Vietnam Insider

The night food area in the Flower Park of Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, has officially opened its doors to visitors for exploration and culinary experiences, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The night food area at Da Lat City Flower Garden, Lam Dong province, has just officially opened, open to welcome guests to visit and experience cuisine. Photo: Lam Dong Newspaper

This is the first “open-through-the-night” food area in the mountainous town of Da Lat, situated at the front entrance of the Flower Park tourist destination, near Xuan Huong Lake, providing convenience for locals and tourists alike.

The food area features over 50 stalls, with 30 of them offering specialties of Da Lat, some from other regions in Vietnam, and even signature dishes from foreign countries. Additionally, the space includes stalls selling local specialties and souvenirs of Da Lat city.

The night food area is open every day of the week, from 5:00 PM the previous evening until 5:00 AM the next morning. In addition to dining and shopping, this area also hosts nightly music and cultural performances to cater to the entertainment needs of visitors.

It is reported that after the night food area in Flower Park, the local authorities plan to implement more nighttime economic development zones in 2024. Specifically, along the Xuan Huong Lake promenade, Lam Vien Square, Tang Bat Ho Street in the Western Quarter, there will be establishments for shopping, dining, and bars to serve the local residents and tourists.

Currently, Da Lat City only has the Da Lat Night Market (located at the entrance of the Da Lat Market) catering to dining and shopping until around midnight each night. The opening of the night food area in Flower Park is also aimed at relieving the burden on the existing night market, which often experiences overcrowding on weekends and holidays.

@SGtiepthi

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Vietnam welcomed 12.6 million international visitors in 2023, with South Korea and China being the largest source markets.

The largest group of tourists to Vietnam was from South Korea, with 3.6 million people (accounting for 28% of the total number of visitors). The Chinese market reached 1.7 million arrivals, ranking second. Thus, the South Korean and Chinese markets together comprised 42% of the international visitors to Vietnam. Following closely were Taiwan (China), the United States, and Japan in the fifth position.

VNAT stated that foreign visitors to Vietnam accounted for 70% of the figures recorded in 2019 – the time before the Covid-19 pandemic erupted.

Vietnam is a popular destination for many Korean tourists. Photo: VNA

Some major markets showed excellent recovery rates, such as the United States, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand, and Indonesia. Optimistic signs also came from major European markets, especially Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.

However, China, Vietnam’s traditional tourism market, achieved a recovery rate of only 30%, while Russia reached just 19%.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN WTO) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) predict that global tourism is on track for a full recovery by 2024, reaching pre-Covid levels.

They emphasize that the demand from international tourists continues to rebound, requiring countries to improve the quality of services and travel experiences. Additionally, integrating advanced technologies such as AI and digital transformation will accelerate the emergence of new challenges for the tourism industry.

This year, Vietnam aims to welcome 17-18 million international visitors and serve 110 million domestic tourists, targeting total tourism revenue of around 840 trillion VND (34.6 billion USD).

Notably, the Vietnam Tourism Year – Dien Bien 2024, with 169 national and provincial-level programs and events, is expected to provide new and exciting experiences for tourists.

Last year, the country achieved tourism revenue of approximately 678 trillion VND, surpassing the set target by 4.3%.

@Vietnamnet

This figure is equivalent to the number of international visitors to Vietnam before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The tourism industry expects that by 2024 it will recover to pre-Covid-19 levels. Photo: Yen Vi Vu.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in December 2023, the number of international visitors to Vietnam reached nearly 1.4 million, an increase of 11.2% compared to the previous month and a 93.9% increase compared to the same period last year.

For the entire year, international visitors to Vietnam reached 12.6 million, 3.4 times higher than in 2022 and far exceeding the initial target of 8 million visitors, achieving the adjusted goal of 12.5-13 million visitors.

Leading the market of visitors to Vietnam is still South Korea with approximately 3.6 million visitors (accounting for 28% of the total); followed by China with over 1.74 million visitors. The combined total of the South Korean and Chinese markets accounted for 42% of the international visitors to Vietnam.

Also in the past year, domestic visitors reached 108 million, surpassing the plan by 6%.

Revenue from accommodation and dining services is estimated to reach VND 673.5 trillion, a 14.7% increase compared to the previous year, accounting for 10.8% of the total retail sales of goods and consumer services. Revenue from tourism is estimated at VND 37.8 trillion, a 52.5% increase from the previous year.

Moving into 2024, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the global tourism industry still faces many difficulties and challenges. The world situation continues to be unpredictable, with slow economic growth, increasing inflation, and conflicts in regions showing no signs of easing.

With these analyses and forecasts, in 2024, the tourism industry aims to welcome 17-18 million international visitors to Vietnam and serve 110 million domestic tourists, with total tourism revenue reaching around VND 840 trillion.

To achieve these goals, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung has instructed the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to implement key programs and initiatives in the industry, develop a green tourism action plan, implement the action plan of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and encourage the development of new tourism products.

The industry is also developing themed tourism marketing campaigns, building a national tourism database system, and implementing promotional and advertising tasks domestically and internationally.

@Znews

With just over a month left until the 2024 Lunar New Year, due to the extended 7-day holiday period, many families have begun planning their trips.

The renowned American travel website, Travel Off Path, has just unveiled that Hoi An, a UNESCO-recognized World Cultural Heritage site in Quang Nam province, Vietnam, is among the top 7 trending destinations in the world for 2024.

The U.S. website shares that Vietnam is gaining immense popularity among American travelers due to its spectacular natural beauty, diverse culture, delicious cuisine, affordable living costs, and outstanding cities.

Travel Off Path states, “Hoi An is one of the best cities in Vietnam, famous for its well-preserved Ancient Town and the unique blend of various cultural influences, from China to France.”

Hoi An ranks 2nd in the list of 7 most popular destinations in the world in 2024. Photo: travi travel

Hoi An has also been included by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) from Hong Kong, China, as one of the 9 cities with the most beautiful beaches. Additionally, the city is ranked among the 25 most beautiful cities in the world, as voted by Travel + Leisure.

The list of the 7 hottest destinations this year also includes Cuba, Mauritius, Siem Reap in Cambodia, Chiang Mai in Thailand, Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, and Fes in Morocco.

@Vietnamnet

Phu Quoc City (Kien Giang) has recently announced a hotline to promptly assist tourists visiting the island.

On January 3rd, Mr. Huynh Quang Hung, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phu Quoc City (Kien Giang), revealed that the city has publicized a hotline to support tourists during their time on the island.

In case of emergencies or any difficulties, tourists are encouraged to call the hotline at 19001720. The relevant authorities in Phu Quoc City will provide maximum and timely assistance.

Currently, every day about 15,000 – 18,000 tourists are checking in at the Cau Hon area.

Around mid-2023, the number of tourists to Phu Quoc sharply decreased due to high airfare prices, and some news outlets reported incidents of violence, causing tourists to be hesitant about visiting Phu Quoc. During that period, Phu Quoc announced hotlines from the city level to the commune level for tourists to voice their concerns. However, these hotlines mainly consisted of numbers for commune leaders or heads of specialized departments, leading to sometimes ineffective operations.

In addition to the hotline 19001720, the Phu Quoc City government will intensify inspections of service prices, food safety, and hygiene to ensure that tourists can fully enjoy their time on the island without worries.

According to Mr. Huynh Quang Hung, it is anticipated that the number of tourists visiting Phu Quoc in the near future will increase significantly due to the introduction of new tourism products. Specifically, in the Cau Hon area (invested by Sun Group in An Thoi Commune), there are already approximately 15,000 to 18,000 visitors checking in daily.

@Thanhnien.vn