 |
| The northern province of Ha Giang tops the list of sustainable travel with majestic limestone mountains, steep winding passes and villages hidden in the mist. |
Booking.com said that these destinations have the largest number of accommodation facilities achieving independent sustainability certification from a third party.
The 2024 Sustainable Travel Report recently published by Booking.com shows that up to 75% of Vietnamese tourists want to practice greener living after experiencing sustainable tourism activities, and 94% of them hope their trips next year will be more environmentally friendly.
The northern province of Ha Giang tops the list of sustainable travel with majestic limestone mountains, steep winding passes and villages hidden in the mist. It is also home to many ethnic minorities, whose traditional cultures and lifestyles are maintained today.
Da Nang is the runner-up, which is a paradise for those who love exploring through cycling activities. According to the report, up to 96% of Vietnamese tourists said they had a better experience when choosing to rent a bicycle as a means of transportation.
Meanwhile, Hoi An is also a must-visit destination when coming to Vietnam. Visitors can immerse themselves in the traditional cultural space, explore the poetic ancient town, and witness talented artisans make handmade things when visiting Hoi An - a World Cultural Heritage recognised by the UNESCO.
Song Cau in Phu Yen Province is a coastal paradise with traditional fishing villages. Visitors can enjoy the simple beauty of the lives of indigenous people, visit a historical lighthouse, and experience exciting hiking to have a panoramic view of Mui Dien Cape.
Quy Nhon in Binh Dinh Province has become an interesting destination for ecotourism in recent years. Thanks to serious efforts to protect coral reefs and community activities to protect the marine environment, the diverse marine ecosystem here continues to be preserved and promoted.
Ho Chi Minh City is described as a vibrant city where history, culture and modern life blend. Visitors can choose to visit bustling markets filled with agricultural products and handicrafts, admire unique architectural works, experience a cruise or river bus route along the Saigon River, or enjoy a cocktail at the rooftop bars.
Hoi An named as best destination for digital nomads
The ancient town of Hoi An located in the central province of Quang Nam has been hailed as the best destination for digital nomads, VOV reported the new research published by Freaking Nomads.
 |
| Hoi An is named as best destination for digital nomads |
This comes after Travel Off Path, a world-leading indie travel news source, recently published an article briefly looking into some of the reasons behind the historic town’s popularity.
First of all, Travel Off Path noted that Vietnam as a whole is currently an incredibly trendy destination for Western travelers.
“Thanks to the attractive consumer prices, they are able to have a much higher quality of life relocating to this Southeast Asian country, and the relaxed visa policies have made it easier for them to stay longer without resorting to once-a-month visa runs,” it noted.
The source also revealed that the country is full of gorgeous resort cities, nature preserves, and vibrant metropolises such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, to name a couple.
“So the fact that Hoi An, of all places, has topped this particular ranking begs the question,” it stressed.
According to Travel Off Path, Hoi An is probably the prettiest town nationwide, boasting eclectic architecture which means visitors are likely to stumble upon pagoda-topped bridges as they are European-built colonial-style houses.
It also quoted a new study as sayings that Hoi An posts a score of 73.94 out of 100, the most out of all destinations assessed. As expected, the Vietnamese gem is commended for its low cost of living, with particularly low prices observed for food and rent, a plethora of coworking spaces, and a friendly attitude towards guests.
“In Nomad List, the most reliable platform for tracking digital nomad trends, Hoi An has received near-perfect ratings for its amazing, balmy weather, food safety, which is a big concern for travelers across Vietnam where food poisoning is a common concern, and lack of crime,” the travel news source said.
It highlighted that Vietnamese locals are truly some of the most welcoming and kind people in all of Asia. Irrespective of their economic situation, they have unshakable moral standards.
“Of course, nomads love Hoi An in particular for how cheap it is to live in: we're talking US$840 a month, accommodation and daily expenses included, and that's far less than rent alone in any popular U.S. or Western European city,” Travel Off Path concluded.
Two local destinations named among fastest growing tourist destinations in Asia
Sa Pa and Ha Long have both made the list of the five fastest growing tourist destinations in Asia, VOV reported the articles by the world’s most popular travel guide Tripadvisor.
 |
| Ha Long Bay is among fastest growing tourist destinations in Asia. (Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor) |
Sa Pa town came in fifth whilst Ha Long Bay was in third on the list as part of the 2024 Travelers’ Choice’s five Asian destinations people are loving the most right now.
Known for its terraced rice fields that cascade down the mountainside, dreamy hamlets dotted around the mountainous landscape, and serene waterfalls, Sa Pa is a true Vietnamese gem that appears like something straight out of a fairytale.
 |
| The terraced field in Sapa (Source: vnexpress.net) |
The only thing more fascinating than the jaw-dropping vistas is the local culture, with visitors having the chance to view the creations, festivals, and traditions of local people. This offers an authentic insight into the Vietnamese way of living, which is more than what can be said for bigger hotspots, according to Tripadvisor.
Meanwhile, Ha Long Bay represents the perfect destination for those who wish to take in the gorgeousness of the Asian coastline without enduring chaotic crowds.
The area is a mosaic of emerald waters, hidden caves, and pristine beaches that are guaranteed to take travelers’ breath away, the travel guide wrote.
Topping the list is Tokyo of Japan, followed by Seoul in the Republic of Korea. Palawan Island in the Philippines, which is a dreamy coastal town complete with limestone cliffs, turquoise lagoon, along with small and intimate beaches, comes in at fourth.
Vietnam sees impressive growth in Taiwanese tourists
About 418,000 tourists from Taiwan (China) came to Vietnam in the first four months of this year, posting impressive growth of 116.3%, said the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.
 |
| Foreign visitors in downtown Ho Chi Minh City in January 2024. (Photo: laodong.vn) |
With this result, Taiwan ranked third among the 10 largest sources of foreign travellers to the Southeast Asian nation during the period, statistics show.
Businesses of Taiwan said Vietnam is a leading choice of Taiwanese tourists, of whom 45% visit places in the central region like Hue, Hoi An, and Da Nang, 40% to the north, and 15% to the south.
Destinations in the central region is recording good tourist growth thanks to the variety of air routes operated by Taiwanese carriers and the short flight time – less than 2 and a half hours.
For example, Da Nang International Airport is serving four direct flights from Taipei, one from Kaohsiung, and one from Taichung each day.
Le Phuoc Khanh, General Director of the EMM hotel chain of TMG, noted that Hue city witnessed a boom in the Taiwanese visitor number last year, helping increase the room occupancy rate for the hotel sector of Hue as well as the central region and generating good tourism revenue.
The number of Taiwanese tourists is forecast to stay high in Hoi An and Da Nang cities in 2024, he added.
Tourism businesses and associations of Taiwan and Vietnam have been enhancing cooperation in recent years with a view to raising the annual number of visitors to each other’s destinations to 2 million in the near future./.