Four Vietnamese breathtaking places among Top 25 Asia Destinations

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An and Ha Long are four of the Top 25 Travellers’ Choice Asia Destinations recognized by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site.

The fifth annual awards recognise 412 outstanding destinations in 38 markets across the globe, including separate lists for Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, and Central America, as well as China, Europe, India, Mexico, the Middle East, South America, the South Pacific, and the United States.

While HCM City, Hoi An and Ha Long rank 15th, 17th and 25th on the list, Hanoi is rated fourth. This is good news with Vietnam cause in the few time, the number of visitor travel in Vietnam to high, that is beneficially have good result in the world rank. 

TripAdvisor website says about Hanoi “The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving its Old Quarter, historic monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern development. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city,”

The travel site also describes HCM City as Vietnam's largest, bustling largest hub which sets the cultural and economic pace of the country. Hoi An on the central Vietnamese coast is a outstanding example of an important Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th-19th centuries, and Ha Long is famous for its stunning limestone islands, rock formations and caves.  

The awards are given in two categories: Top 25 Travellers’ Choice World Destinations and Top 25 Travellers’ Choice Asia Destinations. The Travellers' Choice Destinations awards recognize the top travel spots worldwide based on millions of reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers. Award winners were determined based on the popularity of the destinations, taking into account travellers' favourites and most highly rated locations.

Vietnam develops tourism brand

According to Vietnam travel news, a campaign to promote tourism started in July 2013. However, budget cuts left no funding for this campaign.
Experts have proposed several branding ideas, such as hiring tourism representatives to work abroad, especially in major markets, and offering more tourist information at popular destinations in Viet Nam.

Visitor to Vietnam

Chairman of Thua Thien Hue Tourism Association Nguyen Quoc Thanh said that while building a national tourism brand was certainly necessary, the country should start building brands for major tourism companies first. Once these companies had firmly established themselves, the tourism sector as a whole would have an easier time carving out an identity.

The action plan includes goals to develop core areas such as sea and island tourism, cultural tourism and eco-tourism. According to the plan, localities and enterprises will receive support to develop their own brands and a number of communications campaigns will promote Vietnam tourism. The plan also seeks to reduce the environmental impact of tourism activities and improve available human resources.
Under the plan, the nation aims to attract 7.5 million foreign tourists and 37 million domestic tourists in 2015. This will draw revenue of US$10-11 billion for the tourism industry. Last year, Viet Nam received 6.85 million foreign tourists.

Vietnam-ASEAN cultural heritage space kicked-off

The “Vietnam – ASEAN cultural heritage space” has officially launched in Hoi An City on June 21 and is going to last in 6 days. This year is the fifth time this annual event is organized, which is a critical part of Quang Nam Heritage Festival. It also marks the 10^th anniversary of the convention on the Safeguarding of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and celebrates the new Week of Culture and Development organized by UNESCO.

Thanks to the participation of Japan and Republic of Korea, the exhibition is lightened up with totally new demonstration of these countries’ cultural values and heritage. Vietnamese culture is undoubtedly one of the main themes. When the number of visitor international travel in Vietnam more and more to increase.
Twenty third old houses are brought to the venue, which present the cultural heritage of 22 localities across Vietnam which have been recognized as part of the world cultural heritage or is pending consideration with the 23^rd house dedicated to other ASEAN countries.

Interesting art shows are going on stage to entertain and educate participants of the exhibition.
At the opening ceremony, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova presented awards to 11 winners of the “World heritage in your hands” painting contest launched nationwide by the UNESCO Vietnam Office and Panasonic Vietnam.

Vietnam is in the top ten destinations for street-foods in the world

Recently, Vietnamese street-foods have just been recognized in the top ten gastronomical tours of the famous online tourism magazine Lonelyplanet.

According to Lonelyplanet, the fastest and most effective way to explore a new destination’s cuisine is to take part in walking tours around that city, with a good tour guide who may lead you to the most favorite street-food restaurants or vendors.

Regarding tasting Vietnamese street cuisine, the magazine suggests a desirable tour may begin from Chau Long fresh market, which is located in the heart of the city, inside the Old Quarter area. On your culinary journey, Pho Bo (Pho with beef), Banh Xeo and Banh Cuon are indispensable. The final destination of the tour is recommended to be Duy Tri Coffee (No. 43A Yen Phu) where tourists may taste the unique egg coffee of Hanoi, and yogurt coffee as well.

Besides Vietnamese street-foods, other countries’ specialties are also presented to gourmets such as: Gastown’s Beer (Vancouver, Canada); cuisine market connecting two continents in Istanbul (Turkey), French street-food, Italian traditional food in the North Sea (San Francisco), Asian street-food in Georgetown (Penang), the Brick Lane restaurant (London), Hobart’s street-foods (Tasmania), Mexican street-foods and the traditional coffee, cheese and beer of Weilington. So for some good information will help visitor international have much choise of eating and drinking when travel in Vietnam.

Vietnam is Top new Destination in Asia

TripAdvisor’s “Top Destination in Asia” award was presented to Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City , Hoi An and Ha Long of Vietnam at a ceremony held in Singapore on June 18. Of the Top 25 Destinations in Asia, Hanoi ranks 14th; Ho Chi Minh City, 15th; Hoi An in central Quang Nam province, 17th; and Ha Long in northern Quang Ninh province, 25th. 

At the award ceremony, Robin Ingle, Senior Vice President of TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, told Vietnam News Agency’s Singapore-based reporter that having four winners in the top 25 is extremely impressive.

“Vietnam’s tourism industry is now appealing very broadly to global travellers and it is doing a phenomenal job,” she said.

TripAdvisor writes on its web “The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside. Hanoi may have shrugged off several former names, including Thang Long, or "ascending dragon," but it hasn't forgotten its past, as sites such as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi.”

Maria Pilar Bosch Jorda, a Spanish, told VNA’s reporter that she will fly to Ha Long Bay this Friday. She added: “All my friends have been in Ha Long Bay and Hanoi and they all told me that it's so amazing to go there and even if (the trip) is short you need to go there now".

A Singaporean girl, Christina Angela Aureus, said that she hasn’t travel in Vietnam but after this ceremony, she will definitely visit Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. She said “I heard that Vietnamese noodles and coffee are very very good. I will definitely try them.”

The fifth annual awards recognises 412 outstanding destinations in 38 markets across the globe, including those of Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, China, Europe, India, Mexico, the Middle East, South America, the South Pacific, and the United States.

The Travellers' Choice Destinations awards honour top travel spots worldwide based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers. Award winners were determined based on the popularity of destinations, taking into account travellers' favourites and most highly rated places.

Malaysia spreads tourism in Vietnam

Malaysia will carry out a large tourism promotion programme in three cities in Vietnam - Hanoi, HCM City and Hoi An city in Quang Nam province - from June 18-22, according to the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Agency in Vietnam. 

The Agency will organize the programme in conjunction with the 2013 Quang Nam heritage festival in Hoi An city. The programme is part of Malaysia’s activities to promote Malaysia Tourism Year 2014 in order to attract 28 million foreign visitors travel in Vietnam.

There will be various activities of exchange and cooperation between Malaysian tour operators, entertainment and commercial units, travel companies, hotel in Vietnam and airlines, said Mohd Akbal Setia, Director of the Agency.

He added that the tourism promotion programme in Vietnam will include some seminars to provide information on tourist destinations in Malaysia and the travel policies of its Government for Vietnamese partners as well as many attractive tour prices for visitors to Malaysia.

The promotion programme, with the participation of many organisations from Malaysia, marks the 40 th anniversary of Vietnam-Malaysia diplomatic ties and will strengthen the two countries’ friendly relationship and increase the number of Malaysian tourists coming to Vietnam.