Metropolises Among Five Most Researched Travel Destinations in Vietnam Post-lockdown

HCMC, Da Nang, Hanoi, Da Lat and Nha Trang are the most-searched-for destinations in November by Vietnamese tourists, according to Booking.com

Jasmine Le

lehang1997hanu@gmail.com November 08, 2021 | 08:01

Metropolises Among Five Most Researched Travel Destinations in Vietnam Post-lockdown

Nha Trang is seen from above. Photo: VNE

"As Vietnam gradually restarts domestic travel after months of lockdown, Vietnamese travelers have also started researching local destinations they want to travel to in the near future," the U.S.-based travel agency stated.

"Ho Chi Minh City is full of quirky and charming markets that best represent the city’s energetic atmosphere," it noted.

Tourists were recommended to visit Ba Chieu Market, a flea market and second-hand paradise for anyone seeking to buy incredible pre-loved goods.

Built in 1942, Ba Chieu Market underwent restoration work in 1987. The 8,000-square-meter market is divided into eight sections and is home to 800 businesses at the heart of Binh Thanh District, VNE reported.

Apart from iconic destinations in Da Nang like My Khe beach, Ba Na Hills or Marble Mountain, 29 March Park is not to be missed, Booking.com noted.

Located on Dien Bien Phu Street in Thanh Khe District, the "green lung" of the city is loved by locals for its fresh air and poetic scenery. The park features a variety of entertainment and amusement activities like dancing, fishing, and zoo.

In Hanoi, tourists can stay at InterContinental West Lake beside West Lake, Hanoi’s largest freshwater body, then rent a motorbike to visit capital icons like the Old Quarter, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Hoan Kiem Lake.

Sunset view in West Lake, Hanoi. Photo: Foody

According to Booking.com, Da Lat, a chilly resort town in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong is where tourists can find brocade products along Prenn Pass, in Love Valley, on Liang Biang Mountain or at Da Lat market.

"But if you have a knack for items that embody the unique culture of different ethnic groups, you can visit B'nerC Brocade Weaving Village in Lac Duong District," it stated.

The online travel agency also urged tourists to explore high-end resorts along Nha Trang Bay, one of the world's most beautiful.

HCMC, Hanoi, Da Lat, Nha Trang and Da Nang reopened tourism activities and allowed accommodation facilities to resume operation since last month after prolonged social distancing.

Khanh Hoa, home to Nha Trang, and Da Nang are two among five localities to be given the green light to welcome foreign tourists from November along with Kien Giang, Quang Nam, and Quang Ninh.

Recently, Hanoi, HCMC, Hoi An have also been named among 50 best cities in the world to enjoy a ‘workation,’ a vacation that combines business with leisure.

Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi is ranked 18th on the list of 147 best cities to visit for a mixture of business and pleasure. The list was compiled by Germany-based vacation search engine company Holidu.

Ho Chi Minh City is ranked 21st and Hoi An 32nd.

Foreign tourists in front of the Central Post Office in downtown HCMC, February 2020. Photo: VNE

Holidu ranked the cities and towns in the world based on several factors including monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment; cost of after-work drinks; the average number of sunshine hours; wifi speeds; tourist attractions; average taxi fares; the average price for two beers in a bar; and the number of co-working spaces.

The monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Hanoi and HCMC, Vietnam’s two biggest metropolises, was estimated at $336.79 and $550.51, respectively. In the central town of Hoi An, the monthly rent was $218.95.

The average cost of a meal at a moderate restaurant in Hanoi was estimated at $1.7, HCMC $2.1, and Hoi An $1.82.

The internet speed in Vietnam’s major tourist cities – 14 Mbps in Hanoi, 13 Mbps in HCMC, and 12Mbps in Hoi An – lagged behind regional peers like Singapore at 93 Mbps and Bangkok at 28 Mbps.

"Compared to many other cities in the world, the Wifi speed in the three cities of Vietnam is not the best, but the cost of eating and drinking is much lower," Holidu said.

According to Holidu, Hanoi has 50 co-working spaces and an average taxi fare of $0.51 per kilometer. The numbers in HCMC are 92 co-working spaces and $0.63 per km.

Thailand's Bangkok topped the list this year, followed by New Delhi (India), Lisbon (Portugal), and Barcelona (Spain).

"All the cities that secured top spot places managed to do so mostly due to their very affordable cost of living, with the price of accommodation, food and drinks offering extremely attractive prices," said Sarah Siddle, public relations and marketing manager at Holidu.

"The events of the past year and a half have completely shifted the ways in which we work, showing us that we don't always have to be in the office five days a week to do our jobs.

A workation is the perfect way to spend an extended period of time in a destination you want to explore without the limitations of staying within yearly holiday allowances."

Foreign visitors in Vietnam. Photo: Toplist

Vietnam is planning to resume international flight routes from 10 countries to three Vietnamese airports in the fourth quarter and pilot welcoming foreign tourists to some localities after a long time of suspension due to Covid-19.

Dinh Viet Thang, director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), has submitted a report to the Ministry of Transport on the international flight resumption plan.

The CAAV is also planning to pilot welcoming foreign tourists in packaged tours arranged by travel agents to Phu Quoc City of southern Kien Giang Province, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Quang Nam cities, and Da Nang City.

A series of conditions have been put forward to welcome tourists to those localities. For example, all service providers in those localities must be fully vaccinated. At least 80 percent of local people qualified for vaccination must fully receive two jabs.

Bird-eye view of a beach town in Khanh Hoa, southern Vietnam. Photo: PLO

In the second phase since January 2022, international flights for Vietnamese and foreign nationals from China, Hongkong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, France, Germany, Russia, UK, Australia, and other safe destinations will be piloted with the frequency of four flights per week per route.

The immigration conditions are the same. Noi Bai, Van Dong, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Tan Son Nhat, Can Tho, Phu Quoc airports will receive those flights following permission of local authorities.

International flights from other markets not on the safety list and flights not in the plan must acquire permission from Vietnamese authorities.

Depending on the trial results, the CAAV will continue to expand the piloted markets and increase the flight frequency.

Since April 2022, international flights with the frequency of seven flights per week per route will resume applying for vaccine passports.

The feasibility of this plan will depend on the vaccination rate and assessment of community immunization in Vietnam.

Since July 2022, the flights will be exploited without any limited frequency.

In late October, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh have given nod to resuming international commercial flights to and from safe countries and territories.

Vice spokesperson of foreign affairs Pham Thu Hang on Thursday said foreign arrivals were required to follow pandemic prevention and control measures as guided by relevant agencies and localities.

In order to ensure the absolute safety of residents, localities allowed for the pilot reception of foreigners are accelerating the injection of second vaccine shots for all locals, including migrant laborers from other localities. The localities are also zone divide several large-scale tourist areas and resorts into exclusive areas for foreign tourists, she said.

Vietnam recorded a 79% decline year-on-year in the number of foreign visitors in 2020 due to travel restrictions amid the pandemic.

The nation welcomed just 3.83 million foreign visitors against a record 18 million in 2019, according to official data.

It is considering mutual recognition of vaccine passports with countries in Southeast Asia, China, Japan, South Korea, the EU and the United States, the Government Office announced Sunday.

Such mutual recognition is "very important and especially necessary in the current context."

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