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| British magazine Time Out unveils its list of eight ideal destinations to visit in Asia in 2025 |
According to Time Out, Da Nang stands out for its beautiful beaches, numerous entertainment options, and diverse culinary experiences, meeting all the criteria for the selection.
The magazine emphasized that this coastal gem is rapidly evolving, catching up to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi with an emerging dining and bar scene.
This year alone, Da Nang made waves with 16 new Bib Gourmand entries in the Michelin Guide – including the contemporary Indian hotspot Rang – and its first Michelin star at the French fine-dining restaurant, La Maison 1888, Time Out recommended.
Topping the list is Sumba Island, a pristine Indonesian island located about 50 minutes by plane from Bali. Sumba was also recently highlighted by Forbes as an unmissable destination.
In second place is Siargao Island in the Philippines, a “teardrop-shaped” island renowned among surfing enthusiasts. Thanks to new flights from Manila and Cebu, Siargao is now attracting even more visitors.
Others on the list are Taiwan of China, Ipoh of Malaysia, Osaka of Japan, Nan of Thailand and Lijiang of China.
In 2024, Da Nang welcomed 154 MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) groups with a total of 53,313 visitors. Cruise tourism saw significant growth, particularly from European, American, Chinese, and Australian markets, with 27 voyages bringing 32,550 visitors.
The total number of guests staying at accommodation facilities exceeded 10.8 million, a 32.8% increase compared to 2023. Of the total, 4.1 million were foreign visitors, up 36.3%.
Sa Pa attracts tourists during Christmas, New Year 2025 celebrations
Sa Pa, a renowned resort town in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, has prepared a range of unique events aimed at welcoming approximately 200,000 visitors eager to explore its stunning natural beauty and distinctive cultural experiences, reported VNA.
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| Tourists in Sa Pa (Photo: Sa Pa cultural and information office) |
At the heart of the town, a Christmas 2024 space, featuring a giant Christmas tree at the Sa Pa ethnic cultural park, has been open to the public since December 20 and will continue through the New Year holiday of 2025.
Additionally, its New Year’s Eve festival will include a special art programme and a countdown party at the local San Quan site on the evening of December 31. The event will treat attendees to a grand music concert with performances by popular artists and cultural artisans and a low-altitude fireworks display at midnight.
On the morning of January 1, 2025, a ceremonial welcome for the first 50 visitors of the New Year will be held at the ethnic cultural park, with special gifts presented to mark the occasion.
In the last three months of 2024, Lao Cai’s tourism sector has gained momentum, welcoming nearly 1.7 million visitors, an annual increase of 42%. For the entire year, the province is expected to attract over 8 million visitors, with Sa Pa accounting for 4.4 million.
Looking ahead to the incoming year, Lao Cai aims to receive over 10 million visitors, with the resort town anticipated to host approximately 5.8 million and generate revenues of 27.9 trillion VND (1.09 billion USD).
Vietnam seen as favourite New Year destination for int’l travellers: Agoda
With inbound accommodation searches up 30% compared to last year, Vietnam is set to sparkle as a favourite for international revelers looking to welcome New Year 2025, VNA reported the article of Agoda.
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| HCM City tops the chart as the most sought-after destination, where visitors can ring in ‘25 with fireworks above the Sai Gon River. (Photo: VNA) |
Of Vietnamese cities, Agoda said, Ho Chi Minh City tops the chart as the most sought-after destination, where visitors can ring in ‘25 with fireworks above the Saigon River.
The analysis was made between November 1 and 27 with a check-in date of December 31. Comparisons are based on data from November 1-27, 2023.
The tourism service platform said that travelers from the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan (China), and the United States are leading the charge to see 2024 off in Saigon-style.
Lam Vu, country director for Vietnam at Agoda, shares his excitement: Vietnam’s growing popularity as a New Year’s Eve destination reflects its unique blend of culture, energy, and natural beauty.”
On the list, Phu Quoc Island climbed to second place, rising from fifth last year, while Da Nang, Hanoi, and Nha Trang round out the top five hotspots.
Vietnamese travelers are also making bold choices for their New Year escapes. Domestically, HCM City reigns supreme, followed by the romantic highlands of Da Lat, the serene beaches of Vung Tau, the capital city Hanoi and the beach city of Nha Trang. Nha Trang, in the central province of Khanh Hoa, reclaims its spot in the top five, nudging out Phan Thiet in Binh Thuan province.
For those looking to expand their travel horizons, international searches point to Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong as top contenders for ringing-in the new year.
In New Year 2024, Vietnam welcomed 3.2 million tourists, increasing by 6.6% over the same time of 2023.
In the first 11 months of this year, foreign tourists to Vietnam totaled 15.8 million, surging by 41% year-on-year.
Vietnam Airlines achieves highest on-time performance this year
National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has achieved high on-time performance (OTP) of approximately 82% during the 11-month period, VOV reported the statistics released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).
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Vietnam Airlines achieves highest on-time performance this year (Source: VOV)
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The performance is much higher than the average rate of 73.7% of the entire aviation industry.
During the reviewed period, the national flag carrier operated 98,985 flights, of which the number of flights taking off on time stood at 80,944, at 81.8%.
Meanwhile, Vietnam Air Service Company (VASCO), a member of Vietnam Airlines, also recorded an impressive OTP index of 86%.
The remarkable achievement has been attributed to the airline's constant efforts in optimizing operational processes and providing excellent service quality to passengers despite numerous challenges relating to aviation infrastructure and a shortage of aircraft.
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| National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (Source: https://vnexpress.net) |
Vietnam Airlines has ramped up cooperation with major aircraft manufacturing corporations in the world to quickly receive more Airbus A320neo and Boeing 787 aircraft as a way of expanding its fleet, increasing its transportation capacity and maintaining a high OTP index.
Simultaneously, it has optimized aircraft maintenance by focusing on daily technical inspections to ensure aircraft operating time.
With these efforts, Vietnam Airlines has been ranked as one of the five most punctual airlines in the Asia-Pacific region by Cirium, an aviation data analytics company and a strategic partner of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently.
In the coming time, the airline will continue to optimize operations with a particular focus on applying modern technologies to improve punctuality, while providing passengers with the best experience and affirming the position of the Vietnamese aviation industry in the international market.