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| Kanchanaburi is a peaceful mountainous province in the western region of Thailand. (Photo: internet) |
Vietnamese tour operators will be given the chance to meet leaders of the Tourism Authority of Thailand to learn about their experience and seek measures to develop tourism services in Vietnam.
Located on the banks of the romantic Kwai River, Kanchanaburi is about 130km from the capital Bangkok and is a peaceful mountainous province in the western region of Thailand.
This place is famous for its wild natural beauty, rich historical sites, and unique culture. The locality is expected to develop into a new and attractive destination for Vietnamese tourists.
During their five-day stay, the Vietnamese delegation will spend two days on discovering Kanchanaburi province.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand reported that in the first two months of the year, the number of Vietnamese visitors to Thailand reached more than 130,400, a drop of 7% compared to the first two months of 2023.
The number of visitors is expected to increase during the summer.
The organisation views Vietnam as an important short-haul foreign tourism market for Thailand. In 2023, Vietnam was among the top 10 markets bringing visitors to the neighbouring country, with over one million visits, equivalent to 96% of the 2019 figure.
Vietnam dubbed as underappreciated gem in East Asia
The Travel Magazine of Canada has dubbed Vietnam as a gorgeous and underappreciated gem in East Asia thanks to its reputation as one of the calmest places in the world, reported VOV.
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| Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO world heritage site, is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam |
Accordingly, the magazine ranked Vietnam seventh out of the 10 best countries in East Asia for foreigners to visit.
“Notwithstanding the country's war wounds, Vietnam thrives with youthful vitality; its paddy fields and floating marketplaces only add to its attraction,” The Travel said.
It stressed that the stunning natural beauty and deep history, which is accessible through numerous historical monuments and a vibrant culture, serve to make Vietnam one of the best places to visit throughout Southeast Asia.
The magazine also suggested that visitors should not miss out on trying Hanoi's Pho noodles and discovering many tourist attractions, including the karst islands of Ha Long Bay, the caves of Phong Nha, and the Mekong River.
Rounding off the list of the top 10 best countries in East Asia is Mongolia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, and Singapore.
TasteAtlas picks out three local dishes among world’s 100 best rated breakfasts
Three Vietnamese dishes, Bò kho, Bún bò Huế, and Cơm tấm thịt nướng have been listed among the 100 best rated breakfasts in the world, VOV reported information provided by international food website TasteAtlas.
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| Bò kho (beef stew) is among world’s 100 best rated breakfasts. (Photo courtesy of TasteAtlas) |
In 23rd position, Bò kho (beef stew) can be consumed on its own or alternatively accompanied by a baguette on the side. It can also be served over noodles, whilst it is customary to serve a variety of fresh herbs on the side, said TasteAtlas.
Meanwhile, Bún bò Huế (Hue breakfast noodle soup) ranks 50th on the list. The soup is traditionally consumed for breakfast and consists of pork and beef bones broth, noodles, lemongrass, shrimp paste, lime juice, and a variety of herbs, the website wrote.
Elsewhere, Cơm tấm sườn (Broken rice with grilled pork) is placed in 70th position. The classic dish from the southern region consists of grilled pork which is served on top of broken rice. The combination is often topped with a mix of stir-fried onions and pickles, whilst it is typically accompanied by fish sauce for dipping.
The pork is usually marinated in lemongrass, pepper, garlic, and fish sauce before being grilled, according to food website TasteAtlas.
Rounding off the list of TasteAtlas’s 10 best rated breakfasts were many representatives from across the world, namely Kahvaltı of Turkey, Bougatsa of Greece, Roti canai of Malaysia, Chilaquiles of Mexico, Zelnik of North Macedonia, Komplet of Serbia, Beyran çorbası of Turkey, Croissant of France, Jianbing of China, and Pão de queijo of Brazil.
TasteAtlas is an encyclopedia of flavours, a world atlas showcasing traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants. The website has cataloged over 10,000 foods and drinks from across the world, with dozens of thousands yet to be researched and mapped.
Hanoi eyes 7 million foreign tourists by 2025
Hanoi’s tourism industry aims to greet over 30 million visitors, including 7 million international arrivals, and earn more than 130 trillion VND (over 5 billion USD) from tourism in 2025, reported VNA.
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| The pedestrian street around Hoan Kiem Lake is a popular destination, drawing both domestic and international visitors. (Photo: VNA) |
Under its development plan, the sector's contribution to the city's Gross Regional Domestic Product is expected to surpass 8% and the room occupancy for hotels and accommodations is projected to exceed 60%.
In the 2024-2025 period, Hanoi continues to develop its tourism sector in a sustainable and efficient manner, serving as a tourism gateway for both the northern region and the country, and a safe, friendly and high quality destination.
The city also rolls out multiple tasks and solutions to accelerate the recovery and development of the industry, one of which is to build professional and attractive tourism products which has potential for breakthrough development, including cultural tourism, MICE tourism, agricultural - rural tourism, recreational - sports tourism, ecological tourism, resort tourism, healthcare and golf tourism.
Solutions are being deployed to attract foreign tourists to Hanoi, focusing on key markets such as Northeast Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Union, the US, and gradually exploiting potential markets such as India, Middle Eastern countries, Australia and Eastern European countries.
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| Tourists to the Temple of Literature in Hanoi (Source: laodong.vn) |
Hanoi’s tourism sector will devise promotion plans on domestic and international media and television channels along with popularising the capital's tourism on digital platforms and social networks as well as promotion programmes in key and potential markets.
Planning and investment in developing tourism infrastructure in a professional and modern orientation will be promoted, with priority given to a number of key tourism development projects in Ba Vi, Huong Son - Quan Son and Dong Mo lake.
Focus will also be placed on upgrading destination quality and developing tourism products associated with historical and cultural values and heritage./.