American journalist Kathryn Romeyn spoke to Tuoi Tre New s about her recent trip to Vietnam, and how she thinks the country could be promoted to reach more tourists. Romeyn is a seasoned journalist, editor, and copywriter who specializes in travel, design, wellness, and other lifestyle topics. She also co-hosts a podcast called Conscious Traveler, sharing stories of culture, sustainability, conservation, and community affairs. Romeyn contributes to publications including Architectural Digest, Departures, Robb Report, The Hollywood Reporter, AFAR, C Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Vogue.com, Brides, Luxury Magazine, and LALA. “Walking through Hanoi in the early morning and visiting the food market were perhaps the most memorable instances of stepping into local life, and getting inspired and stimulated by it,” Romeyn recalled of her Vietnam trip. “I believe that it’s possible to find connections in any place you travel, if you are open to it and seeking authenticity. … [Read more...] about Vietnam should celebrate its diversity in a way that international visitors can understand: American journalist
International tourists
Hanoi promotes tourism through cultural and artistic events
Since the beginning of this year, the capital’s tourism industry has built a plan to organize a series of cultural and artistic events, making them unique attractions. Hanoi’s tourism industry is expected to execute a busy cultural and artistic agenda in the last months of 2022 to attract international visitors, thereby contributing to realizing the target of welcoming five million foreign visitors to Vietnam this year. Hanoi has been listed among the 12 best places worldwide to travel this fall by the US's CNN Travel. Photos: Ngoc Tu Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang said that in the coming time, the city will hold the Ao Dai (traditional long dress) festival together with some South Korean events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Korea this month. “ Through organizing many cultural and artistic events, the capital’s tourism industry expects to help … [Read more...] about Hanoi promotes tourism through cultural and artistic events
Ha Long, Nha Trang struggle in absence of Chinese, Russian tourists
An agarwood store near Tuan Chau tourist area in Ha Long, home to the eponymous world-famous bay, used to be very crowded with Chinese tourists before the pandemic. But it has been closed for a while. Some other stores face a similar fate. Though Vietnam reopened international tourism mid-March, Chinese visitors have not yet been able to go abroad as China persists with its zero-Covid policy, including lockdown measures and strict entry restrictions. A store specializing in selling agarwood products for Chinese tourists in Ha Long Town is closed in late August, 2022. Photo by Le Tan Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh, which borders China, has long been a favorite destination among Chinese visitors. Without Chinese tourists, local cruise operators have been suffering heavy damage. "Before Covid-19, 70% of my customers were Chinese and we had four to five trips a day," said Pham Tham, operator of the Tung Duong tourist boat service. "However, … [Read more...] about Ha Long, Nha Trang struggle in absence of Chinese, Russian tourists
Foreign tourists linger around closed Hanoi Train Street
Hanoi police erected barriers last Thursday to bar tourists from visiting coffee shops on the famous Train Street. The street was formed along Dien Bien Phu and Phung Hung streets in the heart of the Old Quarter with residential buildings mere feet away on either side of the track. According to Hoan Kiem district authorities, there were 30 business households along the track that violate railway safety regulations and pose accident risks. A group of foreign tourists stand in front of the barrier to take photos on Sunday. Many first-time foreign visitors still try to linger in the hope of entering the street. A local guard signals to foreign tourists to stop. Despite the closure order, hundreds of tourists gathered in front of the railway barricade to wait for the train to arrive. Currently, the frequency of trains passing through Hanoi remains limited. From … [Read more...] about Foreign tourists linger around closed Hanoi Train Street
Da Nang to welcome Indian tourists on first direct flights next month
Truong Thi Hong Hanh, director of the city’s Department of Tourism, said at a conference last weekend this would be the first direct routes connecting Da Nang and India and the city was preparing unique tourism products to serve this market, according to the city's portal. She noted that the traditional tourist markets for Da Nang in Northeast Asia, like South Korea and China, have not shown positive signs of recovery in the near future. The city's tourism industry has switched to other major markets like India and the Middle East, she added. In the first nine months of 2022, Vietnam welcomed 94,000 Indian visitors. There were about 200,000 Indian visitors to Vietnam in 2019. Since March this year, the number of international visitors to Da Nang has reached 200,000, beyond the central city’s annual target of 180,000. Da Nang is the busiest tourist city in central Vietnam, and is used as a springboard to access three worldwide famous heritage sites – Hue Imperial … [Read more...] about Da Nang to welcome Indian tourists on first direct flights next month
Locals want Hanoi Train Street to be fun, safe tourist destination
In a letter sent on Monday, they asked the authorities to consider letting people run businesses and lead normal lives in accordance with the law without sacrificing the Train Street as a famous tourist attraction. There are currently around 30 families running cafes right next to the street, which runs through Hang Bong, Cua Dong, Cua Nam, Hang Ma and Dong Xuan wards, according to statistics by Hoan Kiem District. All businesses have violated railways' safety corridors, meaning there are risks of accidents, the district added. Last Thursday, district authorities set up barriers along the track and shut down coffee shops along the train street as a safety measure. While they admitted that business activities along the street are "spontaneous," locals said they reminded each other to practice safety measures, especially with tourists involved. Outsiders were always reminded by business owners about train schedules, and warned beforehand when they arrived. From Monday to … [Read more...] about Locals want Hanoi Train Street to be fun, safe tourist destination
