Hotspot

According to the latest report of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), thanks to global Covid-19 vaccinations, the world tourism industry will gain a slow recovery in 2021 and regain growth momentum in the second half of the year.

UNWTO also said that domestic tourism would still be the main trend this year, accounting for 90% of tourists. In the context of Covid-19 pandemic, people tend to travel close to home, to destinations close to nature (60%) and in small groups or with their families. International tourism activities are likely to reopen from late in the third quarter 2021.

Ms. Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, talks about the capital’s tourism development. Photo: Trong Dat

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism assessed that domestic tourism will remain a key factor this year. Thanks to the Vietnamese government’s control of Covid, Booking.com stated that 71% of Vietnamese are ready to travel. These are good signs for Vietnam’s tourism industry.

Hanoi allowed bars, karaoke parlors and discos to resume their activities on March 23, creating favorable conditions for the recovery of tourism and service activities.

In this context, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Information and Communications of Hanoi inked a coordination program on improving the efficiency of information, propaganda, promotion and application of information technology in tourism activities in the period of 2021-2025.

According to Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Ms. Dang Huong Giang, the tourism industry contributed 12.54% to Hanoi’s GDP in 2019, which dropped to only 3.54% of GDP in 2020.

The signing ceremony of the joint program on improving the efficiency of information, promotion and application of information technology in Hanoi’s tourism activities. Photo: Trong Dat

To deal with the situation, in addition to perform digital transformation and IT application, the Department of Tourism will organize many activities to stimulate demand and promote the city’s tourism industry.

Ms. Giang said that tourist firms are now ready to go digital which will help businesses save on spending and provide better services for tourists.

The Hanoi authorities are very supportive of digital transformation and building a green, clean, friendly, safe, attractive tourist environment that brings unforgettable experiences to attract visitors.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Liem. Photo: Trong Dat

Director of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Liem said that being aware of the importance of the capital’s tourism industry, his agency proposed to shoulder part of the responsibility in promoting the image of the city and help the Hanoi Department of Tourism in digital transformation.

Currently, 25 free WiFi hotspots have been set up at popular tourist destinations in Hanoi. Hanoi will set up nine more free WiFi hotspots in 2021.

These efforts are made to give tourists the best experience when traveling in the capital city, said Liem.

Trong Dat

Cherry blossom in Da Lat Town. Photo by VnExpress/ Tran Ngoc Anh.

Located in Tay Ho District’s Nhat Tan Ward, Nhat Tan Village, Hanoi’s peach trees cultivating hub, boasts thousands of the fruit trees on about 50 hectares. Trees and branches laden with peach blossoms are of significant cultural significance in the north of the country as an indispensable adornment for the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

Meanwhile, Da Lat is a famous tourist destination in the country, with its year-round cool climate.

The other Asian localities in the SCMP listing of spring flower hotspots are: Seoul and Jeju in South Korea, Tokyo and Yamanashi in Japan, Taichung City and Nantou in Taiwan, Kedah and Penang in Malaysia, Palawan and Cavite in the Philippines, and Bangkok and Phatthalung in Thailand.

Visitors at District 10’s Ky Dai Quang Trung Pedestrian Street can enjoy a wide variety of tasty snacks from around 30 stalls.

The area opened last December, and since then has been a beloved place for people of all ages to hang out while snacking.

From 6pm to 10 pm every day except Monday, around 30 stalls sell tasty, affordable meals that are loved by young people, including animal-shaped pancakes, Thai dishes, fruit juice, and even Com Tam (broken rice with grilled ribs).

Mai Quoc Tan, who works at a stall that sells Korean dishes such as fish paste and gimbab rice rolls, said there were many young customers here, and that the street was always bustling and fun.

Nguyen Tuan Kiet told Việt Nam News that his stall sold avocado ice cream, a Da Lat specialty, as well as peach tea and lemon tea.

“We have been selling here for two months. Prior to this we had to close down one of our branches in the city due to COVID-19. We are doing very well here on this food street because there are a lot of customers.”

A food court area was built to provide visitors with dining chairs and tables, but several stalls have also been set up on the street with red plastic chairs for anyone wanting a more cozy, streetside feeling.

Locals entering the street will have their temperature checked, and the selling of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

Many young locals enjoy the bustling atmosphere of the street. – VNS Photos Viet Dung

Hot new hangout

Every night the street is brimming with groups of young friends hanging out, couples sharing a dish, and parents taking their young kids for a walk.

Luong Thanh Kiet told Việt Nam News that he enjoyed a wide variety of dishes sold here, and compared to District 1’s Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, “there are many food stalls close together and the nearby sitting areas makes it more convenient”.

“This is a great place to go to during the Tet holiday, especially for us foodies.”

Nguyen Tran Thao Nguyen, who visited the street for the first time, told Việt Nam News that she was impressed with the number and variety of food stalls, as well as the lively atmosphere, even during weekdays.

Truong Nguyen Thien Tan, a visitor who has been to the street three times, said the area was lively and people of all age groups congregated there.

“This place is really fun, and there are many spots to take photos and areas for a nice walk and chat. You can stay away from your smartphones to spend time with your friends. This is a great spot for families, friends and lovers to hang out on the weekend.”

Ky Dai Quang Trung Street also has around 20 stalls selling clothing items and accessories. Visitors can buy rice toy figurines, play fun games at booths to win prizes, and even watch musical performances on Saturdays.

The Ky Dai Quang Trung area was built in 1975 near the Nguyen Tri Phuong Market. The area surrounding it used to be occupied by vendors.

District 10 received permission to renovate and change the area into a night pedestrian street in 2019 as part of its urban improvement efforts.

The street is the city’s third walking street, after Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street and Bui Vien Street in District 1. District 10 People’s Committee plans to expand this street to improve the lives of locals and the night economy.

For a nice night out with loved ones, Ky Dai Quang Trung Pedestrian Street will charm you with its tasty food and lively atmosphere.  VNS

HCM City requires returnees from localities with COVID-19 patients in Hai Phong City and Binh Duong Province to quarantine for 14 days.

Anyone returning from Le Hong Phong Street in Dang Giang Ward in Ngo Quyen District in Hai Phong, and road D35 in the Vietnam-Singapore residential area in An Phu Ward in Thuan An City in Binh Duong will be supervised by HCDC and tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Both localities are connected to two COVID-19 patients, the Ministry of Health said on March 26.

The two patients illegally entered the country from Cambodia via Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang, and then flew to Hanoi on Vietjet flight VJ458 before travelling to Hai Phong in a private car.

Another patient from Binh Duong went to the Moc Bai border gate in Tay Ninh Province to purchase goods a few days ago.

Meanwhile, a patient in HCM City who travelled with the two patients in Hai Phong is under quarantine at Cu Chi field hospital.

HCDC said two sites in connection with the positive case have been locked down in HCM City, including the Quoc Thai Hotel in Binh Chanh District and alley no 102 on Le Van Tho Street in Go Vap District.

Further contact tracing is ongoing and eight of her direct contacts (F1) and 23 contacts of the F1 cases have tested negative for the virus.

According to HCDC, authorities have discovered that four people who illegally entered Vietnam on a fishing vessel from Cambodia on March 22 had accompanied the three previously confirmed patients.

One of them had stayed at a hostel in Go Vap District and two others at a hotel in District 1 in HCM City, and another in Hanoi.

All of them have tested negative for the virus.

HCM City and Phu Quoc Island City are seeking three other people who were on the vessel.

Phu Quoc authorities are conducting contact tracing involving the three COVID-19 patients, and 26 of their direct contacts have been found.

The city said that anyone who was at the venues related to COVID-19 patients should contact local health agencies for support.

Nguyen Luu Trung, vice chairman of the Kien Giang Province’s People’s Committee, said that because of the situation in Cambodia, the number of Vietnamese returnees via official and illegal entry is expected to increase in the upcoming time.

He asked border guards to work closely with the coast guard and naval force to review and rearrange checkpoints at sea, and use more patrols to prevent people from illegally entering Vietnam.

VNS