Hanoi (VNA) –🎃 Instead of sticking to traditional rituals, an increasing number of Vietnamese families take the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet) as an opportunity for traveling.

The tourism market saw a “gloomy season” during the 2020 Lunar New Year holiday. However, it is predicted that it will bounce back at the end of 2020 and during the 2021 Tet holiday thanks to effective COVID-19 prevention and control measures applied in the past time. Often falling between December of the current year and February of the next year, the holiday enjoys favorable weather, cold in the north and cool in the south. Below are a number of ideal destinations for year-end and Tet holiday getaways.

Sa Pa – Tet comes in coldness and bright colour of blooming peach blossoms

  Sa Pa resort town in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai is a perfect place for winter travel for its foggy mountain and forest scene. Located at 1,600 metres above sea level in Vietnam’s remote northwest mountains, Sa Pa is a picturesque town famous for its fine, rugged scenery in line with rich cultural diversity of many ethnic minorities. It is home to many hill tribes, as well as rice terraces, lush vegetation and Fansipan, the highest peak of the country. Local tourist destinations to be named include Ham Rong mountain, Tinh Yeu (Love) waterfall, and Bac (Silver) waterfall. The town has become an ideal destination for domestic and foreign travellers, particularly with the opening of the Hanoi – Lao Cai expressway in 2014 which reduces the travel time from Hanoi to Lao Cai from seven to 3.5 hours.

A pilgrimage to Yen Tu Mount

Yen Tu Mountain is located in the northeast of Vietnam, in Uong Bi city, Quang Ninh province, about 50km from Ha Long Bay and about 110km from the cpital city of Hanoi. The mount has become a Buddhist centre of Vietnam since King Tran Nhan Tong gave up the throne, put on a monk's robes and established a typical Buddhist sect of Vietnam, namely Truc Lam Zen Buddhism. The beauty of Yen Tu is the grandeur and tranquility of the mountains and forests mingled with the serenity and ancientness of the system of pagodas, towers and Zen realms, making it ideal for both tourism and spiritual activities to wish for luck in a brand new year.

A visit to dreamy Hue

Hue city in the central province of Thua Thien - Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam for hundreds of years, is home to five heritages recognised by UNESCO, including the ancient citadel relic complex (a World Cultural Heritage site), Hue royal court music (intangible cultural heritage), Nguyen Dynasty’s wood blocks (a documentary heritage), Nguyen Dynasty’s royal administrative documents (part of the Asia-Pacific Register of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme), and literature on Hue royal architecture (another documentary heritage). Coming to Hue is immersing into the festive atmosphere of its dreamy Huong (Perfume) river, listening to folk songs, and having a taste of local culinary delights.

A tranquil Hoi An

Hoi An ancient city in the central province of Quang Nam is a charming place with ancient roots, distinct architecture, and street foods. During Tet, local residents often decorate their houses to match the festive season of the year. Things loved by many tourists are Hoi An’s tranquil atmosphere and picturesque landscape.

Foggy Da Lat

The resort city of Da Lat, a popular destination in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong, is most beautiful in spring between January and March, as the weather is warm and flowers are in full bloom. Famous local destinations include Lam Vien square, Lang Biang mount, Cu Lan village.

Phu Quoc – Pearl island

Phu Quoc island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is dubbed the “pearl” island. It features a monsoon tropical climate. The average temperature is 28 degrees Celsius, allowing visitors to enjoy the island’s beauty at any time of the year. The island is famous for pearl farming, fish sauce, pepper and “ruou sim”, a wine made from sim fruit or Rose Myrtle. A variety of tours are provided for travellers, such as scuba diving, coral reef snorkeling, fishing and tours to visit traditional fish sauce making establishments, pearl farms, Ham Ninh fishing village, Phu Quoc National Park, pristine beaches and many more./.