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| Indian tourists at the Bong Sen Water Puppetry Centre in Hanoi. (Photo: Trang Linh) |
The magazine noted that with its breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and vibrant history, Vietnam is a country that has long captivated the hearts of Indian travellers.
It added that Vietnam is considering granting short-term visa waivers to Indians to boost tourism.
The magazine said Vietnam’s rich and complex history provides a treasure trove of historical sites that provide a fascinating glimpse into the country’s past, from ancient temples and imperial citadels to war museums and colonial-era relics.
Furthermore, Vietnam is also home to well-known islands and pristine beaches.
Vietnamese data shows that India is one of the top ten largest sources of foreign tourists to Vietnam, with 352,000 visitors in the first 11 months of 2023, while Google data suggests that Indian searches on Vietnam rose 30-fold compared to last year.
The most searched Vietnamese destinations are Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Da Nang and Quy Nhon.
Son Doong cave adventure tour fully booked for 2024
According to VNA, Oxalis, the only firm operating expedition adventure tour to Son Doong – the world’s largest natural cave on December 23 announced that the tour is fully booked for the whole of 2024.
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| Son Doong, located in the heart of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, opened to tourists in 2013. (Photo: Courtesy of Oxalis) |
Moreover, 200 domestic and foreign tourists have booked for the cave tour in 2025, it added.
The Son Doong expedition is considered one of the adventure tours in Vietnam that attract international tourists the most. Many prestigious newspapers and magazines around the world have highly appreciated the unique tour. British newspaper Daily Mail selected Son Doong cave as the cave with the most impressive camping ground in the world. British television station Dave TV ranked the Son Doong cave expedition tour 5th out of the 20 greatest adventures on the planet. National Geographic UK magazine ranked Son Doong expedition as the world's most classy adventure tour.
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| Son Doong attracts people who love adventure travel, exploration and experience. (Source: VNA) |
During the tour, tourists will cross underground rivers, explore two gigantic cave ceiling collapses, traverse through underground rainforests, and sleep in some of the world’s most magnificent campsites.
Tourists can also visit the Doong village, home to the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority group.
Another destination is Hang En where the movie “Peter Pan: The Neverland” was filmed and where ABC News broadcast live the TV programme Good Morning America to the US in 2015.
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| Visitors to Son Doong cave. (Source: laodong.vn) |
Son Doong cave was discovered in 1990 by Ho Khanh, a local man in Phong Nha town, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province. It was announced as the largest cave in the world with a volume of more than 38 million cubic metres.
Son Doong cave tour is currently considered the most expensive and attractive tour in Vietnam with a ticket priced at about 72 million VND (3,000 USD) per person for a 6-day and 5-night tour. Each tour has 10 vistors and about 30 supporters serving as cave safety experts, guides, safety assistants, chefs, rangers, and others carrying luggage, food, and camping equipment.
Son Doong, located in the heart of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, opened to tourists in 2013. It includes at least 150 individual caves, a dense subterranean jungle, and several underground rivers. British magazine Conde Nast Traveler named Son Doong one of the seven must-explore wonders of 2020.
Vietnamese culture, cuisine promoted in Argentina
The Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina on December 22 organised an event to promote Vietnamese culture and cuisine, wrapping up a series of activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Argentina, reported VNA.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Quoc Thanh (second, from left) and delegates at the event. (Photo: VNA) |
The event saw the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MERCOSUR-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce (MACC), ambassadors of ASEAN countries, Japan, Uruguay and the Republic of Korea, the Argentine Council of International Relations (CARI) and the Argentina-Vietnam Culture Institute (ICAV).
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Duong Quoc Thanh emphasised that 2023 is a pivotal year in cooperation, solidarity, and friendship between Vietnam and Argentina as the two countries celebrate 50-year diplomatic relations (October 25, 1973 - 2023) and 13 years of the Comprehensive Partnership. Many meaningful and diverse political activities have been organised, especially the visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Argentina in April.
According to the ambassador, cultural diplomacy is a bridge that brings people closer together, and Vietnamese cuisine has been very popular with Argentinian friends for years, such as spring rolls. Besides, economic diplomacy is one of the important pillars of the relationship between the two countries, especially in the context that Vietnam and Argentina wish to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR).
Speaking to Vietnam News Agency, Rodolfo Caffaro Kramer, Global President of MACC, said he will head a business delegation to Vietnam next October and is making efforts to promote FTA negotiations between MERCOSUR, of which Argentina is a founding member, and Vietnam.
He emphasised that economic and trade cooperation are important pillars in bilateral relations. In 2022, Vietnam was Argentina's 6th largest trading partner and 5th largest export market in the world, and a key partner in Argentina's South-South cooperation in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Argentina was Vietnam's third largest trading partner in Latin America. However, these positions are still modest compared to the two countries' potential, so that Argentina is very interested in an FTA between MERCOSUR and Vietnam, he said.
Trade between Vietnam and Argentina is complementary. Argentina is willing to diversify products to meet Vietnam's needs and vice versa, Vietnam has many high-quality products such as technology, textiles, and footwear, all of which are familiar products in the South American market. In the first ten months of this year, trade turnover between the two countries reached about 3 billion USD.
On this occasion, Argentinian friends were treated to Vietnamese cuisine at Green Bamboo Restaurant, a familiar address of South American diners and tourists who love Vietnamese dishes for the past 24 years.