Tourism in Hanoi shows positive signs of recovery, with hotel capacity and rental prices increasing in 2023.
Savills Vietnam, a research unit, has recently released its market report for 2023. In that year, Vietnam welcomed 12.6 million international visitors, nearly triple the number in 2022 and surpassing the 2023 target of 8 million visitors. However, there is still room for development, as this figure is only 70% of the 2019 statistics.
South Korean tourists dominated with 3.6 million arrivals, followed by China with 1.7 million and Taiwan (China) with 851,000. Other top markets included the United States, Japan, Malaysia, Cambodia, Australia, and India.
Hanoi received 24 million visitors, a 28% increase from the previous year. International visitors reached 4 million, marking a 167% year-on-year increase, while domestic visitors reached 20 million, up by 16%.
According to the Savills Vietnam report, revenue from accommodation activities in Hanoi reached VND 10 trillion in 2023, a 106% increase compared to the previous year and approaching the VND 11 trillion milestone in 2019.
In the fourth quarter, rental capacity reached 64%, a 15% year-on-year increase. The average rental price in Hanoi was VND 2.9 million per room per night, up by 16% from the previous year.
Hotel operations in Hanoi.
In 2023, rental capacity increased by 21 percentage points to reach 60%. The average rental price reached VND 2.7 million per room per night, reflecting a 28% year-on-year increase. Some 5-star hotels, such as Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake and Sofitel Metropole, showed improved operational performance.
Currently, Hanoi has 11,226 hotel rooms. The supply increased by an additional 10% annually from two 4-star projects and four 5-star projects.
According to Ms. Do Thu Hang, Senior Director at Savills Hanoi, there will be an additional 13 hotel projects with 2,746 rooms entering the market in the next two years. This year, three hotels are expected to start operations, including Dusit Hanoi – Tu Hoa Palace, Fusion Suites, and My Dinh Pearl.
Regarding international guest accommodation, the serviced apartment segment also recorded a high occupancy rate of 83%, a 2% increase from the previous year. Grade A apartments had the best growth, reaching 81%. The rental price was VND 580,000 per square meter per month.
Mr. Matthew Powell, Director of Savills Hanoi, believes that serviced apartments experienced stable operations in 2023. FDI supply from large projects and infrastructure improvements will positively impact this segment’s demand in the future.
In terms of serviced apartment supply, an additional 3,821 units will be available. This year, two projects expected to commence operations are Parkroyal Serviced Suites Hanoi and Fusion Suites. West Lake will account for 63% of future supply with 2,423 units, being a popular area for foreigners due to its amenities, dining options, entertainment, schools, hospitals, and parks.
When it comes to retail, where first impressions matter the most, the packaging of goods sometimes can be their first emissary. This is most evident in the case of wallets, in which the packaging not only guards the product but also conveys the value and beauty of the product to the potential purchaser. Attaining the achievement of excellence in wallet packaging requires a fine balance between a selection of materials, elegance in design, and brand narrative.
Increasing Brand Identity and Product Attractiveness
Custom wallet boxesare a planned expenditure for merchants who look to increase product attraction and brand identity. Companies can create brand recall and boost credibility in consumers’ minds by using brand elements such as logos and colors on their packaging.
Conversely, bespoke packaging provides a point of difference in a saturated market, adding to the value of the brand and enticing discerning consumers. Custom packaging not only focuses on the product’s visual appeal but also emphasizes aspects such as craftsmanship and material quality, which in turn increases the perceived value of the wallet, making the unboxing a memorable experience. Besides, by choosing green materials, businesses can express that they are environmentally responsible and do not go against the opinion of eco-friendly customers, contributing to their brand reputation.
Main Elements of Quality Wallet Packaging
Personalized wallet packaging has many advantages, which range from increasing the brand identity and distinctiveness to boosting product presentation and perceived value. Through deliberate and carefully thought-out packaging solutions, companies can be in the lead of the competition, improve the attractiveness of their products, and create a strong connection with customers that will last forever. In addition, as sustainability is increasingly taking center stage in consumers’ minds, sustainable packaging also creates an opportunity for brand alignment with environmentalism values and a strengthened brand positioning in a market that is always changing.
Material Selection For Wallet Packaging: Enhancing the Experience
The perfect wallet box design process starts with the selection of the right material. . Moreover, environmentally friendly consumers nowadays tend to prioritize ecological materials, e.g. recycled paper or biodegradable products. The material used not only impacts how the garment feels but is also a sign that the brand is striving for quality and sustainability.
Wallet Packaging Design and Craftsmanship: A Symphony of Details
Wallet packaging is where form meets function, and every detail has its specific purpose. From the magnetic closure of a beautiful line to the brand logo engraving of great detail, each part is carefully designed for the benefit of the unboxing experience. Innovation can be incorporated into designs through features such as custom inserts and ribbon pulls that make the product seem more valuable by adding class to it. In the same way, the craftsmanship on the packaging shows the brand’s dedication to detail and quality.
Brand Identity and Messaging: Making the Story Interesting
At the core, wallet packaging is a medium of brand stories. By adopting the smart application of color, typography, and imagery, the packaging writers illustrate the identity and values of the brand to the consumers. From making an environmental awareness statement to simply portraying the richness of its background, every detail about the pack serves as a vehicle that unites a brand and its audience even more. Through crafting an appealing story, companies can turn the mere act of unboxing into a true sensory experience.
Conclusion: Creating a Forgettable Experience
Finally, it can be said that the ideal wallet packaging is created on a balanced basis of material, design, and storytelling. Through carefully selecting superior materials, implementing innovative design techniques, and utilising brand identity, businesses can create packaging that not only guarantees safety for and showcases their products but also attracts and entertains customers.
In an industry where details make the difference, top-notch packaging is not simply an option but a necessity for brands looking to be visible and leave an indelible mark. It is important to get in touch with the top manufacturers if you are looking for bespoke wallet packaging in the UK.
Stork is an oracle purpose-built for the rigors of ultra-low-latency trading.
The Sui Foundation, the organization behind layer-1 blockchain Sui that boasts a $2 billion valuation, has teamed up with Stork, an off-chain data feed oracle.
The collaboration aims to enhance speed and access to unique index and mark prices for traders and builders. Stork will offer real-time pricing data to app developers, decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and lending protocols building on Sui’s blockchain.
Stork is an oracle purpose-built for the rigors of ultra-low-latency trading. It publishes updates for more than 80 price feeds in milliseconds – a speed that Stork claims outpaces other decentralized oracles.
“With Stork’s real-time pricing data, trading venues can manage their perpetual swaps and options books with greater accuracy, reducing the risk of loss related to liquidations when a customer’s positions are undercollateralized,” said the press release.
As well as providing index pricing, the oracle also offers mark prices, a first for most DEXs, according to the press release. The mark price is important for derivatives trading (which largely dominates the crypto market) because they are used to show a contract’s “true” value.
“Mark prices are less volatile — it balances and smoothes out abnormal price fluctuations during times of high volatility,” according to Meredith Pitkoff, Stork’s co-founder.
Sui, which was founded by ex-Meta Platforms (META) employees, went live on mainnet in May and currently has around a $329 million in total value locked (TVL), according to data from DefiLlama.
Participants in the raise include Wintermute and Amber, in addition to other notable liquidity providers.
Woo announced that it had closed a $9 million round from a number of current and future market makers on the platform in order to improve liquidity on its WOO X exchange.
“We are thrilled to share the expanded relationship of market makers on WOO X following the launch of our DMM program in August last year. Notably, these leading market makers have collectively contributed $9 million in funding, underscoring their confidence in our platform,” Woo Co-founder Jack Tan said in a release.
“We anticipate liquidity on WOO X to improve substantially in the next few months, starting with BTC and ETH perpetual futures markets and expanding into altcoin perpetual futures and all spot markets,” he continued. Participants in the raise include Wintermute and Amber, in addition to other notable liquidity providers.
In the third quarter of last year, WOO X said it had shifted from a single liquidity provider – Kronos Research – to a diverse ecosystem and plans to launch a designated market maker (DMM) program for spot markets in the first quarter of 2024.
Tan said that Woo plans to use the funds for global expansion, product development, and regulatory compliance, as well as ensuring the exchange prioritizes liquidity provider interests over capital raising, focusing on market makers’ participation rather than traditional venture capitalists.
In 2021, Woo Network closed a $30 Million Series A. In October of last year, it bought back its shares and tokens from the bankruptcy estate of Three Arrows Capital, which participated in Series A.
Background removal from photos is a useful method with a wide range of uses. One of its most common applications is to eliminate undesirable items or backgrounds from images, resulting in a cleaner and more focused visual composition. This is very useful for creative applications such as graphic design. Working with backgrounds manually may be time-consuming, particularly if the program you’re using just offers background removal.
In such instances, using VanceAI tools might be beneficial. VanceAIBGremover is a VanceAI program that employs AI technology to remove backgrounds while also assisting users in creating a new backdrop to a transparent picture. We’ll find out more about BGremover and how to apply it.
Use VanceAIBGremover and AI Image Upscaler in tandem
VanceAI’sbackgroundremoveris a backdrop remover and more. The backdrop remover can simply and accurately remove backgrounds by bringing AI-based algorithms into the mix. It does, however, have capabilities like Transparent Background Maker, which allows users to alter their photographs after the backdrop has been removed. This removes the need for manual selection and deleting, resulting in considerable time and effort savings. Online users may accomplish professional-looking outcomes in a fraction of the time it would take to do the activity manually with only a few clicks.
VanceAIBGremover also goes beyond basic background removal by allowing you to apply new backgrounds to photos. Users may construct personalized compositions by selecting from a selection of pre-existing backdrops or uploading their own. This feature expands the tool’s creative potential and adaptability by enabling users to explore with diverse visual settings and make aesthetically attractive photographs without requiring substantial editing knowledge or abilities.
After successfully removing the backdrop from your content with VanceAIBGremover, you may improve your picture editing abilities by increasing the quality and resolution with VanceAI picture Upscaler. Users may use the online version of the Image Upscaler to boost the size of their photographs by up to eightfold from their original proportions. This significant expansion is very useful when it is necessary to magnify the picture for specialized uses. However, if you use the desktop edition of VanceAI PC, you may enjoy an even greater upscale limit, enabling you to magnify the picture by up to forty times its original size. This expanded breadth provides up even more options for expansion.
Consider the following scenario: you have a fantastic trip photograph. However, the photograph has some distracting items in the background that you should eliminate in order to highlight the beauty of the location. VanceAIBGremovercomes very useful here. You can easily eliminate the undesirable background and isolate the primary topic with this AI-powered application, resulting in a clean and focused picture. After that, you can utilize VanceAI Image Upscaler to expand the image while also improving its quality.
Online Instructions for VanceAIBGremover
Continue reading to learn how to utilize abackground remover and edit photographs.
Step 1: Go to the BGremover website using the URL provided above. Then, go to the Workspace by choosing “Start Now.”
Image Credit: VanceAI
Step 2: Upload the photograph and choose whether to concentrate on the human figure or the object. When you’re ready, press the “Start to Process” button.
Step 3: You should see a picture with a translucent backdrop in a few seconds. Download it by selecting the option in the Workspace.
Image Credit- VanceAI
By selecting Change Background, you will be sent to Background Changer, a BGremover function that enables you to replace the translucent background with anything you choose.
VanceAI Image Upscaler may help you increase the resolution of your photos
You may upscale and improve the quality of your images by using AI image enlarger.
Step 1: Go to the VanceAI Image Upscaler web platform by clicking the link given. When you’ve reached the site, click the “Upload Image” button.
Step 2: Upload the picture to the Workspace and configure the settings. Click the “Start to Process” button.
Step 3: When the picture is finished, click “Download Image” to save it to your device.
This is an illustration. You may use BGremover and AI Image Upscaler to modify product photographs, pet images, and other images to make them appear more creative and unique. BGremoveralso includes a PNG maker, which ensures that the picture format is ideal for editing.
Pricing for VanceAI
Every month, VanceAI gives users three free picture credits, letting them to utilize a variety of tools on the site for free. There are, however, premium options available to meet various tastes and budgets for individuals who want greater freedom and access. One of these programs costs as little as $4.95 per month. Users who subscribe to this plan will earn 100 picture credits. This hefty allotment enables users to freely explore and use all of the platform’s features without limitation. It’s a cost-effective option with plenty of resources for creative projects.
Conclusion
VanceAIBGremover is an effective solution for picture background removal and replacement. Users may simply remove unnecessary backgrounds using its AI-powered algorithms, allowing the primary subject to shine and enabling innovative applications of the photograph. BGremover is a user-friendly and time-saving tool for enhancing visual compositions in graphic design, digital art, and e-commerce. Users have additional editing and improvement choices when they combine VanceAIBGremover with other VanceAI products, such as the AI Image Upscaler.
An enhancement to BGremover editing would be the addition of a tool that enables users to alter the foreground as well. This makes it simple to match the foreground to the new backdrop without seeming out of place.
VanceAI is still a developing website, which implies that more picture editing capabilities will be added in the future.
VanceAI Provides Additional Options
VanceAI Image Enhancer is an important tool that helps to improve the quality of photos modified using BGremover. It offers a great way to boost the aesthetic appeal of photographs without having to enlarge them. The Image Enhancer automatically improves details, sharpness, and overall image quality using powerful AI algorithms, resulting in refined and aesthetically appealing results.
Furthermore, VanceAI Art Generator provides an amazing chance to add a unique and creative touch to product photographs. Users may easily turn their photographs into magnificent artworks made by artificial intelligence by using the capabilities of AI Art Generator.
About 70 roads in Phan Thiet City (Binh Thuan province) have been equipped with QR codes to facilitate residents and tourists in easily accessing information about road names, biographies of notable figures, historical figures, and more.
According to the People’s Committee of Phan Thiet City, installing road signs with QR codes is one of the components of the smart city development plan for the city.
Implemented since late 2023, currently, Phan Thiet City currently has approximately 70 roads with QR codes on road signs. As part of the plan, in 2024, the city will continue to add and replace nameplates for the remaining roads in the area, ensuring that 100% of road signs will have QR codes.
Phan Thiet City students scan the QR Code to look up information. (Photo: Thanh Minh)
Leaders of the People’s Committee of Phan Thiet City stated that implementing QR codes on road signs not only provides convenient information for residents and tourists but also serves as a highlight for the city in line with the trend of digital transformation.
On the new road signs, in addition to the road name, there is also the city’s logo in the bottom left corner and a QR code in the bottom right corner for people to access additional information about the respective road.
The QR Code is attached to the street nameplate in the right corner, on the left corner is the Phan Thiet City logo. (Photo: Nguyen Vu)
When scanning this QR code, residents and tourists can not only learn more about the significance of events and the biographies of notable figures associated with the road but also obtain information about the road’s scale (length, width, road class, starting and ending points, etc.), local traditions, public works, scenic spots, historical and cultural landmarks linked to the overall development and history of the hometown in general, and Phan Thiet City in particular.
Mr. Nguyen Nam Long, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phan Thiet City, mentioned that since the implementation of QR codes on road signs, the city has publicly shared information on various public information systems to make it convenient for residents and tourists. Despite being introduced only about a month ago, initial feedback indicates positive responses from both residents and tourists.
To meet the demands of passengers during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and VASCO are continuing to add more than 66,200 seats, equivalent to over 310 domestic flights during the peak Tet period from January 25 to February 24, 2024.
This additional round of flights brings the total number of domestic and international flights across the airlines during the Tet peak to approximately 2.64 million seats, equivalent to 12,374 flights.
Airlines continue to increase flights during Tet.
The additional flights are primarily focused on domestic routes between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Hue, Quang Nam, Tuy Hoa, Da Lat, Cam Ranh, Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, and Phu Quoc. These flights aim to meet the needs of family reunions and satisfy the travel demand during the Tet holiday.
During the peak Tet period, due to increased travel demand, airlines recommend that passengers proactively plan their flight ticket purchases in advance.
Additionally, passengers are advised to complete the check-in process online, through mobile applications, the hotline 1900 6265 (telephone check-in), or at self-service kiosks. Passengers should arrive at the airport 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international flights’ scheduled departure times.
Developers said the missed finalization was likely due to an expected lack of participation and older network validators.
Ethereum’s much-awaited Dencun upgrade went live on the Goerli testnet earlier Wednesday but failed to finalize in the expected time.
The upgrade was pushed at 6:32 UTC, blockchain data shows, but did not reach consensus and was not finalized on the testnet. Developers expect the apparent issues to be fixed in the coming days. These likely occurred due to low participation and validators not upgrading parts of their software that would have helped with finalization.
Finality refers to irreversibility once a transaction has been confirmed and added to a block in a blockchain network. A testnet is a network that mimics real-world blockchains and is used to test applications and important upgrades before they can be pushed live on a mainnet.
Dencun’s implementation of Goerli is part of a three-phased approach to eventually enacting a new, less costly method of storing data on the main Ethereum blockchain.
That method, “proto-danksharding,” is a mechanism that will add capacity for data availability as well as help reduce the cost of transactions for layer-2 blockchains. These auxiliary networks have proliferated in the past year as an alternative to processing transactions on the main Ethereum blockchain, but analysts say their growth is hampered by the steep data costs under the current setup.
The next phase will happen sometime in the next few weeks, with an upgrade to the Sepolia testnet, followed by the Holesky testnet.
Dencun will be the biggest upgrade – technically a “hard fork” in blockchain terminology – for Ethereum since the Shapella upgrade last March, which enabled the withdrawals of staked ether stETH. That milestone marked the second step for Ethereum’s transition to a proof-of-stake blockchain, away from the more energy intensive proof-of-work chain that it was before the Merge.
Some have forecasted sharp declines in bitcoin’s price as traders ‘sell the news’ post-ETF approval, but Fidelity’s Director of Global Macro disagrees.
Bitcoin (BTC) is down almost 7% in the last week, as the market impact of the recently approved BTC ETF works its way through the system. While many contrarian bets about the price of bitcoin after the ETF approval have been proven right, Fidelity’s Jurrien Timmer doesn’t expect the sell-off to continue much longer.
In a thread on X, Timer, Fidelity’s Director of Global Macro, said current trends in bitcoin’s price are suggestive of a short-term positioning adjustment rather than a long-term trend reversal.
While some have forecasted that bitcoin might drop and find support anywhere between the $32K to $38K mark, Timmer expects consolidation of recent gains.
“The short-term question is whether this a sell-the-news moment. My guess is that it will take a little time to consolidate the recent gains, now that the big moment has arrived,” Timmer posted on X. “There were more than a few participants who ‘equitized’ future spot positions through either the futures market or bitcoin-sensitive equities.”
Per Trimmer, bitcoin’s current price is reasonable and is affected by how much its network is growing and the actual interest rates in the economy and the longer-term prospects look bright.
“”Will this be a new chapter towards Bitcoin’s widespread adoption as a commodity-currency?” Timmer posted. “It seems that way, although it could take some time to get there.”
While the rally has stalled, many asset managers, according to Timer, continue to have a significant net long position in the bitcoin futures market.
Meanwhile, CoinDesk recently reported that for the first time ever, Bitcoin’s 50-week simple moving average has crossed above its 200-week average.
This event is known as a “golden cross,” which suggests a long-term bullish market, although its predictive accuracy is debated among traders.
On January 16, the People’s Committee of Thu Duc City in HCMC announced that they would be piloting the Thao Dien Night Street model. This nightlife area will be operational every Friday and Saturday evening, from 7:00 p.m. the previous day until 2:00 a.m.
The Thao Dien Night Street is located on a 465 m-long stretch of Xuan Thuy Street and will open on January 19. The area is unique because it is home to many foreigners and children with foreign parents. The opening of a 2024 Spring Festival market and night street is essential and will be welcomed by the people of Thao Dien ward.
Thao Dien Night Street will help promote the Vietnamese Tet space by providing places for entertainment and folk activities that are modern and enjoyable. The nightlife area will be divided into multiple zones, including food and shopping areas, as well as cultural and artistic activities such as music performances to welcome the spring of 2024. The music performances will vary according to different themes throughout the pilot period and will include amateur music, jazz, and rock music performances.
The pilot program for Thao Dien Night Street will run for six months, from January 19 to July 19. After this period, the needs of tourists and residents will be evaluated, and any necessary adjustments will be made to increase operational efficiency. The expected budget for piloting the Thao Dien Night Street is over 1.2 billion VND, which will be contributed by businesses and business households along the route, as well as in the ward participating in the implementation.
The integration allows developers to build cross-chain use cases via Chainlink’s CCIP that involve multichain transfers of Circle’s USDC stablecoin.
Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) has integrated Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) to make it easy for users to transfer USDC across chains, according to a press release.
Developers can now build cross-chain use cases via CCIP that involve cross-chain transfers of USDC, including payments and other DeFi interactions, the statement said.
“We’re excited to support the adoption of stablecoins across a variety of cross-chain use cases. I’m pleased to see that the defense-in-depth security infrastructure of CCIP, with multiple layers of decentralization, is something highly valued by developers building with USDC,” said Sergey Nazarov, the decentralized oracle network’s co-founder.
The chains included in the integration are Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Avalanche and Base mainnets, with others to be added in the near future.
Chainlink’s CCIP is a cross-chain communication software that allows users to message and transfer tokens across different blockchains. Circle’s CCTP is an on-chain platform facilitating USDC transfers between chains via burning and minting.
Manta Pacific is the native layer 2 of the Manta Network.
Manta Pacific, the native layer 2 of Manta Network, has replaced Coinbase’s (COIN) Base as the fourth largest scaling solution, according to data source L2Beat.
As of writing, the total value locked (TVL) on Manta Pacific stood at $845 million ahead of Base’s $753 million. Total value locked refers to the notional value of tokens deposited in a decentralized finance protocol. The metric is widely used to gauge the popularity of DeFi protocols.
Layer 2s are secondary blockchains built on top of the primary/native blockchain to reduce bottlenecks and improve speed. Last year, Manta Pacific made the move to become a zero-knowledge rollup.
Zero-knowledge rollup is a secondary network that relies on zero-knowledge proofs, a type of cryptography that has become one of 2023’s hottest blockchain trends, partly due to the technology’s ability to provide fast “finality” or settlement of transactions.
L2Beat’s TVL sums the dollar value of tokens canonically bridged, externally bridged, and natively minted, while DeFiLlama, the other prominent source, only considers assets actively engaged in decentralized applications. Per DeFiLlama, Manta and Base are contesting for the ninth spot, each boasting a TVL of around $420 million.
Manta’s paradigm bridging program, which went live in December, seems to have driven the rapid growth in the total value locked. Bridging means porting assets from one blockchain to another. The program offers users rewards for bridging ether (ETH) and USDC to the network.
The layer 2 is using a playbook similar to Ethereum layer 2 Blast, per Michael Nadeau, founder of the DeFi report. Ether and USDC ported to Manta earn a staking yield of 4% to 5%, with coins remaining locked for 69 days, with depositors eligible for future airdrop of MANTA token, Nadeau explained on X. Depositors also receive NFT box pieces and can re-stake the staked ETH on Eigen Layer.
Blast offered yield on assets bridged to its platform through liquid staking protocol Lido and lending protocol MakerDAO, with users earning rewards for referrals, which can be redeemed in future token airdrops.
On Monday, Binance announced Manta as the 44th project on the Binance Launchpool, allowing users to earn MANTA tokens by staking their BNB and FDUSD tokens. The crypto exchange will also list a bunch of Manta trading pairs on Jan. 18.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2024, Da Nang city is organizing a series of exciting activities and events to serve residents and tourists.
Notable programs include the New Year’s Eve art performance celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Rat 2024 at the East Riverside Park near the Dragon Bridge (Tran Hung Dao – Ly Nam De street area) on February 9, 2024; the “Han River Dance” program in 2024 taking place at the West Riverside of the Dragon Bridge – Crescent Roundabout, Bach Dang extended street (opposite Binh Minh 6) on February 11 and 25, 2024;
The Tet Market in 2024, featuring booths and traditional Tet experiential activities, will be held on January 27 and 28, 2024, at the Da Nang Museum. The night art program with poetry and music celebrating the Lunar New Year under the theme “Spring in the Homeland,” and the Street Music program will take place in late February 2024.
The events promise to bring interesting experiences to visitors during Lunar New Year
The Tet Festival in 2024 will be held at the Administrative Center of Hoa Vang District to Tuy Loan Night Market (Duong Lam 1 hamlet, Hoa Phong commune, Hoa Vang district) from January 26 to 29, 2024.
Especially, at midnight on February 10, 2024, Da Nang city plans to organize fireworks on New Year’s Eve of the Lunar New Year at three locations: Bach Dang Square (intersection of Binh Minh 6 – Bach Dang streets); the land area of the Kim Long Nam project (opposite the East of the Administrative Center of Lien Chieu district); and the Administrative Center of Hoa Vang District.
Visitors to Da Nang during the Lunar New Year will also explore the city at night at Son Tra Night Market, Helio, and experience the nightlife along the Han River.
At the same time, tourist attractions and accommodation facilities also organize various activities to attract visitors.
Specifically, at Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist area, there will be many unique activities and experiences to celebrate the New Year in the Spring Festival of 2024. Domestic and international tourists will experience the traditional Vietnamese Tet cultural space with images of square sticky rice cakes, red firecrackers, five-fruit trays, cherry blossoms, first-of-the-year lucky letters, and participate in traditional games at the Hoi An garden, bringing a distinct Vietnamese cultural flavor. Additionally, there will be a series of special art programs celebrating the Year of the Rat.
Tourists ask for calligraphy at Nui Than Tai Hot Springs Park
Meanwhile, at Asia Park, 5,000 lanterns decorated to create a dazzling check-in point for tourists during the Lunar New Year. Visitors here will also experience the early spring market with 22 food stalls…
And at the Nui Than Tai Hot Springs Park, the Than Tai Festival will be held with many special activities on February 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 2024 (corresponding to the 2nd, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 16th days of the lunar calendar), from 8:30 am to 11:30 am each day. Tourists will experience activities such as lion and dragon dance performances, early-year prosperity picking, reverse wish line hanging, New Year’s calligraphy, and enjoy a traditional Bai Choi art performance…
Toll collection for the highway connecting Noi Bai – Lao Cai to Sa Pa begins at 0:00 on January 16 at the collection station located at the beginning of the road leading to Mong Sen bridge (Trung Chai commune, Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province), while known as the highest viaduct in Vietnam.
The toll for the Noi Bai – Lao Cai expressway connecting to Sa Pa is set by the Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee. For vehicles with less than 12 seats, trucks with a load capacity of under 2 tons, and public transportation vehicles (buses), the toll is set at 25,000 VND per ticket per trip.
For the remaining four groups of vehicles carrying passengers or goods with more seats, larger load capacities, and dimensions, the toll rates through the toll station are higher, ranging from 35,000 to 120,000 VND per ticket per trip.
Toll price list for the highway connecting Noi Bai – Lao Cai to Sa Pa from January 16 according to regulations
These toll rates are proposed for the first 3 years after the completion of phase 1 of the project. It is anticipated that the rates will be adjusted once every 3 years, following the project contract regulations, without exceeding the maximum rate set by the Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee.
The mentioned toll rates already include a 10% VAT. From the start of toll collection until June 30, 2024, a 2% VAT reduction policy is applied according to the resolution of the National Assembly.
Therefore, with an 8% preferential tax rate, the applicable ticket prices for vehicles with less than 12 seats, trucks with a load capacity of under 2 tons, and public transportation buses will be 24,000 VND per trip. The ticket prices for the other four groups of vehicles will correspondingly decrease to between 34,000 and 117,000 VND per ticket per trip.
Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh) and the town of Sa Pa (Lao Cai province) have recently been included in the list of the world’s most popular destinations by the renowned travel platform TripAdvisor.
Specifically, in the “Trending Destinations” category of the 2024 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best awards, Ha Long Bay secured the 3rd position. Last year, Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An were also featured in TripAdvisor’s list of top trending destinations.
Regarding Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the world’s largest travel guidance platform states, “Travelers should visit Ha Long Bay to get the closest and most visual experience of the stunning limestone islands, rock formations, and beautiful caves here. These wonders have undergone centuries of formation.” Additionally, TripAdvisor suggests tourists rent kayaks or join guided tours to explore the breathtaking landscapes.
Foreign tourists take a boat trip to visit Ha Long Bay, Northern Vietnam. Photo: Lux Cruises
Meanwhile, Sa Pa, the colorful and charming market town in the Northwest, is described as a perfect oasis amidst challenging mountain treks or visits to terraced rice fields. The Gothic-style stone church in the town center is a focal point for tourists, influenced by French missionaries who once lived in the town. Furthermore, visitors are encouraged to indulge in cuisine inspired by Vietnam or Europe in the town center and not to miss the “Love Market” taking place every Saturday evening, according to TripAdvisor.
People harvest tea on the blooming cherry blossom hills in Sa Pa. Vinh Dav’s photo
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best is TripAdvisor’s annual award. It is presented to destinations with hotels, restaurants, and entertainment activities that have received a significant number of outstanding reviews and opinions from the community over a 12-month period, from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023. Less than 1% of TripAdvisor’s 8 million profiles receive the Best of the Best award, signifying the highest level of excellence in the travel industry.
This is not the first time Sa Pa and Ha Long Bay have been recognized as international tourist destinations. Recently, India’s Times Travel publication honored the 50 most beautiful destinations in the world for 2024, with three Vietnamese locations making the list: Sa Pa (Lao Cai province), Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province), and Hoi An (Quang Nam province).
