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| Phu Quoc Island (Photo: Internet) |
According to The Travel, the country is notable for being distinctive, for fiercely defending its independence, and for its beautiful natural attractions.
“Vietnam is an astonishingly favored country. And even the most experienced globetrotters (may) agree with this. The country’s jaw-dropping beauty, ranging from spectacular rice terraces carved into steep hillsides to limestone peaks protruding from the azure waters, shouldn’t be overlooked,” says the magazine.
It stressed that one trip simply isn’t enough time to enjoy Vietnam's gorgeous offerings, meaning it might be on visitors’ bucket lists for some time.
Phu Quoc island topped The Travel’ list, with the magazine saying that Phu Quoc is an archipelago with beautiful beaches that promise gratifying vacation experiences.
In addition, Hon Thom island welcomes adventurers escaping from the bustling city with its rural island life.
Sao beach, Khem beach, and Hon Thom island are all recommended by the magazine due to their beautiful beaches, local pearl cages, and lush jungle-covered mountains. Water sports lovers can also immerse themselves in the clear waters by swimming, scuba diving, and kayaking.
Hanoi ranked second thanks to its diverse native culture coupled with a delicious food scene.
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| Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi (Photo: Internet) |
Food lovers can treat their taste buds to a mouthwatering Bahn Mi sandwich, a perfect combination of French and local elements.
The Museum of Ethnology is a must visit site in the capital that sheds light on the daily lives of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, with artifacts portraying the religious beliefs and costumes of the local people.
Third place went to Hue, which is a captivating ancient city with streets lined with pagodas and art deco mansions. The ancient capital lures history and architecture buffs, especially the impressive Imperial City.
“One of the most peaceful pagodas in Hue is the Thien Mu Pagoda, which sits on the northern bank of the Perfume River. The pagoda’s architecture and romantic location draw tourists from around the world,” it noted.
Other must-visit attractions around the country include the Mekong Delta, Ba Be National Park in Bac Kan province, Cu Chi Tunnels located 70km from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An in the central coastal province of Quang Nam, Trang An in the northern province of Ninh Binh, and My Son in the central province of Quang Nam.
Hoi An to resume charging admission to Old Quarter
Starting on May 15, visitors to Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam will be required to purchase entrance tickets to explore the Old Quarter and other destinations, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Tourists in the Old Quarter of Hoi An (Photo: VNS) |
The one-time entrance fee will be 80,000 VND (3.41 USD) for domestic visitors and 120,000 VND (5.12 USD) for foreigners.
Ticket collection for tourists visiting the ancient town began in 1995, and the city decided to increase the ticket price in 2012 (80,000 VND for Vietnamese and 120,000 VND for foreigners).
In 2020-21, ticket collection was suspended due to the COVID pandemic, and only restarted in 2022, but at 50% discount.
However, many tour companies are circumventing the requirement to buy tickets, leading to losses.
According to the city's officials, 85% of the revenue generated from ticket sales will be used for preservation, management, and owners of relics and heritage houses.
Nguyen Van Lanh, vice chairman of the city People's Committee, said that the ticket would permit tourists to visit three to six locations in the 4.2 square kilometre core area of the Old Quarter, which includes 1,273 ancient relics, temples, pagodas, and ancient houses.
He said 932 relics (84%) in the old town belong to individuals or collectives, and the cost for annual restoration and preservation is still limited.
Lanh said the city reserves from 50% to 70% of ticket revenue to assist old house owners in repairing their properties after annual floods and storms.
"At least 65 heritage relics have yet allocated funds for restoration, including 20 in ruins that could collapse any time," Lanh said. "Meanwhile, the city has only a preservation fund generated from ticket sales."
"Instead of waiting for the city's financial support, old houses owners paid 1 trillion VND for repairing and protecting old architectures, which served tourism in the Old Quarter for decades."
The vice chairman said that ticket sales suffered at least a 40% loss as numerous visitors evaded buying tickets.
He blamed many travel agencies for intentionally neglecting to buy tickets for their visitors, even though entrance ticket costs are included in the tour service.
The city also set up a free entrance for residents living in the Old Quarter and another for travellers. However, guides or tour operators irresponsibly show tourists through the Old Quarter entrance, Lanh said.
The city also issued all-time package entrance tickets for long-day stay tourists in the town, and different promotions with easy visits.
A group of 15 travellers will be given one free ticket, while those under-16 will be exempt.
Visitors can enjoy night performances in the old streets, traditional cuisine and lifestyle of the local community, and shopping.
Hoi An had already successfully launched community tourism activities, such as farming, fishing, boat rides and biking, cultural performances, outdoor exhibitions and photo displays from ticket sales to attract tourists visiting the town.
Free tickets for tourists visiting the ancient town are allowed on the occasion of Heritage Day (December 23) and the anniversary of Hoi An’s recognition as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
According to the latest report, Hoi An hosted more than 1.5 million tourists, including 600,000 foreigners, in 2022.
A series of positive activities have been organised from ticket income, including expanding the area of walking streets outside of the Old Quarter, night market, and non-engined vehicle streets since 2002.
Walking streets often open from 8am to 11am and from 3pm to 10pm. Motorbikes or engined vehicles are only allowed access for four hours per day and at night time.
The UNESCO World Heritage site was the first city in Vietnam to host a Car Free Day and the first location in the central province to launch the 3-R (reduce, reuse and recycle) programme, promoting the use of reusable bags as well as the operation of a solar-powered lighting system in the city's square.
The city plans to promote bicycle use among public agencies and residents, with a goal of 100,000 local bicycles.
The town had hosted a record 5.35 million tourists, including 4 million foreigners, in 2019, but the figure declined sharply during more than two years of COVID-19 pandemic.
Lonely Planet highlights five best experiences during Vietnam trip
Brekke Fletcher, a writer for the world's leading travel magazine Lonely Planet, has chosen Vietnam as a culinary destination to explore for the Elsewhere section.
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| Lan Ha Bay in Quang Ninh (Photo: VNA) |
According to Vietnam News Agency, Fletcher spent 9 days discovering the diverse cuisine of various regions in Vietnam together with photographer Thanh Huynh.
She said riding a scooter through the streets of Hanoi in Vietnam is one of those things she's always wanted to do but was too afraid to attempt.
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| A tour of Ho Chi Minh City on vespa (Photo: HCM City tourism magazine) |
"To be anonymous, another helmeted figure in the middle of a million little dramas and comedies happening on a million bikes moving through this amazing city – every second is pure joy,” she wrote, and highlighted hopping on a Vespa as the first in the most outstanding experiences in her trip. On her first night in Ho Chi Minh City, she climbed on the back of a scooter and headed into the city centre to taste the diverse flavors of the market, like a Chinese roasted duck and a French baguette.
The second one is to go deep into the Mekong Delta. Fletcher entered Ben Tre province and island-hopped on a small-boat tour in the Mekong Delta, which included a stop at an artisan workshop and lunch with a local farming family.
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| In Ben Tre province (Photo: VNA) |
Taking the slow train to Hue is another outstanding experience. The writer described the rail journey to Hue as among the most beautiful in Southeast Asia. Visitors could enjoy coastal and rural views and buy snacks from vendors who hop on along the way.
The next one is to spend the day and night on Lan Ha Bay. Fletcher said she cruised the glorious waters in the less-touristy area of Lan Ha Bay and took in stunning scenery. She then kayaked into a sea cave and sipped cocktails while the sun set.
And on the last night, she decided to dine with a Hanoian family and savored some Cha ca, a freshwater fish marinated in a slew of fragrant spices that's a specialty of the city, which is an outstanding experience for her./.