Asean Travel And Tours

Tourists use their smartphones to capture images of a passing train at Hanoi's Train Street, November 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Giang The Hanoi Department of Tourism has requested travel agencies not to organize tours to the popular Train Street amid growing safety concerns. The department also requires travel agencies to raise awareness among their staff about the risks of traffic accidents in areas where train street cafes operate. Additionally, relevant authorities need to proactively coordinate to detect, prevent and promptly address violations in accordance with regulations. Train Street, lined with makeshift coffee shops just feet from the tracks in the Old Quarter, was officially closed in September 2022 due to safety concerns. Despite barricades and checkpoints at both ends of Tran Phu and Phung Hung streets, several cafes continue to operate, drawing large crowds of mostly foreign tourists, especially on weekends. Thousands flock to the place to photograph passing tra...

Visitors on Mui Ne beach in south central Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Viet Quoc The recently approved master planning scheme for Mui Ne National Tourist Area in south central Binh Thuan province is set to transform it into an internationally recognized tourism hub, positioning it as a top destination in the Asia-Pacific by 2050. The plan envisions developing Mui Ne into a global tourism center, fueling economic growth and boosting the competitiveness of tourism in both Binh Thuan Province and Vietnam. The area, spanning 14,760 ha, includes key locations in Phan Thiet City, Bac Binh District, and Tuy Phong District. With modern, sustainable infrastructure at its core, the plan prioritizes green spaces, cleanliness, and the preservation of the region's cultural, historical, and natural landmarks. It is conformable with Vietnam's Tourism Development Strategy for 2030 and Binh Thuan's tourism goals for 2021-2030, ensuring the protection of Mui Ne's unique heritage. The deve...

Women dressed in traditional Thai costumes eat ice creams shaped like tiles of the famous Wat Arun temple, or Temple of Dawn, in Bangkok, July 8, 2023. Photo by Reuters Thailand was the only Southeast Asian representative in a list of world's 10 best solo travel destinations this year, according to a new report by private guided luxury travel service Kensington. Countries like India and Thailand ranked highly because of the history and culture they have to offer, the report said. Thailand has long been famous for its golden pagodas, friendly locals and favorable visa policy. Known for its captivating culture, vibrant culinary landscape, and breathtaking natural beauty, Thailand stands out as a premier destination for solo travelers. India ranked No.1, followed by Italy and Japan. Rounding out the top 10 solo travel destinations were Egypt, Thailand, Australia, Spain, Iceland, France, and New Zealand. The report is based on insights from "affluent" travelers, drawing from ...

Thai tourists wearing traditional ao dai pose for photos in northern Vietnam. Photo by Cao Ngoc Son Indonesia, Thailand, and India are Vietnam's top tourism markets, with satisfaction levels from these countries being the highest in Asia, according to a recent report. The Net Promoter Score (NPS), which measures satisfaction, willingness to continue using a service, and the likelihood of recommending it to others, was 51 for Indonesians, 49.3 for Thais, and 39 for Indians, based on a survey of 4,000 tourists from eight Asian destinations conducted by market research and data analytics firm Outbox Company. The regional average for Asia was 26. Outbox reported that visitors from these countries not only expressed high satisfaction with their experiences in Vietnam but also tended to recommend the country positively to friends and relatives. "This was a positive signal for the tourism industry," the company said in a press release. It recommended that the tourism industry cr...

Tourists visit Maya bay at Krabi province, Thailand, Jan. 3, 2022. Photo by Reuters Thailand, the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia, plans to introduce a 300-baht (US$8.78) tourism tax per visitor during the peak travel season later this year. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong said the tax is expected to take effect in the final quarter, Bangkok Post reported. While details of the scheme remain unclear, Sorawong stated that foreign travelers arriving by air will be charged 300 baht per trip. Those entering the country by land or water will also be subject to the fee but will be allowed multiple entries over 30 to 60 days, according to The Nation. Sorawong dismissed concerns that the tax would deter foreign arrivals, arguing that the amount is relatively small. He added that several embassies support the initiative, as it would provide travelers with access to insurance. He also emphasized that the tourism tax system will function as a one-stop service to enhance co...

Discover Ho Chi Minh City, where landmarks, markets, architecture, and modern marvels coexist to offer a vibrant and unforgettable travel experience 1. War Remnants Museum The War Remnants Museum offers a moving insight into Vietnam’s turbulent history during the Vietnam War. It has photographs, artifacts, and military equipment that tell the stories of the war’s impact on Vietnam and its people. The 20,000 artifacts include weapons, personal belongings of soldiers, propaganda posters, and letters from soldiers to their families during the war. There are photographs and documentaries that vividly depict the atrocities committed by the Americans, including massacres, the use of chemical agents like Agent Orange, and the devastating toll on civilians. Millions of Vietnamese continue to endure the lasting impacts of these events, including physical health issues, genetic disorders, psychological trauma, and the socio-economic challenges of rebuilding after the war. In 2022 the Canadian to...

A Vietnamese tourist has filed a police report saying she lost over VND1 billion ($39,600) after trying to book rooms at a resort in northern Vietnam through a Facebook fanpage displaying a verified badge. Hai Phong police on Thursday said the victim had intended to reserve two rooms at the Minawa Kenh Ga Resort & Spa Ninh Binh, and contacted a Facebook page bearing the resort's name. The person operating the supposed "verified" page repeatedly urged quick payments, citing high demand, the woman said in her report. She initially agreed to pay a VND6.5 million down payment. However, she was then told the money had been transferred improperly and that the reservation could not be completed. The other party instructed her to include specific numerical codes in subsequent transactions to "verify" the payment and reclaim her initial transfer. Following these instructions, Tan entered several codes: 9.5 million, 125.6 million, 379.6 million, and 485.6 million, whi...

  Tourists on the Chao Praya River in Bangkok on Dec. 9, 2022. Photo by AFP Thailand's Cabinet recently introduced updates to the qualifications, criteria, and conditions of the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa program, aiming to attract a broader range of experts, investors, and executives to strengthen the country's foreign talent pool. In a statement on Jan. 15, the Board of Investment (BOI) said the minimum annual income requirement for Wealthy Global Citizens category applicants has been removed to prioritize the cumulative wealth and investments in Thailand, which are the core requirements for this category, aligning with the goal of encouraging greater foreign investment activity in the country. Meanwhile, the corporate revenue requirement for overseas-based employers sponsoring an applicant has been lowered. The rights for dependents of the principal applicant, to any of the four LTR categories have been expanded without a limitation on the number of dependents. The rights...

A Vietnam Airlines aircraft lands at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, June 15, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran Vietnam Airlines has been named one of the 25 safest airlines globally in 2025, according to AirlineRatings, a renowned website for airline safety and product ratings. The national flag carrier ranked 22nd on the list, which was led by Air New Zealand and Qantas. AirlineRatings evaluated 385 global airlines for its annual ranking, assessing factors such as recent incident records, fleet age, and results from audits by aviation authorities, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Vietnam Airlines continues to focus on flexible capacity management, cost optimization, and strategic discount negotiations while capitalizing on the growth of international travel, according to a company press release. Other carriers included in the list were Taiwan's Eva Air, Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific and South Korea's Korean Air.

Malaysian passports. Photo courtesy of the official portal of the Sarawak government Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei hold the most powerful passports in Southeast Asia in the latest ranking released by British global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners. With visa-free access to 195 countries and territories, Singapore holds its title of having the most powerful passport in the world and Southeast Asia, according to the Henley Global Mobility Report. Malaysia ranked second in the region with visa-free entry to 183 destinations, followed by Brunei with 166 destinations. Timor-Leste ranked fourth with visa-free access to 97 destinations. Thailand, whose economy heavily depends on tourism, came in fifth in the region with its passport holders having access to 82 destinations without a visa. Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, ranked sixth with access to 76 destinations without a visa. Filipino passport holders can access 67 countries globally without a vis...

 The US magazine Traveler + Leisure has recently voted Ninh Binh Province as one of the 12 "coolest filming locations" in Asia.  Ninh Binh Province is only around 2 hours driving from Hanoi. This is home to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam under the reign of the Dinh Dynasty (968-980). Ninh Binh Province with Trang An Complex became famous worldwide since being the filming place of the blockbuster movie: "Kong: Skull Island" in 2016. Travel+Leisure said: "The Ninh Binh area is known as the inland cousin of Ha Long Bay. Scenically similar, though significantly smaller, it has far fewer visitors." Other filming locations included in the list are Siem Reap in Cambodia, Busan in South Korea, Khempur in Asia, Krabi in Thailand, Singapore, Bali in Indonesia, the Maldives, and Tokyo in Japan.

The trip is on 26 March 2024, and bookings open on 25 February 2024 via D-Ticket mobile application or at SRT stations across Thailand. Bangkok, 24 February 2024 – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is organising a special excursion train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya with steam locomotive to celebrate its 127th anniversary on 26 March 2024. Travellers will get a chance to ride on a Pacific steam locomotive, numbers 824 and 850, from the World War II era. The special steam train ride will leave from Hua Lamphong. Train No. 901/902 will depart the station at 08.10 Hrs. and will arrive in Ayutthaya at 10.20 Hrs. Passengers will have six hours to tour the ancient capital, before the train leaves for Bangkok at 16.40 Hrs. and arrive in Bangkok at 18.50 Hrs. The train will stop at Sam Sen, Bang Sue, Don Mueang, and Rangsit stations, so passengers can board or disembark at any of these stations. Bookings open on 25 February 2024, from 08.30 Hrs. onwards via D-Ticket mobile application and websi...

From mid-May, the terraced fields in Bát Xát are flooded ready for the harvest and as people in the northern highlands only cultivate one rice crop a year the rainy season is a totally unique and only fleeting experience, not to be missed Bát Xát District’s terraced rice fields seen in the rainy season. - Photo toquoc.vn Lâm Giang If tourists are looking for a tourist destination that is both majestic, with mountains and hills, while still romantic, with trees and flowers, Bát Xát District is a place worth visiting. Not flowing along straight lines like the rice fields in the delta, the terraced fields in Bát Xát District, Lào Cai Province are like rounded stairs leading up to the sky, creating a truly beautiful landscape. From mid-May the terraced fields in Bát Xát are brought alive in the rainy season. People in the northern highlands only cultivate one rice crop a year, so this is a unique time, colourful and beautiful. The surface of the field is flooded layer by layer, reflecting ...

High-rise buildings along the coast of Da Nang City in central Vietnam. Photo by Kim LienDa Nang ranked second in a list of Asia's five cheapest destinations to retire for foreigners with a monthly average cost of living for expats of US$867, according to a recent report. Thailand's Chiang Mai topped the list with the average cost of living at $667 a month, according to GOBankingRates, a personal finance publication run by Nasdaq. The Philippines' Cebu ranked third where the monthly average living costs stood at $840, followed by Taiwan's Taipei at $1,268, and Japan'’s Kyoto at $1,565. "Da Nang offers pristine beaches, scenic mountains, a warm climate and modern amenities. With its affordable housing options, excellent healthcare facilities and growing expat community, Da Nang is a no-brainer," the U.S. publication said. Da Nang, home to 1.2 million people, is considered Vietnam's third most important city after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In 2018, Pan...

  Street food vendors are seen in the Laos capital of Vientiane. Photo by AFP Nearly 399,000 Vietnamese tourists came to Laos in the first half of this year, the second biggest number of foreign visitors to Laos during the period, according to the Lao Tourism Development Department. A recent report by the department shows that Laos welcomed over 1.67 million international arrivals in the first six months of this year. Topping the contingent is Thailand (over 668,000), followed by Vietnam, China (over 317,000), South Korea (nearly 73,000), and the U.S. (30,455). Tourists from ASEAN countries accounted for the largest number of the visitors to Laos, with nearly 1.1 million, followed by the over 427,000 visitors from other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In the first half of this year, Laos attracted only over 100,000 visitors from Europe, and over 41,000 visitors from the Americas. According to the Lao media, the higher number of foreign visitors can be attributed, in part, to ...

Foreign tourists take a group photo at Southeast Asia's deepest canyon Tu San in Ha Giang Province in northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Ha Giang Department of TourismThe exemption of tourist visas for citizens of all 27 EU member countries would help Vietnamese tourism compete with neighbors like Thailand and Singapore, experts say. "Vietnam should consider waiving visas for all EU citizens to boost its tourism industry and strengthen its ties with the European Union," Martin Koerner, head of tourism working group at Vietnam Business Forum, told VnExpress International. "It will attract more visitors from the EU market, which has a population of over 500 million and a high demand for travel as well as high budget." The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam last week called on Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to waive visas for the remaining 20 countries in the 27-member EU. Now only nationals of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland can e...

A group of foreign tourists at Phu Bai International Airport in the central Thua Thien-Hue Province, April, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Thanh A common point among some of the popular tourism destinations I have been to is that the people there are friendly and enthusiastic and offer proper services. Earlier this year I went on my first trip to France. It was late at night when the plane landed in the capital. The first thing I saw was a huge sign saying, "Paris vous aime" (Paris loves you). Throughout the Charles de Gaulle airport were countless such welcoming signs. I traveled with my daughter and we were the only Vietnamese on that flight. When it was our turn to go through immigration, the French customs officer, a young man, smiled, glanced at my passport and said "Xin chao, ban co khoe khong?" meaning "Hello, how are you?" in Vietnamese. We were surprised and uncertain for a moment if the French officer had just greeted us in Vietnamese. He didn't...

The Ministry of Transport on Tuesday agreed to increase daily flights between Hanoi, HCMC and Da Nang from the current six to 16 from December 1-14. In the remaining half of next month, the number of daily flights on each of the Hanoi-HCMC, Hanoi-Da Nang and Da Nang-HCMC routes will increase further to 20. The ministry also agreed to increase flight frequency on other domestic routes to nine a day from the current four. The government allowed airlines to resume all domestic routes on Oct. 21, but with reduced frequency. Between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, they currently operate a maximum of six flights a day either way. Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam sought approval from the ministry to increase flight frequency among major cities to cater to higher travel demand during the year-end peak season. Currently, passengers need to satisfy one of three conditions: a negative test within 72 hours prior, a certificate showing they are fully vaccinated with the secon...

Experts are suggesting that the government follows countries in the region and lift mandatory quarantine rule for international passengers as the country prepares to reopen regular flights from next month. On Thursday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had informed Japanese business leaders that Vietnam plans to reopen international flights early December, including routes to and from Japan, one of Vietnam's biggest feeder tourism markets. If the plan is implemented, the resumption of regular international flights will take place one month earlier than a proposal by the Ministry of Transport. The ministry had proposed that international commercial flight are resumed from January to 15 countries and territories with high Covid-19 vaccination rates, including Asian economies like Japan, South Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore. Under its plan, fully vaccinated passengers would have to undergo a seven-day quarantine at paid facilities upon arrival. Bui Doan ...

Russian tourists in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, February 2020 Khanh Hoa's vice chairman proposed the government allow visa exemption for foreigners visiting Vietnam during the vaccine passport trial to stimulate international tourism. The central province, home to popular beach towns Nha Trang and Cam Ranh, is one of five localities allowed to welcome back foreign tourists from this month, along with Da Nang, Kien Giang, Quang Nam and Quang Ninh. Its vice chairman Le Huu Hoang said European and Russian tourists often want to travel longer and could stay in Vietnam for up to 20 days. After completing their seven-day tour package in Khanh Hoa, they would want to visit other destinations allowed to receive foreign tourists, he told a meeting with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports on Monday, as cited by Voice of Vietnam. He said it is necessary to offer relaxed visa procedures to create the most favorable conditions for foreign tourists to Vietnam. Over 9,000 foreign touri...