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Three Vietnamese cities among world’s greatest places of 2021: Time

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Three Vietnamese cities, including Hanoi, HCM City and Phu Quoc (Kien Giang Province), have been named among the world’s to 100 extraordinary destinations to explore in 2021, as voted on by the renowned US-based Time magazine.

Vietnam is the Southeast Asian country with the most representatives in the Time list, which is expected to bring opportunities for the country’s tourism as the COVID-19 pandemic passes.

Hanoi – Renewed life in the Old Quarter

Street food scene in Hanoi. (Photo: Time)

“Vietnam’s 1,000-year-old capital is embracing change while maintaining a strong sense of identity,” Time wrote, adding that such a balancing act is exemplified by the new Capella Hanoi, a 47-room hotel where architect Bill Bensley pays homage to the opera of the Roaring ’20s, while the city’s more flamboyant side is showcased in another major hotel opening: Dolce by Wyndham Hanoi Golden Lake, a glimmering building billed as the world’s first gold-plated hotel.

“Hanoi’s incredible street-food culture is another source of fierce civic pride,” the magazine noted. It suggested visitors try pho, a local signature dish, when visiting the city, adding that Pho Gia Truyen – one of Hanoi’s most legendary vendors – was recognised in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants “Essence of Asia” list in 2020, a collection of storied venues that represent the spirit of gastronomy in the region.

Ho Chi Minh City – Tastes of Vietnam

Sandwiches using truffles in Saigon Restaurant. (Photo: Anan Saigon)

According to Time, Ho Chi Minh City’s incredible food has never been short of admirers.

“Even so, it felt like a watershed moment when Anan – helmed by Vietnamese-American chef Peter Cuong Franklin – became the first venue in the country’s southern hub to earn a berth in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Franklin’s inspired take on classics like pho and banh nhung is indicative of the culinary creativity at play in the city,” the magazine wrote.

“Notable recent additions to the local dining scene include Monkey Gallery, where chef Viet Hong merges Vietnamese, French and Japanese techniques and flavors, and Esta, a self-described modern Asian eatery with an ever changing, expansive menu that runs the gamut from smoked-eel pate to veal sweetbreads,” it added.

Phu Quoc – Idyllic paradise

The New World Phu Quoc Resort in Vietnam. (Photo: TIME)

Known as the “jewel of Vietnam,” this teardrop-shaped resort and fishing island has become one of the fastest-growing destinations in Southeast Asia: in 2019, Phu Quoc attracted five million visitors, a 30% increase from the previous year.

The island city is planning to welcome back vaccinated international travelers in the fall, and continues to entice tourists with visa-free stays for up to 30 days.

“Lodging options abound: earlier this year, the expansive, 375-villa New World Phu Quoc Resort, which boasts a private stretch of beach and lush landscaped gardens, made its debut, as did the US$2.8 billion Phu Quoc United Centre, a massive entertainment complex featuring a theme park, golf course and casino—in addition to a series of hotels,” Time wrote.

Source: Nhan Dan

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/travel/three-vietnamese-cities-among-world-s-greatest-places-of-2021-time-759553.html

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100 interesting facts about HCM City announced

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Sai Gon double-decker bus tour, national special historical relic site Independence Palace, and popular “banh xeo” (sizzling rice pancake) are among the 100 interesting facts about HCM City in 2023, which were announced at a ceremony held by the municipal Department of Tourism on December 3.

100 interesting facts about HCM City announced hinh anh 1At the ceremony to announce the 100 interesting facts about HCM City (Photo: VNA)

HCM City –  Sai Gon
double-decker bus tour, national special historical relic site Independence
Palace, and popular “banh xeo” (sizzling rice pancake) are among the 100 interesting
facts about HCM City in 2023, which were announced at a ceremony held by the
municipal Department of Tourism on December 3.

The programme “HCM City100 interesting facts” was launched in December last
year to promote the city as an attractive destination. It features 10
categories covering exciting sightseeing programmes, 10 exciting
attractions, entertainment spots, shopping
spots, tourist accommodation establishments, restaurants, coffee shops, tourism, cultural
and sports events, check-in places, and delicacies.

At the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van
Dung stressed the city’s exciting experiences have been shaped up by the vibrant
blend of cultures, cuisines, arts and destinations, and expressed his hope that
the programme will be a highlight of the city’s tourism sector in the end of
2023, making contributions to popularising local images and destinations.

He ordered competent organisations to make unceasing efforts to improve tourism
service quality to meet the expectation of the visitors as well as local
tourism’s competitive capacity.

The programme is expected to become a locomotive that motivates local service
providers to contribute to the city’s socio-economic development, he said.

Ho Chi Minh City welcomed more than 30
million domestic and foreign visitors during January – October, according to
the municipal Department of Tourism. The number included 4.12 million foreign tourists, or 82% of
the set target.

Revenue from accommodation and catering services was more
than 89.45 trillion VND (3.6 billion USD), and that from travel service was
over 8.9 trillion VND, up 30.6% and 68.3% year on year, respectively.

As the peak tourism season approaches, the city
hopes to serve 5 million international visitors and more than 35 million
domestic ones, and gain some 160 trillion VND in tourism revenue for the whole
2023.

It also sets a target of welcoming 6 million foreign visitors who will spend
around 190 trillion VND next year. Given stable
political-economic conditions, and good recovery of tourism and related
industries, the Vietnamese southern hub expects to welcome a tourist influx
from the Republic of Korea, Japan, India, and China./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/100-interesting-facts-about-hcm-city-announced/272261.vnp

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HCM City, northwestern provinces promote tourism development collaboration

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The People’s Committees of Ho Chi Minh City and eight expanded northwestern provinces convened a tourism promotion conference in the southern economic hub on December 4, aiming to promote their culture and tourism domestically and internationally.

HCM City, northwestern provinces promote tourism development collaboration hinh anh 1Stalls introduce tourism products of the expanded northwestern provinces on the sidelines of the conference. (Photo: VNA)

HCM City – The People’s Committees of Ho
Chi Minh City and eight expanded northwestern provinces convened a tourism
promotion conference in the southern economic hub on December 4, aiming to promote their culture and tourism domestically and
internationally.

Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s
Committee Nguyen Van Dung stated that the city always considers tourism development collaboration a crucial task, adding it has teamed up with 49 provinces,
cities, and key economic zones nationwide.

The southern metropolis and the expanded northwestern region have coordinated in various
events and conducted surveys to develop new tours, routes and products connecting
the sides, he noted.

Representing the region, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dien Bien province Vu A Bang said that the conference is among activities to carry out cooperation
programmes and agreements in the field between the provinces and the city for
2020-2025.

The official stressed that via the event, the local tourism
industry hopes to enhance connections and joint work with the city, creating
opportunities for many tourism enterprises to update information and expand their
market.

He said the conference is expected to serve as a platform
for local authorities, state management agencies, and travel firms to exchange
ideas and assess potential, opportunities, and orientation for building their products.
It also involved sharing experience in tourism development cooperation
and proposing solutions and initiatives for future links between the localities.

The expanded northwestern region comprises Hoa Binh, Son La,
Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, and Ha Giang. It possesses rich
tourism resources with magnificent nature, distinctive culture, and glorious
history, making it attractive to tourists. Renowned attractions include Mount Fansipan in
Lao Cai, known as the roof of Indochina, the UNESCO Global Geopark Dong Van
Karst Plateau in Ha Giang, and the Mu Cang Chai terraced fields in Yen Bai./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/hcm-city-northwestern-provinces-promote-tourism-development-collaboration/272297.vnp

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Third Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week opens

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The third Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week kicked off on December 4 with a range of tourism, sports and music activities, along with promotional programmes to stimulate shopping and travel demand across the southern economic hub.

Third Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week opens hinh anh 1The third Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week kicked off on December 4 with a range of tourism, sports and music activities (Photo: VNA)

HCM City – The
third Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week kicked off on December 4 with a range of tourism,
sports and music activities, along with promotional programmes to stimulate shopping and travel demand across the southern economic hub.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman
of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said the tourism week is
expected to encourage more residents and tourists to explore the culture and beautiful landscapes around the city.

As green and sustainable tourism
is a huge trend these days, the southern metropolis is striving to fulfill the
goal of becoming a green and environmental friendly destination, he said.

This year’s edition offers a series
of practical activities aimed at encouraging the tourism ecosystem to enhance
the application of green solutions, develop responsible tourism, create
competitive advantages, and improve the quality of growth for the sector, Dung
noted. 

Director of the Tourism Department
Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said a lot of activities will be held within the framework
of the 7-day event, including the Techcombank HCM City International Marathon,
the launch of the districts’ new tourism products and the city’s travel
stimulation programme, the exploration of the city via doodle art and
activities of tourism businesses and related service suppliers.

Visitors
also will be treated to performances of folk arts, calligraphy art and cultural
exchanges, among others./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/third-ho-chi-minh-city-tourism-week-opens/272284.vnp

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