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| Breathtaking beauty of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Source: VOV) |
Of the sites, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the northcentral province of Quang Binh topped the list.
According to details given by the travel guide, the remarkable Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 and contains the oldest karst mountains in Asia which were formed approximately 400 million years ago.
“Riddled with hundreds of cave systems – many of extraordinary scale and length – and spectacular underground rivers, Phong Nha is a speleologists’ heaven on earth, and a real treat for anyone who appreciates the sight of nature at its most raw,” it added.
The caves are the region's absolute highlights, although the above-ground attractions of forest trekking, the area's war history, and rural mountain biking means that the park has enough going on to warrant stays of up to three days.
Lonely Planet stressed that more than 100 types of mammals; 10 species of primate, tigers, elephants, and the saola; a rare Asian antelope; 81 types of reptile and amphibian; and more than 300 varieties of bird have been logged in Phong Nha.
Son Doong Cave ranked in second, followed by Tu Lan Cave and Paradise Cave.
Rounding off the list of the must-see attractions in northcentral Vietnam were En Cave, Van Long Nature Reserve, Toi Cave, Trang An, Cuc Phuong National Park, Phat Diem Cathedral, Mua Cave, and Bai Dinh Pagoda.
International culinary, music festival opens in Quang Binh
According to Vietnam News Agency, an international culinary and music festival opened in Dong Hoi city, the central province of Quang Binh, on July 10 evening as a highlight in the series of events of the Quang Binh Tourism Week 2024.
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| Visitors try some food at the festival. (Photo: VNA) |
With 50 food booths and 40 others promoting One Commune-One Product (OCOP) products and tourism, the festival aims to honour and promote the cultural values and images of Quang Binh in particular and regions in general to local residents and tourists.
Festival goers can also enjoy musical performances and folk games.
Particularly, on July 12 evening, an electronic dance music (EDM) programme and a low-level fireworks display will take place.
Le Thi Ngoc Ha, vice direct of Quang Binh province’s Tourism Department, said that to diversify tourism products and offer visitors experiences, the department has coordinated with departments, agencies and localities to organise the Quang Binh Tourism Week 2024 from July 6-13.
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| Visitors to the event (Sourcce: nld.com.vn) |
The first-ever Quang Binh Tourism Week with various cultural and art activities is expected to provide the province with a chance to promote its image as a natural, attractive, and unique destination to domestic and foreign tourists.
This year, Quang Binh aims to welcome 4.5-5 million visitors. In the first half of this year, it enjoyed strong growth in the revenue of accommodation, catering and travel services at 16,9%, 10,4%, and 38,1%, respectively, thanks to a large number of large-scale festive activities.
67% of Vietnamese families use AI tools as part of travel planning: Booking.com
The Voice of Vietnam reported a survey conducted by travel website Booking.com, 67% of local families are planning to use AI tools as part of their travel planning this year, showing a keen desire to adopt new practices to streamline their trips.
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| Photo for illustration (Source: VOV) |
The website also highlighted that that 60% of Vietnamese families said they are inspired to travel in order to sample food seen during a show or movie, underlining the influence of popular media on travel choices.
Furthermore, according to Booking.com, travel nannies may start becoming a trend this summer with 39% of local families stating that they would likely allocate a travel budget for having someone care for their child or children on a trip. This rate surpasses more than half in India at 57%, Hong Kong (China) at 51%, and Thailand at 59%.
Comfort is also a top priority, said Booking.com, with 68% of Vietnamese families considering air conditioning to be the most crucial amenity when booking accomidation.
The survey also revealed the top 10 global trending summer destinations for Vietnamese families, including Luzern of Switzerland, Berlin of Germany, Brugge of Belgium, Uluwatu of Bali, Indonesia, Milano of Italy, the Gold Coast of Australia, Incheon of the Repulic of Korea, Nagoya of Japan, George Town of Penang, Malaysia, and Hamburg of Germany.
Short film series launched to promote tourism in HCM City
The Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City has announced a series of short films conveying the message of "Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City" to both domestic and international tourists, reported the Voice of Vietnam.
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| Saigon's Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh city. (Source: VOV) |
Upon addressing the announcement ceremony, Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism, said that film series are expected to help visitors find out about the southern city’s history, culture, food, architecture, and sightseeing spots.
The series of short films with the theme of “A Vibrant Journey” feature a list of 100 interesting things in the metropolis. It covers 10 exciting sightseeing programmes; 10 exciting attractions; 10 interesting entertainment spots; 10 interesting shopping spots; 10 interesting tourist accommodation establishments; 10 interesting restaurants; 10 interesting coffee shops; 10 interesting tourism, cultural, and sporting events; 10 interesting check-in places; and 10 interesting delicacies.
The films also present restaurants rated in the MICHELIN Guide Vietnam, offering a chance for travelers to enjoy the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere that can only be found in the southern metropolis.
Furthermore, films to promote local tourism and cuisine on the Discovery channel with the participation of Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc, Miss Intercontinental 2022; and Sarah Huang Benjamin, a renowned TV host, chef, and food writer, were unveiled.
Films to introduce a series of tourism activities such as festivals and art programmes, as well as activities promote medical tourism, also debuted.
According to Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism, in the first half of the year the city welcomed around 17.1 million domestic arrivals and over 2.6 million foreign arrivals, whilst tourism revenue was estimated at VND92 trillion, up 14.6% on-year.
The southern city has set a target of receiving six million international tourists and 38 million domestic tourists this year./.