How about being annoyed by people trying to sign you up for a tour or overcharge you for a taxi moments after arriving somewhere? If you answer those questions with a ‘yes,’ then domestic travel in Vietnam right now may just be perfect for you. I can honestly say that some of my favorite travel experiences have been in the last few weeks. You may not be able to tick off Lonely Planet’s top-listed attractions in Vietnam, but this unique set of circumstances encourages a bond with homestay hosts and locals that captures the true essence of traveling. Fortunately, the high vaccination rates in tourism hotspots such as Sa Pa and Mai Chau allows travelers to enjoy these beautiful destinations again, creating a unique opportunity to travel safely and in an environment where people could not be more grateful for your support. For the last few years I have constantly researched remote locations across Vietnam to find undiscovered and untouched areas away from the crowds. Now, due … [Read more...] about Travel in the new normal: a trip down memory lane
Hotspot
Officials offer vaccine reassurance; WHO advises against travel bans
The World Health Organization warned countries on Tuesday not to impose blanket travel bans over the new Omicron coronavirus variant as governments and scientists try to determine how much protection current vaccines would offer against the strain. Officials offer vaccine reassurance against the new Omicron coronavirus variant. Financial markets fell sharply after the head of drugmaker Moderna said existing COVID-19 vaccines would be less effective against the Omicron variant. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe shed 1.39% a day after broad declines in Europe and Asia. BioNTech's chief executive struck a cautiously positive note, saying the vaccine it makes in a partnership with Pfizer would likely offer strong protection against severe disease from Omicron, which was first reported in southern Africa a week ago. The questions over vaccine effectiveness came as cases of the new variant spread, with the first reported case in Latin America … [Read more...] about Officials offer vaccine reassurance; WHO advises against travel bans
