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| Con Dao is among world’s 24 most underrated travel destinations. (Photo: chinhphu.vn) |
Con Dao (Poulo Condor) makes up a large national park, which means there is pristine nature to see wherever you look, according to writer Grace Beard.
She also suggested exploring Hon Bay Canh islet, a sanctuary for nesting turtles and their newborn babies, walking under ancient trees in Ong Dung Primeval Forest, or taking a picturesque hike to the peak of Mount Thanh Gia.
For those seeking to enjoy a dash of history, visitors should follow in the footsteps of Vietnamese pilgrims to Con Dao Museum and old prison sites, all of which give a glimpse into the island’s sobering history as a former penal colony, suggested British magazine TimeOut.
Topping the list is Filandia of Colombia, a charming small town which features multicoloured balconies and rolling green hills.
Others destinations to make the list include Southern Tunisia, São Sebastião in Brazil, Prince Edward Island in Canada, Sibiu in Romania, Tasmania and Newcastle in Australia, and Cochamó Valley in Chile.
Idyllic village in Ninh Thuan province has a lot to offer to tourists
Tourists have thronged the Vinh Hy tourism village in Ninh Hai district, the south central province of Ninh Thuan for its idyllic natural beauty and fascinating experiences, reported VNA.
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| Vinh Hy Bay is one of the four most stunning inlets in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA) |
Starting from Phan Rang – Thap Cham city, a 40-kilometre journey to the northwest will bring visitors to Vinh Hai commune where the village lies in its tranquil and scenic beauty with verdant mountaintops and crystal clear azure waters that shape up the renowned Vinh Hy Bay – one of the four most stunning inlets in Vietnam.
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| Vinh Hy village is about 40 kilometres from Phan Rang – Thap Cham city. (Photo: VNA) |
The 745-family village has a lot to offer to its visitors, ranging from sea-based and resort to eco-tourism. Particularly, taking a glass-bottom boat ride is a spellbinding way to explore the ocean bed teaming with colourful coral reefs.
The allure of the village comes not only from the unspoiled views of the Ca heo (dolphin) cape, Rua (turtle) islet and Yen cave, or interesting activities like squid fishing at night and taking a serene stroll at the beach, but also from the standout taste of the local seafood such as lobster, sea urchin, cobia and spotted-babylon snail.
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| Standout seafood has added lustre to the village. (Photo: VNA) |
What makes a great travel truly memorable is to have the right accommodations, and the village is able to provide comfortable stay for all travel needs, with rustic homestays, convenient hotels, and top-notch resorts.
Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, a visitor from Hanoi who set her foot in Ninh Thuan for the first time, said the locality’s breathtaking landscapes and fresh seafood delicacies like banh canh cha ca (noodle soup with grilled chopped fish), banh can (the soft, creamy texture of the egg-filled cake), and seaweed ginseng water made her say wow.
Adding lustre to the province are various offerings developed by the Nui Chua National Park and travel firms, including tours to Lo O stream – Da Do Mount, Hang stone – five-cascade waterfall, Nui Chua peak, Binh Tien stream, Hom beach – Rai cave – stone park, and Thai An grape village.
Over the past time, tourism activities in Vinh Hy tourism village and Nui Chua National Park have unceasingly developed, helping Ninh Hai district host more than 1.21 million tourist arrivals in the first half of this year, with nearly 25,000 foreigners, and gained over 897 billion VND (35.35 million USD) in tourism revenue.
The Ninh Hai – Ninh Thuan 2024 Cultural-Tourism Week is being held in the district from July 15 to 21 with an array of attractive activities to promote local tourism and lure more travellers. Kitesurfing performances, OCOP booths that feature local staples, an Ao dai (traditional long dress) performance, and Dam Nai – Ninh Hai traditional boat racing are among the highlights.
The 745-family village has a lot to offer to its visitors, ranging from sea-based and resort to eco-tourism.
According to Chairman of the Ninh Hai district People’s Committee Tran Minh Thai, the well-developed tourism services have generated jobs for local residents, helping them improve their incomes.
In the remainders of the year, the district will continue to implement its Vinh Hy cultural tourism village project for the 2022-2025 period with a vision to 2030 in tandem with the development of the Cau Gay – Da Hang community-based tourism model, while conducting surveys to shape up new tours.
Thai said that Ninh Hai will focus on mobilising resources from development programmes and projects to invest in tourism technical infrastructure, promoting human resources training, and improving the quality of tourism promotion events.
Additionally, it will work closely with departments, sectors and organisations to enhance examination and supervision over local tourism activities, inland waterway vehicles, hygiene and social order and safety, he said, describing them as bold steps to build Vinh Hy village into a safe and friendly destination.
HCM City introduces free walking tours for both locals and foreigners
A free walking tour across popular sightseeing spots in Ho Chi Minh City will debut on July 22, showcasing a different side of the southern city which blends both ancient and modern experiences, reported VOV.
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| HCM City introduces free walking tours for both locals and foreigners. (Source: VOV) |
According the organisers Ben Thanh Tourist Joint Stock Company (BenThanh Tourist), the tour will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day for domestic and international tourists who are keen to explore the city on foot.
They will the walk through to Nguyen Hue walking street, the headquarters of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, and the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera.
Furthermore, the tour includes visits to the Central Post Office and the Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace.
Visitors will also pay a visit to Ben Thanh market for shopping and dining purposes.
In the first six months of this year, the southern city served 2.68 million visitors, up 38% year on year, thereby fulfilling 44.6% of the city’s target for the entire year.
Ho Chi Minh City has set an ambitious target of welcoming six million international tourists in 2024./.