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| Hai Van Pass is a famous mountainous pass on Vietnam’s Central Coast, with the area being renowned for its winding roads and exceptional scenery. (Photo: Shutterstock) |
Travel by train is the first choice for the trip, with trains travel from Da Nang to Hue along the rail route that stretches from Ho Chi Minh City in the south all the way up to Hanoi in the north.
However, there is no train station at Hoi An, meaning visitors will first need to reach Da Nang. According to the schedule, trains take from 2.5 to three hours depending on the service, the website wrote.
As in many places in Southeast Asia, the cheapest way to get between Hoi An or Da Nang and Hue is by bus. The bus trip takes four to five hours leaving from Hoi An and three to 3.5 hours out of Da Nang, meaning an overnight bus isn’t necessary.
Taking a taxi or a private car is by far the quickest option for those traveling the 126km distance from Hoi An to Hue.
This is also the most comfortable way to experience the Hai Van Pass. A famous mountainous pass on Vietnam’s Central Coast, with the area being renowned for its winding roads and exceptional scenery, Road Affair recommended.
Travelling by motorbike is the fourth option for the trip. The best way to experience the Hai Van Pass is by motorbike. On the back of a bike, travelers are able to feel every twist and turn in the road, all the while staring out at the legendary 21km-long mountain pass. They can also stop and go as they want, meaning they can spend as long there as they like.
In certain cases, flying can also be a really affordable and useful way of getting around Vietnam, although not so in this case.
According to Road Affair, there are no direct flights for this route, meaning it’s really not practical to fly such a short distance. Travelers need to connect through either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, meaning flights would take at least four hours on a good connection.
Booking a tour is the easiest way to get from either Hoi An or Da Nang to Hue.
Each way has its own unique benefits and drawbacks, so it’s really up to travelers to decide which best suits them and their trip, the travel website concluded.
Vietnam moves to attract more Indian tourists
India is seen as a potential market for Vietnam’s tourism, and the country will strengthen promotion activities to lure more holiday-makers from the South Asian market, VNA quoted the saying of Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Trung Khanh.
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| India is seen as a potential market for Vietnam’s tourism,. (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnam welcomed 5.6 million foreign tourists, including 141,000 Indian arrivals, in the first six months of 2013. India was the 10th largest tourism market in the period.
The improved air links between Vietnam and India have made it easier for travelers of the two nations.
National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, and Vietjet Air of Vietnam, along with IndiGo of India, have opened numerous air routes connecting Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc to New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Kolkata in India.
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| Visitors in Phu Quoc, Vietnam (Photo: VNA) |
Many other famous tourism places such as Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Ha Long, and Hoi An are popular for Indian travelers.
According to a survey of VNAT’s Tourism Development Research Institute, India is seen as one of the attractive tourism markets for Vietnam to target.
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| Photo for illustration (Source: vneconomy.vn/) |
It is a potential tourism market segment but can be challenging to tap into, the institute said.
Tourism companies need to have a well-prepared workforce that understands Indian culture, lifestyle, habits, and cuisine, thus providing suitable services to Indian visitors, it noted.
Last year, as many as 137,000 Indian tourists visited Vietnam, ranking ninth among the 10 largest tourism markets of Vietnam. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Indigo are operating 21 direct air routes with 60 flights per week.
New cave discovered in Tuyen Quang
A new cave has been recently found and explored in Na Hang District of the northern province of Tuyen Quang, reported Saigon Times.
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| Behold the stunning view of the recently-discovered cave in Na Hang District, Tuyen Quang Province - Photo: Tuyenquang.gov.vn |
The cave is just a 25-minute stroll from the center of Khau Quang neighborhood, Na Kha Village, Nang Kha Commune.
The cave boasts an array of remarkable stalactite formations, showcasing their pristine beauty and unique shapes. Its complex and diverse structure features a labyrinth of winding passages and intricate pathways, inviting adventurers to explore its depths.
So far, the intrepid team of explorers has charted around 150 meters of this cave. However, it is believed that the cave extends much further, concealing even more impressive stalactite and rock formations waiting to be unveiled.
As news spreads, the local government is assessing the safety of the cave and developing plans for its preservation and eco-friendly tourism opportunities./.