 2017

Vietnam welcomes more than 13 million foreign visitors in 2017 According to latest statistics of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Vietnam ranks first in Asia and sixth among ten countries with the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations for 2017. The achievement is attribu…

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Tourism and Culture Week 2017 underway in Dong Thap

Tourism and Culture Week 2017 underway in Dong Thap <p><em>The Tourism and Culture Week 2017 will take place on December 23 to 31 in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap.</em></p> <p>The week aims to create the conditions necessary for businesses to exchange and cooperate together in promoting the local tourism sector and to preserve and promote traditional handicraft villages and culture among domestic and international visitors.</p> <p>With the theme “Itinerary Connecting the Phuong Nam (Southern Region) Cultural Heritage”, the week will include activities such as a food space with cooking performances and serving traditional dishes from the Mekong Delta, a Green Agriculture Fair for local green products, an exhibition of handicraft products, including mat weaving and silk weaving, performances of “cai luong” (southern Vietnam folk music), and dragon dances.</p> <p>Within the framework of the week will be travel conferences and exhibitions introducing tourist attractions, culture and heritage tours, and new tourism products and services.</p> <p>Other activities include visits to fruit gardens, craft villages, historical relics in Lai Vung district, flower gardens in Sa Dec city, and a “Ghost Market”, the launch of new community and homestay tourist spots in Lap Vo district, and exhibitions on Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands in the East Sea.</p> <p>Dong Thap is 165 km from Ho Chi Minh City and shares a 52-km border with Cambodia.</p> <p>It has a broad network of canals for irrigation and waterway transportation and has about 10,000 ha of forests. Its fauna and flora are multiform, including tortoises, turtles, snakes, fish, shrimp, pythons, storks, birds, rice, lotus, water lilies, and, especially, red-headed cranes. </p> <p>The best time for travelling to Dong Thap is from August to September, with lotus gardens blooming in August. Dong Thap is a great place for those who love nature, with gardens, rivers, and national parks.</p> <p>The most popular destinations are the revered Nguyen Sinh Sac gravesite, the Xeo Quyt Relic, the Gao Giong Ecological Tourist Area, Tram Chim National Park, the Go Thap Archaeological Area, the Sa Dec Flower Village, and Huynh Thuy Le’s Ancient House.</p> <p>Tram Chim National Park was recognized as a World Ramsar Site in 2012. It is spread over an area of 7,313 ha and has abundant flora and fauna, with over 130 species of vascular plants and 100 species of vertebrates, 40 species of fish, and nearly 200 types of waterfowl. </p> <p>An eco-friendly tour has been launched to the national park. Visitors can enjoy a 12km electric car route and a solar-powered boat ride.</p> <p>Dong Thap welcomed more than 2.4 million visitors in the first nine months of this year, including over 60,000 international tourists, up 51 and 10.5 per cent, respectively, year-on-year, according to the latest data from the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.   </p> <p><em>VN Economic Times</em></p> <br /> Tourism and Culture Week 2017 underway in Dong Thap Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Tourism and Culture Week 2017 underway in Dong Thap

Tourism and Culture Week 2017 underway in Dong Thap The Tourism and Culture Week 2017 will take place on December 23 to 31 in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap. The week aims to create the conditions necessary for businesses to exchange and cooperate together in promoting the local tourism sect…

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More foreigners spend winter vacation in Binh Thuan

More foreigners spend winter vacation in Binh Thuan <div class="ExternalClass320A9A5D429749F88CF221B50B4171B3"> <strong>Binh Thuan (VNA)</strong> – Tourist sites andresorts in the Ham Tien-Mui Ne area, Phan Thiet city, the south central coastalprovince of Binh Thuan, are busy during last months of the year as manyinternational tourists come here for their winter vacation. <p>The winter holiday lasts from October 2017 to March 2018, with tourists comingfrom both traditional markets like Russia and Germany and new ones such as theUS, France, Sweden and Poland.</p> <p>Tran Van Sang, Deputy Director of Hoang Ngoc Resort, said his resort’s room occupancyrate in the last six months of 2017 hit 85 percent, as compared with 70 percentrecorded in the same period last year.</p> <p>Zinke Elke from Germany said this is sixth time she and her husband havevisited Mui Ne, adding that she has been attracted by the warm weather, goodservices and fresh air.</p> <p>Alina Ruzanova from Russia, who has been Binh Thuan for the first time,commented on the warm weather and hospitable locals, saying she will come back nexttime.</p> <p>According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, BinhThuan welcomed about 5.2 million visitors in 2017, representing a year-on-yearrise of 13 percent.</p> <p>Of the number, 599,000 are foreigners, up 13 percent year-on-year, with 57,000 recordedin December and 160,000 in the last three months of this year.</p> <p>Binh Thuan earned nearly 11 trillion VND (484 million USD) from the tourismsector in 2017, up 20 percent against the previous year.</p> <p>Binh Thuan has 192 kilometres ofcoast with beautiful beaches, landscapes, clean environment, nationalhistorical – cultural relics and festivals.</p> <p>It is home to more than 300hotels, with 11,000 rooms and over 500 villas and apartments for tourists.</p> <p>The locality expects to welcomearound seven million tourists by 2020, contributing 10 percent to provincialGRDP.-VNA</p> </div> <div class="article-photo"><a href="http://bit.ly/2lbtDPq"></a>Binh Thuan has 192 kilometres of coast with beautiful beaches, landscapes, clean environment, national historical – cultural relics and festivals. (Source: VNA)</div> <br /> More foreigners spend winter vacation in Binh Thuan Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

More foreigners spend winter vacation in Binh Thuan

More foreigners spend winter vacation in Binh Thuan  Binh Thuan (VNA) – Tourist sites andresorts in the Ham Tien-Mui Ne area, Phan Thiet city, the south central coastalprovince of Binh Thuan, are busy during last months of the year as manyinternational tourists come here for their winter vacation. T…

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PM approves plan to develop Tan Trao tourism site

PM approves plan to develop Tan Trao tourism site <div> <div align="center"></div> </div> <p>The site targets 2 million visitors in 2030, including 35,000 foreigners. Revenue from tourism at the site is expected to exceed VND600 billion in 2025 and VND1.65 trillion in 2030.</p> <p><span>Tan Trao national tourist side covers five communes in Son Duong district and one in Yen Son district. Under the plan, its core area of 25,000 hectares will be developed.</span></p> <p><span>Targeted foreign markets include China, Japan, Taiwan (China) and the Republic of Korea, along with Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, as well as foreigners living in Vietnam.</span></p> <p><span>The plan focuses on key products such as tours exploring the history of the site, educating on its patriotic tradition and ecotourism.</span></p> <p><span>The plan will expand infrastructure for tourism by increasing accommodations to 500 rooms in 2025 and 1,000 in 2030 to at least three-star standards, while developing restaurants, homestay facilities, entertainment and sport centres and parks.</span></p> <p><span>Capital for the plan will be sourced from the State budget, the fund for supporting tourism development and capital mobilised from organisations, enterprises and other sources.</span></p> <p><span>Tan Trao, known as Vietnam’s revolutionary cradle, was once the home of President Ho Chi Minh and Party central agencies in the period before the success of the August Revolution and in the resistance war against the French. It is the venue of many historic events leading up to the August Revolution victory, including the Congress of People’s Representatives chaired by President Ho Chi Minh on August 16, 1945 to decide the destiny of the nation.</span></p> <br /> PM approves plan to develop Tan Trao tourism site Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

PM approves plan to develop Tan Trao tourism site

PM approves plan to develop Tan Trao tourism site The site targets 2 million visitors in 2030, including 35,000 foreigners. Revenue from tourism at the site is expected to exceed VND600 billion in 2025 and VND1.65 trillion in 2030. Tan Trao national tourist side covers five communes in Son Duong dis…

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Hoi An welcomes New Year 2018

Hoi An welcomes New Year 2018 <div class="article-photo"><span>A corner of Hoi An ancient city (Source: VNA)</span></div> <p><strong>Quang Nam (VNA)</strong> – The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam is holding a programme themed “Welcome the 2018 New Year” from December 24 to January 2.</p> <p>The programme features art shows and food served at night, exhibitions of photos of landscapes of Quang Nam province, and dance and jazz bands performances.</p> <p>Various activities will take place on New Year’s Eve, including art shows, dances and dress festival. The tourism agencies who brought the most tourists to the city in 2017 will be honoured on the occasion.</p> <p>Nguyen Van Son, Vice Chairman of the Hoi An city People’s Committee said the programme is expected to impress visitors to the ancient city.</p> <p>A ceremony will be held at Cau pagoda at 9:00 am on January 1 to welcome the first tourists to the city in 2018.</p> <p>Covering 60 square kilometres, Hoi An ancient town has many temples, pagodas and old houses. It was included in the World Cultural Heritage list in 1999.</p> <p>It was a renowned international trade port in the 17th century where ships from Japan, China, and European countries docked to exchange wares. Cultural exchange also took place in the port, influencing the town in ways that remain visible today.</p> <p>In 2012, it was shortlisted for the top ten Asian cities in the US-magazine Conde Nast’s Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards.</p> <p>The following year, the UNESCO-recognised world heritage was chosen for the Townscape Award by the UN-Habitat Regional Office in Asia.-VNA</p> <br /> Hoi An welcomes New Year 2018 Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Hoi An welcomes New Year 2018

Hoi An welcomes New Year 2018 A corner of Hoi An ancient city (Source: VNA) Quang Nam (VNA) – The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam is holding a programme themed “Welcome the 2018 New Year” from December 24 to January 2. The programme features art sho…

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Khanh Hoa welcomes two millionth tourist in 2017

Khanh Hoa welcomes two millionth tourist in 2017 <p>NDO – A tourist from the Republic of Korea has become the two-millionth visitor to travel to the central province of Khanh Hoa on December 23.</p> <p>The lucky man – Kim Sun Won, who arrived on Vietjet flight No.839 from Seoul ‘s Incheon airport to Cam Ranh, was presented with ,special gifts including free-of-charge services of Vietjet for the next six months and two free nights at Vinpearl Nha Trang Resort, among others.</p> <p>He said that the prizes came as a surprise to him, believing that this would be a fascinating winter holiday.</p> <p>According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province expects to receive 5.5 million holiday-makers (including two million foreigners) in 2017, earning a revenue of over VND17 trillion (over US$748 million).</p> <p>Khanh Hoa has become an ideal destination for both domestic and foreign travellers thanks to its intriguing sea and island tourism, gentle climate, stable prices and quality services.</p> <br /> Khanh Hoa welcomes two millionth tourist in 2017 Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Khanh Hoa welcomes two millionth tourist in 2017

Khanh Hoa welcomes two millionth tourist in 2017 NDO – A tourist from the Republic of Korea has become the two-millionth visitor to travel to the central province of Khanh Hoa on December 23. The lucky man – Kim Sun Won, who arrived on Vietjet flight No.839 from Seoul ‘s Incheon airport to Cam Ranh,…

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Dong Van Karst Plateau tourism development plan approved

Dong Van Karst Plateau tourism development plan approved <div> <div align="center"></div> </div> <p>Accordingly, the site is expected to welcome 800,000 visitors, including 130,000 foreigners, by 2020; 950,000 visitors with 250,000 foreigners, by 2025; 1.1 million visitors, including more than 380 foreigners, by 2030.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px">The master plan eyes tourism revenues of VND1.3 trillion (US$57.3 million) by 2020 and the amount is targeted to increase to VND2.8 trillion (US$123.4 million) by 2025 and VND5 trillion (US$220 million) by 2030.</span></p> <p><span>Key tourism markets will be Red River Delta provinces, mid-land and mountainous localities, and some cities and provinces in the central and southern regions like Da Nang, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City. Regarding international visitors, Ha Giang province should pay heed to developing markets with high spending, including Western Europe, North America, Japan, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN.</span></p> <p><span>Geological tourism, community-based tourism, and nature tourism are seen as major tourism products, along with adventure travel and discovery tourism.</span></p> <p><span>Five tourism zones will be set up under the plan: a cultural park in Xeo Sa Lung village, Pai Lung commune, Meo Vac district; Ma Pi Leng adventure travel zone at Tu San abyss; Thai An reservoir tourism site in Thai An commune, Quan Ba district; Quan Ba resort and healthcare site in Quyet Tien communes, Quan Ba district; and Nam Dam resort site in Quan Ba commune, Quan Ba district.</span></p> <p><span>High-end accommodations and entertainment zones will be prioritised for development as well.</span></p> <p><span>Dong Van plateau was recognised as a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks in 2010, becoming Vietnam’s first geological park and the second in Southeast Asia.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px">Covering a total area of 2,356 km2, it is 80% limestone and contains the fossils of thousands of species of prehistoric creatures from 400-600 million years ago.</span></p> <p><span>It is also home to over 250,000 people from 17 different ethnic groups, who boast unique cultures that have been fostered over the centuries. </span></p> <p><span>Recently, 14 archaeological sites were excavated in Dong Van, Meo Vac, and Yen Minh districts, in Dong Van plateau, revealing hundreds of relics believed to appear in the prehistoric and protohistoric times.</span></p> <p><span>The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) re-recognised the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geo-Park in the northernmost mountainous province of Ha Giang as a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks for the 2015-2018 period.</span></p> <br /> Dong Van Karst Plateau tourism development plan approved Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Dong Van Karst Plateau tourism development plan approved

Dong Van Karst Plateau tourism development plan approved Accordingly, the site is expected to welcome 800,000 visitors, including 130,000 foreigners, by 2020; 950,000 visitors with 250,000 foreigners, by 2025; 1.1 million visitors, including more than 380 foreigners, by 2030. The master plan eyes to…

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Jeju Air to open route to Da Nang in early 2018

Jeju Air to open route to Da Nang in early 2018 <div> <div align="center"></div> </div> <p>In order to meet increasing travel demand during this winter, the airline will also launch flights from the Jeju International Airport to Manila of the Philippines and Chiang Mai of Thailand during the period, it said.</p> <p><span>The carrier added that it plans to open more flights from the Cheongju International Airport to Bangkok (Thailand), Taiwan (China) and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) from January 4 to February 25, 2018.</span></p> <p><span>According to a Jeju Air representative, the airline aims to increase its fleet from the current 31 to 39 by the end of next year. It will hire more 189-seat Boeing 737-800 planes to improve the quality of flights from Jeju Island to Southeast Asian countries.</span></p> <br /> Jeju Air to open route to Da Nang in early 2018 Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Jeju Air to open route to Da Nang in early 2018

Jeju Air to open route to Da Nang in early 2018 In order to meet increasing travel demand during this winter, the airline will also launch flights from the Jeju International Airport to Manila of the Philippines and Chiang Mai of Thailand during the period, it said. The carrier added that it plans t…

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Typhoon Tembin forces airlines to cancel flights

Typhoon Tembin forces airlines to cancel flights <div align="center"></div> <p>Low-cost airline Vietjet Air has cancelled flights with the numbers VJ465, VJ466, VJ701, VJ464, VJ457, VJ456, VJ331, VJ330, VJ327, VJ326 between Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and HCM City on December 25 to ensure the safety of their passengers. Other flights have been postponed to avoid being impacted by the typhoon.</p> <p>A representative from Vietjet Air advised that passengers with plans to depart from or arrive at airports in HCM City, PhuQuoc, Can Tho, and Cam Ranh should closely monitor the latest information regarding the airline’s flights and the track of typhoon Tembin through messages, the airline website, or mass media.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific, and the Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) advised their passengers with plans to depart from or arrive at airports in Phu Quoc, Can Tho, Lien Khuong (Da Lat) and Cam Ranh, Con Son (Con Dao) and Rach Gia (Kien Giang), and Ca Mau to regularly monitor the latest weather advisories and take heed of any notifications from the airlines.</p> <p>According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, typhoon Tembin will slam into Con Dao Island on December 25 afternoon and make landfall in the coastal area from Ba Ria – Vung Tau to Ca Mau  provinces in the evening of the same day with sustained wind speeds of 118 – 133 km per hour.</p> <br /> Typhoon Tembin forces airlines to cancel flights Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Typhoon Tembin forces airlines to cancel flights

Typhoon Tembin forces airlines to cancel flights Low-cost airline Vietjet Air has cancelled flights with the numbers VJ465, VJ466, VJ701, VJ464, VJ457, VJ456, VJ331, VJ330, VJ327, VJ326 between Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and HCM City on December 25 to ensure the safety of their passengers. Other flig…

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Walking Street in Phu Quoc district launched

Walking Street in Phu Quoc district launched <p>At the opening ceremony, thousands of local people and visitors flocked to the 200 m walking street area.</p> <p>Phu Quoc authority said in the upcoming time, an agricultural & farm produce fair will be launched at the walking street.</p> <p>In addition, visitors will also have chance to taste Phu Quoc’s specialties during the fair as well. </p> <p class="author cms-author">T.T-Translated by T.Van</p> <br /> Walking Street in Phu Quoc district launched Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Walking Street in Phu Quoc district launched

Walking Street in Phu Quoc district launched At the opening ceremony, thousands of local people and visitors flocked to the 200 m walking street area. Phu Quoc authority said in the upcoming time, an agricultural & farm produce fair will be launched at the walking street. In addition, visitors will …

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Danang welcomes four cruise ships on New Year 2018

Danang welcomes four cruise ships on New Year 2018 <p>Four ships include Volendem which brought 1,000 passengers and docked on December 24; Azamara Journey with 400 passengers and to be arrived in the city on December 27; Costa Fortuna with 3,000 passengers on December 28 and MSC Lirica with 2,000 passengers to be docked at Tien Sa port on January 1, 2018.</p> <p>The department said some international flight routes would aslo be put into service on this occasion such as Incheon-Danang (Vietjet Air, Eastar Jet); Hongkong-Dananf (Jetstar); Busan-Danang (T’way Air); Deagu-Dananf (T’way Air, Air Busan); Osaka-Danang (Jetstar)… contributing increase the number of international visitors to the city in coming time.</p> <p class="author cms-author">T.N-Translated by K.Lien</p> <br /> Danang welcomes four cruise ships on New Year 2018 Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Danang welcomes four cruise ships on New Year 2018

Danang welcomes four cruise ships on New Year 2018 Four ships include Volendem which brought 1,000 passengers and docked on December 24; Azamara Journey with 400 passengers and to be arrived in the city on December 27; Costa Fortuna with 3,000 passengers on December 28 and MSC Lirica with 2,000 pass…

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Tung lamaow – A specialty of Cham people

Tung lamaow – A specialty of Cham people <div align="center"></div> <p><span style="font-size: 16px">At first glance, tung lamaow looks like Chinese sausage but actually, it is different. While Chinese sausage is made from pork, tung lamaow is made from beef because Cham people in An Giang Province are Muslims, so they do not eat pork.</span></p> <p>Tung lamaow is wrapped by cow intestines while its filling includes beef, cow’s fat, rice, garlic and pepper. After that, it is dried for three days.</p> <p>To eat tung lamaow, Cham people grill or steam it. Tung lamaow is served with fish sauce, salad, and bread or rice.</p> <br /> Tung lamaow – A specialty of Cham people Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Tung lamaow – A specialty of Cham people

Tung lamaow – A specialty of Cham people At first glance, tung lamaow looks like Chinese sausage but actually, it is different. While Chinese sausage is made from pork, tung lamaow is made from beef because Cham people in An Giang Province are Muslims, so they do not eat pork. Tung lamaow is wrapped…

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Quang Ninh needs more luxury tourism products

Quang Ninh needs more luxury tourism products <p>Vu Van Dien, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh, said at a seminar on real estate investment and tourism development strategy in Quang Ninh on Thursday that over past years, the province has focused on implementing strategic plans in three key fields, including infrastructure, technology and human resources.</p> <p>As a result, the province has attracted many domestic and foreign businesses investing in large residential areas, urban areas, and service areas for residents and tourists.</p> <p>However, at present, Quang Ninh still lacks high-end real estate tourism products, Dien said.</p> <p>Lao dong (Labour) newspaper quoted Nguyen Tuan Thanh, director of a Ha Noi-based travel company, saying at the seminar that “Quang Ninh still lacks 5-star hotels and high-end resorts, though the province has many advantages to develop this kind of property, including hundreds of beautiful small islands in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long. Meanwhile, the number of low-end hotels in Ha Long City is excessive.”</p> <p>The lack of high-end products and onshore services also means there is little seasonal difference in the number of tourists to ​​Quang Ninh, although in recent years, the number of visitors in the winter has increased slightly.</p> <p>Now, Quang Ninh has stopped licensing the construction of low-end hotels in Ha Long, Van Don and Co To, to provide land for developing large hotel and resort projects, Dien said.</p> <p>According to the Management Board of Quang Ninh Economic Zone, the Van Don Economic Zone (EZ) has attracted a number of big investors studying the potential of property projects, including FLC Group, Sun Group, MBLand, Crystal Bay and CEO Group.</p> <p>Quang Ninh has been also calling in investment of around with VND5.5 trillion in the Phuong Hoang Island eco-tourism region. The ecological tourist area would cover a total area of 452ha, including a golf course, 3-5 star hotels and entertainment areas, costing around VND3.5 trillion.</p> <p>Solutions</p> <p>Nguyen Tran Nam, chairman of the Viet Nam Real Estate Association, said to implement the tourism strategy associated with real estate, the most important thing is policy.</p> <p>Quang Ninh is one of the few provinces with high budget revenues, especially from tourism, Nam said. Therefore, provincial authorities need to actively call on investment in the tourism sector, including tourism property products, and create favourable conditions for developing those products.</p> <p>The province should develop clear plans on construction and architectural space to avoid speculation, affecting the plans and clearance site for the projects, he said.</p> <p>One more issue is infrastructure. The province needs more technical and social infrastructure to attract investment into the tourism sector and other fields, including the development of tourism property products.</p> <p>Travel is usually associated with shopping, Nam said, but Quang Ninh does not have a plan to develop a commercial network and the development of stores has been sporadic. Therefore, the province should create more trading centres to stimulate shopping and meet the demand of visitors.</p> <p>The province should also pay attention to the environment during the developing of tourism and associated products, Nam said.</p> <p>Nguyen Manh Tuan, deputy director of Quang Ninh Department of Construction, said over the past years, Quang Ninh has implemented strategic plans on the development of regions and infrastructure, and set plans on construction in coastal zones. Those plans have focused on the advantages of Ha Long Bay, Cua Luc and Bai Tu Long for development.</p> <p>Regarding the environment, a representative of Quang Ninh’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the province has invested in an automatic monitoring system to monitor the environment in many areas, especially around cement plants, coal production plants and urban areas. It has also invested in developing environmental protection areas to attract tourists.</p> <p>Dang Tat Thang, Deputy General Director of FLC Group, said Quang Ninh has a lot of potential. FLC, a large property development firm, began investing in the province in 2015. The group has received support from the state offices of Quang Ninh in developing its projects.</p> <p>Therefore, in the future, the group plans to invest in Ngoc Vung Island in Van Don, to develop golf courses, resort complexes and casinos with total investment of US$2 billion, Thang said.</p> <p>Truong Manh Hung, from the Investment Promotion Department of Quang Ninh, said the province has many preferential policies and improved the investment environment to attract more firms. Especially, in administrative reform, the province has cut the time for administrative procedures and reduced licensing time. Because of this, Quang Ninh was ranked second in terms of competitiveness at the provincial level.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Nguyen Nhu Y, General Director of Real Estate Services JSC, said businesses need transparent information about the property market and the provincial authorities’ directions on property market development. The company has seen strong development in the property market of Van Don EZ.</p> <p>Transparent information will contribute to creating sustainability in the property market, she said.</p> <p>The number of visitors to Quang Ninh has increased annually by 20-25 per cent. The province expects to receive 9.8 million tourists, including 4.2 million foreign visitors, in 2017.</p> <p>Quang Ninh has seen remarkable changes in its socio-economic development over the past five years, attracting significant local and foreign investment. As a result, the province has been developing tourist and high quality real estate regions.</p> <p>The province has policies on calling investors to upgrade and build a series of highways, airports and seaports quickly connecting Quang Ninh to other provinces and cities.</p> <p>In addition, Quang Ninh is building the Van Don Special Economic – Administrative Zone, so the province has more opportunities to develop tourism and real estate for investors.</p> <p style="text-align: right;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px"><em>Source VNA</em></p> <br /> Quang Ninh needs more luxury tourism products Related image(s)<br /> <img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Quang Ninh needs more luxury tourism products

Quang Ninh needs more luxury tourism products Vu Van Dien, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh, said at a seminar on real estate investment and tourism development strategy in Quang Ninh on Thursday that over past years, the province has focused on implementing strategic plans in t…

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