VietExplorer

The Government of Vietnam is seeking approval from the National Assembly to issue electronic visas to citizens of all countries and territories. International tourists on the way to the sandy beach in the southern province of Khanh Hoa’s Cam Ranh Coastal City. Photo: Trung Vu/ The Hanoi Times Accordingly, Vietnam would extend visa validity from 30 to less than 90 days for single or multiple entries and stay from 15 to 45 days for foreign visitors from Vietnam’s Visa Waiver Program countries and territories. The measure is seen as a boost for the development of Vietnam’s “smokeless industry”, which will enhance the competitiveness of national tourism in Southeast Asia. The country reinstated the visa waiver policy for citizens of 24 countries after three years of border closures due to Covid-19. Despite being one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to fully lift border restrictions, the travel industry has not recovered as expected. Restrictive visa policies are l

Do not wear swimsuits in the city, be respectful around shrines and do not get upset if someone is late for an appointment… are some tips for international travelers visiting Vietnam for the first time. Foreign travelers may find various interesting things in Hanoi. Photo: Ka Long Having lived in Vietnam since 2010, Ian Paynton, founder of the Hanoi-based content agency We Create Content, has shared what he’s learned about Hanoi with The Insider. There’s so much to explore in Vietnam, from cities and villages to mountains, beaches, and grottos, according to www.insider.com . The country is also one of the most affordable places in Southeast Asia to visit. In 2019, the number of tourist arrivals in the country was around 18 million. In addition, more and more expats from around the world are choosing Vietnam as their “second home”. Over 100,000 currently live in the country permanently. After almost a decade of living in Vietnam, Ian Paynton has noticed a few common m

Vietnam’s northern coastal province of Quang Ninh will build an airport in the island district of Co To, according to the province’s aviation plan approved by the prime minister for the period 2021-2030, vision to 2050.  A corner of Co To Island District, a tourism destination in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Photo: quangninh.gov.vn The airport will cover an area of 130 hectares, including the apron, a military enclave, and a 1,800-meter runway. The commissioning of the airport and the operation of flight routes to Co To Island is expected to boost the development of the local tourism industry and contribute to the northern province’s rescue, security, and defense activities. The island district is expected to become a high-quality tourism hub in Vietnam and part of Quang Ninh’s sustainable development strategy. According to the plan, the local authority will develop a seaplane and heliport in Ha Long, Cam Pha, Van Don, Co To, Dong Trieu, Uong Bi, and potentia

  Ho Van  or Ho Giam  (Lake of Literature), also known as Minh Duong Lake, has recently undergone an important facelift that would be an attractive heritage site in the thousand-year capital city of Hanoi. Kim Chau Islet is the highlight of the new restoration of Ho Van . Photo: Minh An Located in front of the main gate of Hanoi’s famous Temple of Literature and across Quoc Tu Giam Street, the lake is an integral part of the national relic Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam or Temple of Literature, so the preservation and promotion of its value will contribute to the protection of the relic. The renovation of Ho Van took several years to complete. A fresh look Located in the premise of the special national relic complex of the Temple of Literature and Imperial Academy, Ho Van used to be the place where Confucians held literary debates. Over a long period, the area fell into oblivion, and while taking advantage of poor management, an illegal shrine was erected. After it was h

Hanoi will play a key role in achieving the objectives of the Vietnam Tourism Marketing Strategy for 2030, making Vietnam an attractive and sustainable tourism destination and the first choice for tourists in the Southeast Asian region.  Foreign tourists enjoy experiencing Duong Lam Ancient Village in Hanoi’s outskirt town of Son Tay. Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times Hanoi, along with other provinces and cities, has identified tourism marketing as a strategic breakthrough to restore and develop Vietnam’s tourism in a sustainable way, according to the Hanoi People’s Committee’s plan to implement the national tourism development strategy by 2030 in the capital. The municipal tourism department said the city will continue to strengthen communication and promotional tourism activities, such as stronger dissemination of tourist destinations and new tourism products of the capital through international media channels, websites, social networking platforms (Youtube and Faceboo

Haiphong cuisine is an exciting and flavorsome combination of Chinese and French cuisine with fresh seafood. The unique gastronomy of the port city has aroused the curiosity of people, who organize their own “food tours” to the city to enjoy its delicacies. A funky tour just for food A group of youth from Hanoi join the Haiphong Food Tour by train. Photo: Pham Duc Hung Taking a day tour to Haiphong by train to enjoy food is becoming a trend among young people in Hanoi. This trend is going viral as more and more photos and videos reviewing delicious Haiphong dishes have been uploaded on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook recently. Seeing friends taking a train to Haiphong for food, Bich Phuong, 24, from Hanoi cherished the idea of making a similar trip next May Day. According to Phuong, it’s easy to travel to Haiphong from Hanoi. “Having street food on Haiphong sidewalks would bring the feeling of yesteryear as if we were somewhere in Hanoi’s Old Quarter,” she told The Ha

Visitors to Ngoc Chien commune, Muong La district, Son La province, will have the opportunity to admire the flowers of Dosia Indica creating a poetic landscape. Known as Tao Meo or H’mong apple, Dosia Indica is grown in the mountainous region of northwestern Vietnam.  The tree is said to provide a livelihood for local people, mainly of H’mong ethnicity, and contributes to increasing forest cover. Located at 2,000 meters above sea level, the Muong La district has high humidity and low temperatures that are ideal for growing Docynia Indica.   Every February or March, the flowers are in full bloom. It is also a time when tourists visit to admire the beautiful scenery and capture memorable moments.  Subsequently, it produces fruit between August and October each year. Its fruit is appreciated for its nutrient and vitamin C content, as well as for its antioxidant properties.   Sweet and sour fruit with a spe

Various night tours will be launched in the near future, as well as new and attractive tourism products to attract tourists, especially international travelers, according to the Hanoi Department of Tourism,  Visitors to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2023 at the pedestrian zone around Hoan Kiem Lake. Photo: Khanh Huy The information was released at a conference reviewing tourism in Hanoi in 2022 held by the municipal Department of Tourism on January 5 . Accordingly, since Vietnam opened its doors to inbound tourism on March 15 until December 31, 2022, Hanoi has welcomed 1.5 million international visitors. This year, Hanoi’s tourism sector has targeted welcoming three million international visitors, of which 2.1 million will be overnight guests, twice as many as in 2022. Le Hong Thai, director of Hanoitourist Travel Company, said that Hanoi tourism needs drastic changes soon to quickly recover and develop sustainably. “Unique and attractive tourism products need to be buil

Main inspiration from Hang Trong folk painting and close consultation with Le Dinh Nghien – the last experienced artisan of this genre with its main inspiration from Hang Trong folk painting, L’Hôtel du LAC Hanoi at 35-37 Hang Trong Street is a harmonious blend of folk beauty and modern architecture. The charming yet elegant space of the hotel with a Hang Trong folk painting of Carp Looking at the Moon on the ceiling of the restaurant. Photo courtesy of L’Hôtel du LAC Visitors will find a unique cultural space that appears no less captivating than a museum of national culture. An inspiration that came from folk art Hang Trong painting is a genre of traditional woodcut painting of Northern Vietnam. In addition to such genres as the famous Dong Ho or the rustic, medieval Kim Hoang, Hang Trong paintings were seen as a cultural feature of the upper class and mandarins in the prosperous capital of Hue because of their sophisticated sizes and techniques. Born in the 17th c

Cuc Phuong National Park, the first of its kind in Vietnam, celebrated the 60th anniversary of its establishment today [December 2], one of the most important sites for biodiversity and eco-tourism in the 42% forested Southeast Asian country. Vietnam’s oldest national park with more than 22,000ha has inspired the world with the values of nature, of an intact jungle, and conveyed a message of animal rescue and forest stewardship. Nguyen Minh Chinh (3rd left) , Director of Cuc Phuong National Park, in the release of animals at the park. Photo: Bao Ninh Binh    Nguyen Minh Chinh, Director of Cuc Phuong National Park, said Cuc Phuong had been the prototype of the establishment of 33 other national parks nationwide since its establishment in 1962. He said the success story of preservation in Cuc Phuong is contributed by three main factors, namely the early recognition of the forest’s role by Vietnamese leadership in environmental protection, the international support, and