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| Hanoi is listed among 12 best destinations for solo female travelers (Photo: Thanh Dat/VNA) |
VOV reported the details given by the Singapore-based magazine, although travel should be both easy and accessible for everyone, the sad reality is that the world remains a dangerous place for women.
Tripzilla revealed that a total of 85% of solo travelers registered with Overseas Adventure travel are women, with more than 60,000 women in the United States choosing to travel alone between 2018 and 2019. According to the ranking put together by the travel platform, Hanoi ranked fourth in the list.
“Though it is often overlooked when discussing the best solo trips for women, Vietnam’s capital is generally a safe place for travelers. Violent crimes against tourists are rare and most locals are friendly,” says Tripzilla.
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| Photo for illustration |
It noted that Hanoi boasts a wealth of cultural attractions, therefore the magazine suggested that visitors take time to delve into them.
“The city’s Old Quarter exudes an eccentric charm with its narrow alleys, quaint shop houses, and medieval architecture. The late Gothic St. Joseph Cathedral is also found here. The church is dedicated to Vietnam’s patron saint and resembles Notre Dame in Paris,” the magazine shared.
Tripzilla recommended several popular destinations throughout the city to female tourists, such as the Temple of Literature, an 11th-century Confucian temple dedicated to scholars, and Ngoc Son Temple at the centre of Hoan Kiem Lake, which honours three important figures in Vietnamese history.
It also reminded travelers that they can enjoy authentic Vietnamese coffee whilst in the city.
According to Tripzilla, since Hanoi represents a budget-friendly destination, visitors won’t need to worry about costs much as a solo traveler. A stay in a Hanoi luxury hotel can therefore cost as little as USS$200, with meals costing around US$14 per day.
“Feel free to pamper yourself while staying in this beautiful city, which is undoubtedly one of the best places to travel alone as a woman in Southeast Asia,” it concluded.
Rounding off the list were Seoul of the Republic of Korea, Tokyo of Japan, Taipei of Taiwan (China), Singapore, Bangkok of Thailand, Yogyakarta of Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia, Amsterdam of the Netherlands, Zurich of Switzerland, Seattle of the United States, and Montreal of Canada.
Can Tho eyes 5.2 million tourists this year
According to VNA, the tourism sector of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho is aiming to serve 5.2 million visitors for nearly 4.6 trillion VND (194.38 million USD) this year – a three-fold increase compared to that in 2021, as it has bounced back stronger after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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| Cai Rang floating market - an attractive destination in Can Tho. (Photo: VNA) |
At a recent meeting of the municipal steering committee for tourism development, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien said that tourism is defined as a spearhead economic sector of the city. However, its development has yet to be commensurate with its potential.
Therefore, from now to 2030, especially in 2023, municipal authorities will step up administrative procedures and simplify investment ones to facilitate the construction of resorts, hotels and tourist sites.
Attention will be paid to making policies to create conditions for people to take a direct part in business and benefit from tourism, and encourage agricultural tourism start-ups.
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| Ninh Kieu port of Can Tho (Photo: VNA) |
The city will propose the Ministry of Transport to assist domestic and international airlines in opening new routes, and improving the quality and increasing the frequency of flights at Can Tho International Airport.
Dao Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the department will coordinate closely with relevant departments and sectors and bring into full play all resources to create a boost for tourism to recover and develop strongly after a long halt caused by the pandemic.
Last year, the Mekong Delta city welcomed 5.1 million tourists and earned over 4.1 trillion VND. These results are considered a firm foundation for the impressive comeback of the city’s tourism sector this year.
First Vietnam Town in the world set to take shape in Thailand
Udon Thani city of the Thai province of the same name is set to develop the first-ever Vietnam Town in order to popularise Vietnamese goods, delicacies, and culture within the local community, reported VOV.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh and Udon Thani City Mayor Thanadorn Phuttharaksa examine the progress of the Vietnam Town project. (Source: vov.vn) |
Udon Thani is home to more than 60,000 Thai people of Vietnamese origin, the largest Vietnamese community in Thailand. After more than 70 years of establishment and development, the Vietnamese Thai community have maintained aspects of their traditional culture and upheld the spirit of their fatherland. They have also been making important contributions to local socio-economic development, with many now holding high positions in the locality.
Vietnam Town is a joint cooperation project between the local administration and the Thai Vietnamese Association of Udon Thani under the auspices of the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand. According to the Bangkok-based VOV resident correspondent, the local administration supports and encourages the activities undertaken by Vietnamese expatriates living and working there. Notably, it has allocated THB3 million for building and upgrading the infrastructure system of the town over recent months.
During a recent fact-finding trip to Alley 2 of Si Suk street where the Vietnam Town project is getting underway, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh and Mayor of Udon Thani city Thanadorn Phuttharaksa examined the building of two Welcome Gates at the two ends of Vietnam Town. The Ambassador also revealed a number of Vietnamese organisations and individuals have made practical moves as part of efforts to support the construction of Vietnam Town. Among them, the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) has donated a total of THB1.5 million in order to build the Welcome Gates.
After the hard infrastructure is completed, relevant parties will get down to work on soft infrastructure, including the construction of Vietnamese eateries and souvenir shops which introduce famous brands of Vietnam, along with developing places for cultural exchanges. They aim to attract a large number of tourists from throughout the region, specifically targeting overseas Vietnamese living in Thailand, overseas Vietnamese in Laos, and Vietnamese people, all of whom are keen to visit, shop, and enjoy Vietnamese cuisine.
Indeed, the formation of Vietnam Town will bring about great values in many aspects. From a political-diplomatic perspective, the project will contribute to promoting the country’s image, especially its traditional beauty, to Thai people, as well as tourists from all over the world. It will also serve as a vivid manifestation of the friendship and cultural exchanges between the people of Udon Thani and the Thai people of Vietnamese origin residing there. The project will also be a testament to the traditional friendship and comprehensive ties between both countries.
From a cultural perspective, once Vietnam Town is inaugurated, it will be a place that strives to preserve the traditional culture of Vietnamese people in Thailand. It will also become the cultural centre of not only the Vietnamese community in Northeast Thailand, but also Vietnamese expatriates throughout the country.
Economically, making this neighborhood crowded and attracting a large number of tourists to visit and shop will serve to stimulate local economic development, and at the same time generate steady income sources for Vietnamese expatriates there./.