New Year holiday hoped to be good start for tourism sector
The upcoming New Year holiday from December 30, 2023 to January 1, 2024 is expected to be a good start for the tourism sector, with localities, travel agents and accommodation establishments making thorough preparations to anticipate increasing travel demands.
Tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City's Independence Palace (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The upcoming New Year holiday from December 30,2023 to January 1, 2024 is expected to be a good start for the tourism sector,with localities, travel agents and accommodation establishments making thoroughpreparations to anticipate increasing travel demands.
Product diversity, flexible time, and richexperiential activities are the common features of tours and destinationsintroduced by travel agents for this holiday.
Vietravel, one of Vietnam’s major travelbusinesses, said that it will soon launch a programme to welcome Spring 2024,aiming to introduce to tourists about 300 domestic and foreign tourism productson the occasion of the New Year and Lunar New Year (Tet – Vietnamese people’sbiggest festival) holidays.
A lot of attractive promotions are beingoffered to holiday-makers this time, according to the company.
Another big travel company of Vietnam, te Saigontourist, is also introducing diverse and attractive tours to all regionsof the countries.
On the first days of the new year,localities plan to organise a wide range of cultural and tourism events.
According the office of the Ho Chi MinhCity People’s Committee, a firework display will be held at the SaigonRiver Tunnel area and Dam Sen culture park, and a countdown programme will beorganised at President Ho Chi Minh statue park and on Nguyen Hue pedestrianstreet at night on December 31.
ꦐ In addition, the welcome 2024 week willtake place from December 23, 2023 to January 1, 2024 under the theme of "ThuDuc Convergence", with a series of cultural and sport activities.
Tourism - Ninh Kieu Lantern Night festival (Photo: VNA)
In Can Tho city – the centre of the MekongDelta region, a festival named "Tourism - Ninh Kieu Lantern Night" isexpected to create a highlight for the city with river cultural features, and also a meaningful activity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishmentof centrally-run Can Tho city./.
With diverse resources for tourism development, localities in the southern region are planning a wide range of cultural, sport and trade promotion activities associated with tourism in order to attract more visitors during the holiday season at the year-end and the Lunar New Year.
According to insiders, over the recent years, Vietnam has done a great job in preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage. Cultural tourism products have been developed based on exploiting the inherent natural value of heritage such as traditional culture, community cultural life, and festivals.
Blue seas, golden sunshine, and a mild climate year-round count among the advantages Ba Ria-Vung Tau province’s tourism sector holds. Not just relying on its natural conditions, however, the province is also working hard to introduce new tourism products, including numerous festivals and events, to leave a good impression on visitors.
The Republic of Korea (RoK) is expected to welcome 420,000 Vietnamese visitors for the whole year 2023, the highest number among Southeast Asian countries, according to the Korean Tourism Organisation (KTO) in Vietnam.
The number of visitors increased by 4.1% compared to the same period last year, while total tourism revenue surged by 48.8%, or nearly 88% of the year’s target.
“There is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam’s twin metropolises as this train rattles through historic cities and swooshes beside spectacular coastlines,” according to Lonely Planet.
All the 240 households in Thieng Lieng hamlet once knew only salt production and aquaculture, but now welcoming tourists has become a source of their joy and income.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City's Independence Palace (Photo: VNA) 
Tourism - Ninh Kieu Lantern Night festival (Photo: VNA) 
