Vietnam Airlines has retained prestigious awards from WTA for the fifth consecutive year. (Photo: Vietnam Airlines)
The awards were announced at the World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia Gala Ceremony 2020 in London, UK, on November 3. The WTA was launched in 1993 to acknowledge excellence in the travel and tourism industry. Heralded as the "travel industry's equivalent of the Oscars" by The Wall Street Journal, the awards are issued based on votes by the public and travel professionals from across the globe.
This is the second consecutive year in which Vietnam has been awarded in all three of these categories.
According to the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019, Vietnam's cultural resources are ranked 29th position, in the top group in the world. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam ranked 2nd, behind Indonesia.
Overcoming other strong reputable candidates such as China, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam has received the honour of being voted as ‘Asia's Best Golf Destination 2020’. This is the fourth consecutive year that Vietnam has received this prestigious international award.
Vietnam’s palatial InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort was rewarded with titles for ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort 2020’, ‘Asia’s Leading Green Resort 2020’ and ‘Asia’s Most Romantic Resort 2020’. Meanwhile, InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort was recognised by voters as ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Family Resort 2020’.
According to the WTA, the enchanting mix of French Indochine haute couture in a mountain setting led Hotel de la Coupole, MGallery Sapa to be voted as ‘Asia’s Leading Design Hotel’.
In the newcomer categories, Vietnam’s Premier Village Ha Long Bay Resort was named ‘Asia’s Leading New Resort 2020’.
In the aviation sector, an unprecedented fleet upgrade helped Vietnam Airlines lift the title of ‘Asia’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’, ‘Asia's Leading Airline - Premium Economy Class 2020’ and ‘Asia's Leading Cultural Airline 2020’.
Bamboo Airways was honoured with the title of ‘Asia's Leading Regional Airline 2020’
Meanwhile, Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province received two titles: ‘Asia's Leading Airport Lounge 2020’ and ‘Asia's Leading Regional Airport 2020’.
In addition, many other resorts and hotels in Vietnam also received many awards in the categories of WTA.
In the category of tour operators, Vietravel received the title of ‘Asia's Leading Tour Operator 2020’.
The results follow a year-long search for the world’s top travel, tourism and hospitality brands. Votes were cast by travel industry professionals and the public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner, the WTA said.
Nhan Dan newspaper quoted Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, saying that “Our winners represent the very best of Asia’s travel and tourism sector and give my congratulations to each of them. They have all demonstrated remarkable resilience in a year of unprecedented challenges.”
He adds: “The World Travel Awards 2020 programme received a record number of votes cast by the public. This shows that the appetite for travel and tourism has never been stronger and bodes well for the industry’s future as the global recovery begins.”
Thanh Hoa to host second Muong ethnic cultural festival
The second cultural festival of the Muong, the second largest ethnic group in Vietnam, is scheduled to take place in the northcentral province of Thanh Hoa from December 10 to December 12, the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) has reported.
At the first Muong ethnic cultural festival held in Hoa Binh province in 2007
The event is poised to see the participation of artisans, actors, actresses, and athletes from six provinces and cities of Thanh Hoa, Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Son La, Phu Tho, and Binh Phuoc.
It will also feature special guests, with a mass art troupe from Houaphanh province in Laos being invited to put on a performance.
The festival will see a wide range of cultural, sports, and tourism activities get underway, including mass art performances, a fashion show featuring an array of traditional costumes, Gong performances by members of the Muong ethnic minority group, and an introduction on how to weave handicrafts.
Visitors will be given the opportunity to participate in folk games, including tug-of-war, “con”, a type of colourful fabric ball, throwing, and stick pushing.
Organisers will also put on trips for delegates to visit eco-tourism villages throughout Thanh Hoa province, helping to promote local culture and boost tourism activities in the locality.
According to VOV, the first such festival was held in Hoa Binh province back in 2007. The second event, originally scheduled from October 29 to October 31, was postponed until December 10 due to organisational issues.
Hanoi organises 6th edition of the Argentine Week
The Embassy of Argentine Republic in Vietnam, in collaboration with Chef Emilio Fusé, will be hosting the “6th edition of the Argentine Week from November 12 to 15 in Los Fuegos Restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam News Agency has reported.
Argentine chef Emilio Fusé (Photo courtesy of the Argentine embassy)
The event aims to increase Hanoi residents’ knowledge about the Argentine cuisine and provide them with a unique opportunity to enjoy the country’s top quality meat products prepared in Argentina’s wood fire traditional cooking method by Emilio Fusé prominent technique.
Participants will also have access to a variety of Argentine wines, especially on the closing day.
Emilio Fusé, born in 1986, is an Argentine chef, farmer and entrepreneur who specialises in Argentine beef and Patagonian gastronomy with a particular focus in of wood fire barbecue cuisine.
He gained a vast experience after having worked in farms and restaurants since he was 17. This allowed him to comprehend how the process of the beef from the farm to the table works.
According to Vietnam News Agency, after having built numerous wood-fire kitchens across different parts of Vietnam, he founded and currently co-owns Los Fuegos - Argentinian Grill and Steak./.