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Photo: Collected

Located in Duong Lam Commune, Son Tay District-level Town, the capital city of Hanoi, Duong Lam Ancient Village is the hundred-year-old indigenous site which still remains and honors such ethnic icons of Vietnamese countryside as banyan trees, wells, communal houses, and so on. On the way to Duong Lam Village, foreigners can see first-hand the only ancient village gate left in the North called Mong Phu Gate.

The highlight of Duong Lam Ancient Village tour is actually its culinary specialties. On January 26, 2024, at a formal event of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), Duong Lam Ancient Village is the tourism offering authentic northern dishes experience that received the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award for Gastronomy Tourism. 

OCOP Programme (One Commune, One Product Programme) has promoted many local products here such as Mía Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), sesame candy, peanut candy, ramie leaves rice cake, lotus meals in summertime, and Ban soya sauce with iconic jars filling a large front yard. Honestly speaking, one dish you cannot miss out on when visiting Duong Lam Ancient Village is chè lam (sweet rice cake) eaten with a cup of hot tea. Although chè lam is a common snack in Northern Vietnam, Duong Lam Village stands out with its own flavor that carries the soul of Vietnamese villages in general and Duong Lam Ancient Village in particular.

Photo: TTXVN

The dishes in Duong Lam Ancient Village often reflect the traditional practices of the Vietnamese countryside, with a preference for homemade techniques. 

Being awarded this noble title, Duong Lam Ancient Village is expected to contribute to the growth of tourism in Son Tay town by offering exceptional services and amenities in the area. Additionally, it presents a chance for various organizations to enhance the effectiveness of their tourism promotion efforts and showcase the country's timeless charm through the national destination brand “Vietnam Timeless Charm”.

There is more for international visitors to explore when they get to this old village of Hanoi. It typically takes around 40 to 50 minutes to reach Thang Long Avenue or Cau Giay - Ho Tung Mau - Road 32 from the central area of Hanoi if you are traveling by private transportation. You can also catch a bus heading straight to the place for less than $2.

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Photo: Sun World Ba Na Hills

Spring, when many types of flowers are in their fullest bloom, when Lunar New Year brings the distinct Tet atmosphere, and when trips with family remarks as their new beginning of the year. In the Year of the Dragon, one of the best destinations to experience all these specialties is Ba Na Hills (Da Nang) and its iconic Spring Festival 2024.

Organized each year at Sun World Ba Na Hills, the lively and captivating Spring Festival never fails to impress its admirers with a plethora of beautiful flowers and unique activities in the first days of New Year. This year, the festival has the theme “Where spring blossoms meet”, which begins on January 20 and lasts until March 31.

Gardens of flowers such as colorful roses, tulips, hydrangeas, sunflowers, etc will warmly welcome and pave the path for your footsteps, almost like natural beauty is coming to life everywhere you go. And when you look around, remember to take some pictures with the symbolic flower of Ba Na Prunus campanulata (cherry blossom shaped like bells) in the blooming season. The special cherry blossom trees here have flourished and bloomed magnificently for many consecutive years with perfect weather conditions and dedicated care from local people.

Photo: Sun World Ba Na Hills

For someone who enjoys learning about Vietnamese authentic traditions, Spring Festival 2024 also embodies the essence of Vietnamese Tet including participating in folk games at Hoi An Garden, wrapping bánh chưng, eating Vietnamese cuisine, temple-hopping for wishes of prosperity and happiness, and asking for câu đối (parallel sentences), etc. 

A beautiful scene can always be even more complete with a touch of music. The main attraction of the 2024 Spring Festival will be a variety of unique art events honoring the Year of the Dragon, for example, unique orchestral songs that will be first brought to guests when they first arrive at Hoi An Garden. 

“Visitors coming to Sun World Ba Na Hills will not only see a new look of the tourist area but also fully feel the flavors of Vietnam's traditional Tet, as well as see the melodies and tones of spring from many countries around the world, which is a very unique characteristic of Ba Na", said the Director of Sun World Ba Na Hills.

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Photo: Needpix

Based on authentic reviews and opinions shared on Tripadvisor platform over the year 2023, Hoi An is among the 25 most loved destinations in the world along with Ho Chi Minh city at the eleventh, and Chiang Mai at the fifth.

“Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best award winners are among the top 1% of listings on Tripadvisor”, according to the Tripadvisor awards policy, has emphasized on the very best quality and captivating experience that Hoi An Ancient Town has brought to its tourists and visitors.

Travel Off Path, a world-leading travel website from America, has also featured Hoi An in its most popular destinations in 2024 with the flattering praise for this well-preserved old town that reflects a perfect harmony of French-Chinese influences and Vietnamese culture.

Hoi An is located in Quang Nam, the Southern Central province of Vietnam, it only takes a 40-minute ride from Da Nang to this yellow beautiful town by car. 

With the international elements and the indigenous culture of Vietnamese people, Hoi An is special in its own way. In the 15th-19th centuries, Hoi An had attained foreign cultures mostly from European, Chinese, and Japanese merchants, which have been demonstrated delicately by the ancient temples, yellow walls, colorful lanterns, Japanese bridge, etc. Just by walking or cycling down the Old Town in the daytime, you can experience famous Vietnamese cuisine such as Cao Lau, My Quang, or Com Ga, surrounded by warm-hearted and friendly people. 

Hoi An used to be one of the most heavy trading ports in Southeast Asia, nowadays, travelers can enjoy floating themselves along the Hoai river, especially when the whole town is illuminated by thousands of lanterns and flower lights at nighttime.

In recent years, Hoi An has often been ranked by reputable travel sites as one of the most desirable attractions in the world, contributing to helping this ancient city attract millions of international visitors each year.

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Photo: Vietnamnet.vn

Located in Southeast Asia with a long coastline of 3.260 kilometers and thousands of islands and archipelagos all across the nation, sea and island tourism has contributed 70% of Vietnam’s overall tourism activities. At the beginning of January 2024, Vietnam reported welcoming tens of thousands of international visitors at major seaports in Quang Ninh, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc.

Some traits commonly seen in marine travelers are a significant number of people in each group and limited time spent at each stop. Therefore, there is a demand for efficient, accurate, and secure organizational procedures.

The first challenge in developing this sea-based tourism industry is ensuring Vietnam’s ocean liners fulfill the expectations of foreigners, especially of high-end cruise tourism. According to experts, this niche market requires tailor-made seaport facilities to host, a skilled workforce to cater to affluent travelers, and effective promotions and campaigns to boost cruise tourism. 

This first step became extremely important when Da Nang city anticipated that it would host 45 ships with more than 40.000 passengers for the year 2024.

Then, what attracts foreigners to stay longer and come back for a second time? Therefore, a comprehensive strategy and blueprint is a key drive for advancing Vietnam’s sea and island tourism.

The introduction of entertainment options has been implemented including boat racing, sailing, windsurfing, beach volleyball, hot-air ballooning, gliding, as well as plane/helicopter tours. Along with the development of tourism infrastructure and transportation networks, there has also been a focus on establishing a network of coastal accommodations, which has significantly contributed to the attraction of millions of visitors annually. 

Islands and oceans not only offer necessary resources for survival, but also hold significant cultural traditions such as traditional celebrations, beliefs and practices, cuisine, and stories. These elements contribute to a rich array of offerings for the long-term growth of island and ocean tourism.

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