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| Hindustan Times suggests exploring top iconic destinations in central Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of Hindustan Times) |
Hoi An has been dubbed a melting pot of cultures as merchants from China, India, Persia, Japan, and Europe all came in large numbers to both buy and sell spices, silk, jewelry, and other merchandise in the past.
Many centuries have since gone by, but Hoi An has managed to preserve much of its old-time character. It is this distinct feature that draws tourists and inspired UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage Site in 1999, Indian media outlet wrote.
The My Son relic site is another destination in the central region that travelers should also not miss out on visiting.
While Hoi An was a commercial hub for the Cham rulers, their religious epicentre was My Son, a green valley located 45km from Hoi An.
Between the fourth and 13th centuries, they built a series of temples with Hindu consciousness, which was then introduced to the royals by the visiting traders from India. Over time, many of their works of art were lost to natural disasters and historical changes, the article reported.
Hindustan Times also named Quy Nhon as central Vietnam's hottest destination, with its beach-blessed shoreline being a major lure for visitors.
The article also suggested that travels enjoy the fascinating rail journey from Hoi An to Quy Nhon. This epic rail adventure connects history with nature, and embraces luxury throughout the entire journey, the travel website concluded.
Vietnam Airlines to launch direct flights to Germany’s Munich from October
National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will begin its direct services from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Munich, one of the largest cities in Germany, from October this year, reported VNA.
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| Vietnam Airlines to launch direct flights to Germany’s Munich from October |
The non-stop flights on the Hanoi-Munich route will be performed twice a week, departing from Hanoi on Fridays and Sundays and from Munich on Mondays and Saturdays.
Meanwhile, there is one weekly flight on the Ho Chi Minh City-Munich route, with the plane departing from the Vietnamese city on Mondays and returning on Tuesdays. Vietnam Airlines will add one more flight to the route from December.
The carrier now has four direct routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Germany’s Frankfurt and Munich. Wide-body Boeing 787 aircraft are used for the services.
Tickets to Munich are now available on Vietnam Airlines’ website, mobile app, and official ticket offices and agents nationwide.
Vietnam to open tourism promotion office in Laos
Vietnam will soon open a tourism promotion office in Vientiane, Laos, in an effort to change the method of carrying out tourism promotion activities overseas, VOV cited the saying of Nguyen Trung Khanh, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).
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| Foreign travellers make a tour of Nha Trang City, central Vietnam |
This is the first such office of Vietnam overseas, Khanh said during discussions on solutions to help the tourism industry make breakthroughs in 2024, hosted by Nguoi Lao Dong (Labourer) newspaper on March 12.
Last year saw Vietnam receive 12.6 million foreign arrivals, up 340%, and 108 million domestic travelers, up 5.8% year on year. This year, the country aims to welcome 17-18 million foreign arrivals, equivalent to the pre-pandemic level, and 110 million domestic holidaymakers.
The VNAT has just completed the tourism planning for 2025-2030 with a vision to 2045 that outlines development orientations for the industry. The planning has been submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval.
The VNAT has stressed the need to change tourism promotion methods based on segments such as community tourism, medical tourism, rural tourism, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), golf tourism, and rail tourism.
Among the solutions, the VNAT is to set up tourism promotion offices abroad which is considered Vietnam’s weakness compared to other countries. It will first open an office in Vientiane, Laos, to connect travelers from the Thai and Cambodian markets.
11 Vietnamese dishes listed among top 100 Southeast Asian street foods
According to VOV, Bánh Mì (Baguette), Bánh Cuốn (steamed rice rolls stuffed with pork and mushrooms), and Nem Lụi (grilled ground pork on lemongrass skewers) are among the 11 Vietnamese dishes to feature on the list of the 100 best Southeast Asian street foods.
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| Nem Lụi (grilled ground pork on lemongrass skewers) (Photo: Internet) |
According to VOV, the list was announced in March by Taste Atlas - a website dedicated to discovering fresh ingredients, traditional dishes, and authentic restaurants around the world. The voting results were based on evaluations given by both culinary experts and readers globally.
Taste Atlas named a total of 11 Vietnamese dishes spanning the country’s three regions.
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| Cơm Tấm (Broken Rice) listed among top 100 Southeast Asian street foods (Source: Vnexpress.net) |
Most notably, Bánh Mì continues to affirm its popularity as the most popular local cuisine, ranking sixth in Southeast Asia. It was closely followed Phở Bò (Beef Noddles) and Cơm Tấm (Broken Rice), which were placed in seventh and eighth positions.
Rounding off the list of TasteAtlas’s top 100 Southeast Asian street foods were Siomay of Indonesia, Roti Canai of Malaysia, Roti Prata of Singapore, Pad Thai of Thailand, and Lumpiang Shanghai of the Philippines./.