Asean Travel And Tours

As spring unfolds, Hà Giang transforms into a tapestry of colours, with radiant peach, pear and plum blossoms painting the landscape. The ethnic villages, rich in cultural identity, come alive with exciting festivals early in the year. Hà Giang has emerged as an enchanting spring destination brimming with vibrant activities. Visitors can immerse themselves in the charm of local villages, revel in the beauty of peach and plum blossoms, and partake in lively festivals celebrating the region's diverse ethnic cultures nestled in the mountains. As spring unfolds, Hà Giang transforms into a tapestry of colours, with radiant peach, pear and plum blossoms painting the landscape. The ethnic villages, rich in cultural identity, come alive with exciting festivals early in the year. Here are five must-visit villages that promise unforgettable experiences: 1. Lao Xa Village Nestled in Sủng Là Commune, Đồng Văn District, Lao Xa Village is a hidden gem located about 6km from the commune's cen...

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...

Apart from the similarities in daily life, culture and climate, the two Asian brothers, Vietnam – Laos have very different cultural aspects.  1. The difference in the way of eating Vietnamese people eat rice, Lao people eat sticky rice. While Vietnamese enjoy most of their dishes with chopsticks, Laotians prefer to eat with their hands. 2. Traffic between two countries The Vietnamese honking quite often, the Lao honking when necessary. 3. Difference between Vietnam and Laos in traditional costumes If in Vietnam, the beauty of a woman is glorified through the flowing “Ao dai”, “Sinh” is a unique traditional costume with a long history. 4. Shipping method between two countries Your customers can easily travel by traditional motorbike taxi or technology motorbike taxi such as Grab, Bee, Gojek in Vietnam. And on the streets of Laos, tuk-tuk is everywhere. 5. The demand for almsgiving In Vietnam it is very rare, and people don’t usually sit and wait for monks like in Laos. 6. Exposure t...

10 days before Tet, roads around the Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi have been bustling with thousands of people flocking to take photos, with many waiting for hours to capture the best angles. A foggy Sunday at Hoan Kiem Lake is captured as women in traditional ao dai sit along the lake for photo shoots. These days, Hanoi's temperature ranges from 11 to 23 degrees Celsius. To get the perfect angle, many people wait 5–10 minutes for their turn. "I want to take a photo series for Tet," said Xuan Ha and Van Hung from Dien Bien Province, around 500 km to the west of Hanoi. Many people brought reflectors and props to enhance their photos, while some hired professional photographers, with prices for a session ranging from VND700,000 to 1 million (US$28-40). Traditional costumes are typically rented for an entire day at prices between VND150,000 and 300,000. Common accessories include flower branches, rattan baskets, and handbags. Thanh Thu and Thanh Hang, both 17 years old from Hanoi...

Hanoi's Old Quarter, spanning 100 hectares in Hoan Kiem District at the heart of the city, is a labyrinth of interconnected streets that encapsulates the city's historical essence, providing visitors with a distinctive view of its architectural and cultural heritage. People walk on a street in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Photo by Pixabay Historical significance The Old Quarter dates back to the Ly-Tran dynasties (11th–13th centuries) and was initially developed as a trade and craft center. Situated east of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and along the Red River, it became Hanoi’s economic hub, attracting traders from across Vietnam and abroad. During the Le Dynasty, Chinese immigrants established thriving communities, followed by Indian and French merchants during the colonial era. This multicultural legacy is reflected in its architecture, which blends traditional Vietnamese designs with French and Chinese influences. In 2004, Hanoi’s Old Quarter was officially designated as a...

Vietnamese cuisine has emerged as a major draw for international tourists and a big competitive advantage for the country's tourism industry. "Cuisine is the quickest way to understand a destination's culture," Harvey Koi, a tourist from Dubai says. He first visited Vietnam in 2017, exploring Ho Chi Minh City, where he was captivated by the rich culinary diversity, he says. His craving for Vietnamese dishes brought him back in 2022, and since then he has returned annually to Hanoi and HCMC, spending a month each time exploring markets and savoring local foods. He creates food content, offering recommendations for foreign tourists about where to explore cuisine in the two cities. Like him, many international visitors prioritize culinary experiences alongside sightseeing and cultural exploration. "If you ask 10 foreign customers, nine say they love Vietnamese cuisine after experiencing a food tour," Nguyen Huy Hoang, CEO of travel platform Klook Vietnam, says....

 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.

Hanoi, a city where rich history blends seamlessly with vibrant modern life, offers a wealth of activities that showcase its unique culture, stunning landmarks, and mouthwatering cuisine. 1. Enjoy the street food and beverages Tourists eat out at night in Ta Hien in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy If you want to immerse yourself in the culture of Hanoi, then start by trying the local cuisine like a true local. The capital is famous for its food scene with street food stalls, bustling markets, and neighborhood cafes all in on the action. Whether enjoying a traditional meal at a family-owned restaurant or nibbling on snacks from a market vendor, embracing Hanoi’s food culture is the perfect way to connect with its heart and soul. The bustling streets are filled with food shops offering iconic dishes like pho at Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su (10 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hoan Kiem District), bun dau mam tom at Bun dau mam tom Hang Khay Co Tuyen (31 Hang Khay Street, Hoan Kiem), and banh cuon at Banh Cuo...

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...

A banh mi filled with stewed pork thigh on Huynh Van Banh Street, Ho Chi Minh City. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post named Vietnamese banh mi as one of the best Asian breakfasts. Colonial influences are reflected on the breakfast tables of Vietnam, with the local "fast food" breakfast of choice being banh mi, a small baguette sold on every corner, SCMP wrote. The most basic and popular banh mi in Vietnam is a fusion of cold cuts and vegetables like coriander, cucumber, pickled carrots and daikon combined with condiments from French cuisine such as pate, chili and mayonnaise. However, a wide variety of popular fillings are used, including fried eggs, grilled pork, and meat balls. The official origin of banh mi is yet to be verified, but many agree the idea was introduced to Vietnam in the mid-19th century, when the country was part of French Indochina, to become a staple by the early 20th century. Banh mi is a symbol of Vietnam's cuisine and has built quite a globa...

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 ...