The Son Doong Cave exploration tour is currently considered the most expensive and enticing tour in Vietnam, with ticket prices around 72 million Vietnamese dong per person for a 6-day, 5-night journey.
Inside Son Doong cave. Photo: Hoang Trung/TTXVN.
On December 23, Oxalis Company, the sole operator of tours to the world’s largest cave, Son Doong, announced that despite it still being 2023, the tour is already fully booked for the entire year 2024. To avoid further disappointment, 200 domestic and international tourists have reserved tickets for this cave expedition in 2025.
The exploration of Son Doong Cave is regarded as one of the most adventurous tours in Vietnam, attracting international tourists. Many reputable newspapers and magazines worldwide have highly praised this unique tour.
For example, the Daily Mail in the UK voted Son Doong Cave as the most impressive camping cave in the world. Dave TV in the UK ranked the Son Doong Cave exploration tour as the 5th among the top 20 greatest adventures on the planet. National Geographic UK ranked the Son Doong exploration as the most prestigious adventure tour in the world.
This expedition is a journey into the depths of the earth, exploring the magnificent stalactite formations, underground rivers, and vast sinkholes.
During this exploration, visitors can admire the forest inside Son Doong Cave with its rich and diverse biodiversity. They can witness sunlight penetrating through the openings of sinkholes and conquer the 90-meter-high Vietnam Wall.
Tourists also get to visit the Dong En village of the Bru Van Kieu ethnic group, living in isolation in the primeval forest. They conquer the En Cave, the filming location of Peter Pan – The Neverland and the site where ABC News broadcasted the Good Morning America program live to the United States in 2015.
Son Doong Cave was discovered by Mr. Ho Khanh in the town of Phong Nha (Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province) in 1990 and was declared the largest cave in the world with a volume of over 38 million cubic meters.
The Son Doong Cave exploration tour is currently considered the most expensive and enticing tour in Vietnam, with ticket prices around 72 million Vietnamese dong per person for a 6-day, 5-night journey.
Each tour accommodates 10 explorers and about 30 service personnel, including cave safety experts, guides, safety assistants, chefs, forest rangers, and porters responsible for carrying luggage, food, and camping equipment.
A recent report by Savills Vietnam shows that apartment prices have increased by 77% in the last 4 years. In the third quarter of 2023, the average primary price of apartments reached 54 million VND/m2, which is almost twice as expensive as it was at the beginning of 2019. The Ministry of Construction states that the selling price of primary apartments has increased continuously for the 19th consecutive quarter, and this is mainly due to the high-end supply segment, which accounts for over 90% of the new supply.
Apartments are less affected by negative market impacts, and their demand to buy has increased by 1%, while the demand to rent has increased by 6% compared to the previous quarter. Apartments priced between 2 to 4 billion VND are the most sought-after. The average price of apartments opened for sale on the new primary market in Hanoi increased by almost 7% quarter-on-quarter, up 14% year-on-year, and reached about 50.8 million VND/m2.
The average selling price in the secondary market still maintained its upward momentum, reaching around 32 million VND/m2. All districts in Hanoi recorded an increase in secondary selling prices in the third quarter compared to the second quarter, and Hoai Duc district and Bac Tu Liem district recorded the highest increases, 8% and 5% respectively.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the secondary selling prices in the third quarter of 2023 increased by 3% compared to the previous quarter, and the primary selling price of apartments has reached more than 60 million VND/m2. According to Cushman & Wakefield, apartment selling prices in Ho Chi Minh City have increased three times in the past ten years, although total supply increased by 4.4 times during this period.
CBRE Vietnam’s report states that the supply of new apartments opened for sale in Hanoi in the third quarter of 2023 reached approximately 3,000 units from 9 projects. In the fourth quarter of 2023, about 4,500 apartments are expected to open for sale, bringing the total supply of new apartments in 2023 to 11,400 units, which is the lowest level in the last 10 years.
Limited new supply, reduced number of apartments handed over, and high average primary price at 52 million VND/m2 have caused secondary selling prices to increase. The average primary price of apartments increased by 13% per year from 2018 to 2022, while primary supply decreased by 14% per year. In the first quarter of 2023, the average primary price is 48% higher than the secondary price.
To overcome difficulties in the real estate market, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Construction to direct and guide real estate businesses to restructure their segments, lower product prices, and restructure the segment for people with real needs, social housing, housing for workers, and low-income people. The Prime Minister requested to direct and speed up the progress of handling administrative procedures related to real estate projects and strengthen inspection and examination to promptly guide and handle cases that cause difficulties and troubles in resolving administrative procedures for people and businesses.
In recent days, several Northeast Asian countries including China have been hit by record-breaking cold spells. The North of Vietnam has also been directly affected by strong cold air resulting in a temperature drop. After experiencing a few warm days in the first half of December, the North suddenly turned cold and harmful from December 17 onwards. The region experienced the coldest morning since the beginning of winter until now.
On December 22, a series of high mountain locations in Y Ty, Fansipan (Lao Cai), and Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai) reported freezing temperatures, causing frost to cover the landscape. In Mau Son, Lang Son, the temperature was recorded at -2.5°C, the lowest temperature recorded in December since 2012.
According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Hoa, Deputy Head of the Climate Forecasting Department, National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, global warming is one of the reasons behind the severe cold weather. The Arctic region has experienced the strongest temperature increase globally, weakening the polar vortex, and making it easier for cold air to spread to the South. It is worth noting that global warming is not inconsistent with unusual cold spells, as it leads to more extreme natural disasters.
The current cold spell in the North of Vietnam is expected to last for the next four days, and the high mountains will continue to experience frost and freezing temperatures.
The number of Vietnamese tourists to Japan in the first 11 months of this year has reached 536,800, surpassing the previous record of 495,051 visitors in 2019.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has recently released a report revealing that the number of Vietnamese tourists to Japan in the first 11 months of this year reached 536,800. This figure has exceeded the peak of 495,051 visitors achieved in 2019.
Statistics on international visitors to Japan for December will be announced in January 2024. Therefore, it is estimated that the total number of Vietnamese visitors for the entire year of 2023 will further increase.
According to JNTO, this is a very positive sign for the exchange and interaction between the people of the two countries.
Conversely, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in the first 11 months of 2023, Vietnam has also welcomed nearly 530,000 Japanese visitors. This market is among the top 5 countries with the highest number of tourists to Vietnam.
Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, expects that with increasingly favorable travel policies, two-way exchanges between Vietnam and Japan will soon recover and surpass the pre-pandemic level of 1.5 million visitors.
According to Mr. Yoshida Kenji, Head of the JNTO Representative Office in Vietnam, the organization’s goal of receiving 500,000 Vietnamese visitors has been achieved one month ahead of schedule, thanks to the efforts of all office staff since the launch of the campaign in the fall of 2021.
“In 2024, we will continue to promote an increase in tourist arrivals from Vietnam to Japan, and we will collaborate with organizations and individuals in the tourism industry to implement three new tourism promotion strategies set by the Japanese government,” Mr. Yoshida Kenji stated.
In 2024, it is projected that domestic passenger transportation volume will reach 38.5 million, a decrease of nearly 11% compared to 2023, while international passengers are expected to be 41.8 million, an increase of 31%.
These figures were provided by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam at a recent conference summarizing 2023 and outlining plans for 2024.
Specifically, the aviation management agency anticipates a domestic passenger transportation volume of 38.5 million in 2024, representing an almost 11% reduction compared to 2023. On the other hand, the international passenger volume is expected to be 41.8 million, showing a 31% increase.
This forecast comes amidst challenges faced by airlines, with many experiencing financial difficulties, leading to adjustments and cuts in some domestic routes with low occupancy rates that do not contribute significantly to sales. Some domestic airlines have also had to scale down their fleet size as part of restructuring efforts.
Faced with these pressures, many airlines are prioritizing international routes over domestic ones. This is because international flights incur additional fuel fees, and ticket prices are not constrained by price ceilings. In 2023, the aviation management authority observed signs of recovery and positive growth in the aviation transport sector.
The total aviation market in 2023 is estimated to reach approximately 74 million passengers, a 35% increase compared to 2022, equivalent to 94% compared to 2019 (pre-Covid-19). Cargo transportation is projected to be 1.1 million tons, a 9% decrease compared to 2022, and an 87% decrease compared to 2019. International passenger transportation reached 32 million passengers, a 1.7-fold increase from the previous year and a 77% increase compared to 2019.
The Civil Aviation Authority also noted that the international flight network has been restored and expanded gradually. Vietnamese and foreign airlines have fully restored flights to traditional markets and expanded operations to new markets in Central Asia, such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia. Flights to China and Russia have also been restored during the year.
Additionally, Vietnamese airlines have intensified operations to India (transporting 920,000 passengers in 2023, nearly 15 times more than in 2019) and the Australian market (transporting 913,000 passengers in 2023, a 40% increase compared to 2019).
The domestic flight network has been maintained and developed with 66 routes connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang to 19 other local airports, operating over 600 flights per day. In addition to existing routes, Vietnamese airlines in 2023 opened new routes such as Can Tho – Van Don, Hanoi – Ca Mau, and Ho Chi Minh City – Dien Bien.
According to the National Tourism Agency, the total number of international tourists to Vietnam in 2023 is estimated to reach 12.5 million, exceeding the set target (8 million) and achieving the adjusted goal (12.5-13 million).
International visitors visit and shop at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street. Photo: Hong Dat/TTXVN.
At the workshop on the implementation of state management on tourism in 2023, organized by the National Tourism Agency of Vietnam (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) on December 21 in Hanoi, Deputy Director of the National Tourism Agency of Vietnam Pham Van Thuy emphasized that after two years of severe impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam’s tourism has recovered and accelerated, meeting expectations.
In 2023, just after 10 months, the number of international visitors to Vietnam has surpassed the set plan, and the industry has proposed to increase the target for international arrivals to 12.5-13 million. At this moment, the entire industry has achieved the expected results.
According to the National Tourism Agency of Vietnam, the total number of international tourists to Vietnam in 2023 is estimated to reach 12.5 million, exceeding the set target (8 million) and achieving the adjusted goal (12.5-13 million).
The number of domestic tourists is estimated at 108 million, exceeding by 5.8%; total tourism revenue is estimated at 672 trillion VND, exceeding by 3.38% compared to the 2023 plan. The image of Vietnamese tourism has been enhanced and clearly positioned on the world map, and competitiveness continues to improve.
In 2023, the National Tourism Agency of Vietnam was honored with the title “Top Tourism Management Agency in Asia for 2023” for the fourth time. At the global awards ceremony, Vietnam was once again recognized by the World Travel Awards (WTA) as the “Leading Heritage Destination in the World,” and many destinations and tourism businesses received various prestigious awards…
However, it must be candidly acknowledged that there are still shortcomings and bottlenecks in the development of tourism, both in state management and business aspects, that need to be addressed. It is noteworthy that the phenomenon of foreigners working as unlicensed guides persists, and some Vietnamese businesses violate laws in tourism activities (operating without a license, not meeting legal requirements, violations related to financial conditions, tour guides, false advertising)…
Some tourist destinations still face issues such as poor hygiene, inadequate security conditions, and insufficient capacity to serve tourists during peak periods. There is a need for organizing a national-scale program to introduce Vietnam’s tourism, creating resonance and gathering participation from various localities and businesses in target markets…
The National Tourism Agency of Vietnam outlines various tasks to be implemented in the coming period, including strengthening the management of tourist areas, points of interest, and conserving and leveraging the natural and cultural values for sustainable tourism development.
Destinations should ensure security and safety for tourists, with a particular focus on environmental hygiene and food safety. Encouraging the participation of the public and businesses in building a cultural, civilized, friendly, and hospitable tourism environment is crucial, where “each citizen is a tourism ambassador.”
Stakeholders need to enhance inspections and supervision, especially in ensuring compliance with simplified tourism business conditions. Localities should develop plans and tasks related to environmental protection in tourist areas, raise public awareness of environmental education and the preservation and reverence of historical and cultural sites, and natural landscapes.
Another important task highlighted by the National Tourism Agency of Vietnam is the comprehensive and effective implementation of partnerships. Specifically, there is a need to leverage the guiding role of the national tourism agency and the leadership role of major tourism centers (Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Thua Thien-Hue, Khanh Hoa…) to form interconnected regions and growth drivers for tourism (Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh; Hanoi-Northern mountainous provinces; Hanoi with Central provinces, Hue-Da Nang; Khanh Hoa-Ninh Thuan-Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding areas; Can Tho-Ca Mau-Kien Giang), creating “one route, many destinations.”
Relevant parties should strengthen public-private cooperation under a market mechanism spirit of “harmonious interests, shared risks,” and implement effective mechanisms and policies to mobilize resources from businesses, especially large enterprises, for tourism development.
On the other hand, agencies need to enhance the quality of advice, innovate thinking on tourism management and development, and create favorable conditions for night-time economic development associated with tourism, following the principle of “Government, businesses, and people working together for tourism development.”
Overall crypto market capitalization crossed the $1.7 trillion mark on Wednesday for the first time since May 2022.
Bitcoin (BTC) neared the $44,000 level early Thursday and reversed some losses, which were caused by the sudden drop in U.S. stocks on Wednesday.
The S&P 500 index closed 1.42% lower, impacting riskier assets such as bitcoin. Some analysts pointed out that a correction was overdue as market indications were in overbought territory and the expiry of a certain type of options created selling pressure.
Bitcoin and trending tokens such as Solana’s SOL and Avalanche’s AVAX took a hit after the broader market plunge but climbed in early Asian hours on Thursday. SOL extended gains to 15% in the past 24 hours, and extended gains from a multi-week rally to over 55%.
Traders’ optimism around bitcoin remained strong ahead of an expected spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval in the U.S., which could bolster demand, and the halving event scheduled for April 2024, which has historically preceded bull runs for the crypto market.
However, some traders pointed out current bitcoin market metrics flashed signs of cooling down after a month-long rally – suggesting a low period of volatility ahead of the holidays.
“This week has witnessed a sideways trend, with bitcoin moving between $40,500 and $43,500 and ether between $2,150 and $2,250,” said Rachel Lin, CEO and co-founder of SynFutures. “Both these coins and the broader market are consolidating near their recent highs following a rapid increase in value during November.”
“One notable effect of this sideways movement is the cooling down of RSI, which, two weeks ago, was in highly overbought territory. Bitcoin’s weekly RSI stands at around 75, down from 82 at the beginning of the month,” Lin added.
The RSI indciator calculates the magnitude of price movements for assets, with readings below 30 indicating prices of an asset have fallen further than its fundamental value.
In a recent note, the Singapore-based digital assets trading firm said expects topside resistance for bitcoin in the $45k-$48.5K region.
The January launch of a bitcoin (BTC) spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) is expected to face subdued demand initially, which could lead to a ‘sell the news’ scenario, Singapore-based QCP Capital wrote in a recent note. This could result in short-term volatility for bitcoin, which will shift the focus towards ether (ETH).
“It is likely that the actual demand for the bitcoin spot ETF at the start will fall short of market expectations,” QCP wrote. “We expect topside resistance for bitcoin in the $45k-$48.5k region and a possible retracement to 36k levels before the uptrend resumes.”
Bitcoin is currently trading above $43,700 during Asia business hours, up 2% on-day.
QCP writes that ether is seen as a potential secondary investment option with an anticipated market shift from bitcoin, and speculative interest in a forthcoming ether spot ETF could drive ether prices higher, even before the ETF’s actual launch.
“Ether might also be an interesting laggard play here,” they wrote. “This kind of headline excitement could create some speculative uplift for ETH price whether it is warranted or not.”
CoinDesk reported that BlackRock (BLK), Nasdaq (NDAQ), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) held their second meeting in a month to discuss rule changes for listing the bitcoin ETF, with BlackRock modifying its proposal to include cash redemptions, aligning with SEC preferences.
Grayscale also recently had a second meeting with the SEC.
Bitcoin is up 17% in the last month, according to CoinDesk Indicies data, as anticipation builds around the ETF.
The Department of Transport has shared information about its efforts to improve traffic safety and minimize congestion in Hanoi City. They have made changes to the traffic flow in 48 routes and intersections, with 36 already officially implemented and 12 in a pilot period. In 2023, there will be 37 congestion points in the city, including 10 new ones. The Department has worked with the Traffic Police Department to classify these points by their causes.
The report shows that 17 congestion points are due to construction barriers, 14 are due to slow investment in traffic infrastructure, and 4 are due to vehicle traffic overload on current infrastructure. Two other congestion points require additional investment in traffic infrastructure. Additionally, there are seven traffic accident black spots and one potential spot in Hanoi City. The Department of Transport is coordinating with the Traffic Police Department to address these issues.
The roads in Hoang Mai district are full of potholes
For example, on the Linh Nam route, the Maintenance Department is working to ensure smoothness, quality, and traffic safety. They are also coordinating with the Hoang Mai District People’s Committee to speed up the expansion of the road surface. At Thanh Tri Bridge, the Department of Transport is installing additional warning signs, maintaining the bridge deck, cleaning the traffic safety system, and adding reflectors on the bridge railings. They are also researching the replacement of appropriate vehicle lane divider materials to minimize accidents.
Thanh Tri Bridge where traffic accidents and daily congestion often occur
To ensure traffic order and safety in Hanoi City in 2023, the Department Inspectorate has arranged forces to divide traffic flow and prevent congestion in 44 checkpoints following Plan No. 2552/KH-TTS. The City Traffic Safety Committee has also reviewed locations with high traffic density, especially during rush hour, and added 30 additional positions to the 204/326 positions proposed by the Department Inspectorate.
The latest statistics reveal that the number of visitors to Ninh Binh in December exceeded 354 thousand, resulting in an estimated increase of over 51% in revenue compared to the same period last year. The cumulative tourism revenue for 2023 is estimated to reach over 6,300 billion VND, more than double that of 2022.
By calculating the number of visitors, it is predicted that in 2023, Ninh Binh province will welcome over 6.5 million visitors to tourist attractions, including more than 390,000 international visitors. This is an increase of more than 1.7 times compared to 2022 and over 123% compared to the Year Plan.
Tourists highly appreciate Ninh Binh’s nature and landscape
A representative from the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism believes that the number of visitors to the province will continue to increase in 2023. To support this growth, the province will organize cultural exchange activities and events to promote and honor the values of the cultural heritage, monuments, and landscapes of Vietnam in general and Ninh Binh province in particular. Additionally, scenic spots will continue to be renovated and upgraded, the system of tourist accommodation facilities will be invested in and developed, and many new tourism products will be put into use.
Mr. Bui Van Manh, Director of Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, expects that in 2024, Ninh Binh will welcome a continued increase in visitors.
Mr. Bui Van Manh, Director of Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, shared his vision for 2024, stating that he hopes to welcome over 7.5 million visitors, of which the number of international visitors will increase to about 900,000. In addition to improving facilities, the province will improve the quality of human resources and cultural and civilized behavior with tourists to ensure that tourists are welcomed with hospitality and return to this ancient capital full of identity and charm.
The My Thuan – Can Tho expressway is expected to be inaugurated and put into operation on December 24. Consequently, starting from the beginning of 2024, the expressway from Ho Chi Minh City will seamlessly connect to Can Tho City through the segments of Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong, Trung Luong – My Thuan, My Thuan 2 Bridge, and My Thuan – Can Tho.
My Thuan 2 Bridge (right) is the starting point of My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway. Photo: Trung Chanh
According to the Vietnam News Agency, the Ministry of Transport has issued a document instructing the My Thuan Project Management Board to complete the legal procedures to commence the operation of the My Thuan – Can Tho expressway on December 24.
The My Thuan Project Management Board is tasked with directing the consulting design unit to review the connecting routes of the project, construct and propose the design of the project’s directional sign system to connect and guide traffic controllers to other roads in the area.
Furthermore, the Project Management Board is required to finalize the traffic organization plan for the expressway and submit it to the Road Administration Department for approval in accordance with the authority specified in Circular 06-2023 of the Ministry of Transport. This is to enable operation at a speed of 90 km/h instead of the previously designed 80 km/h.
Quang Ninh province is expected to welcome more than 15 million tourists in 2023, surpassing pre-Covid-19 levels. The total tourism revenue is projected to reach 33.48 trillion VND, marking a 48% increase compared to the same period in 2022, and a 3% increase over the planned target.
On December 21, information from the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee revealed that in 2023, the region aims to receive over 15 million tourists, a 33.6% increase from 2022 and a 3% rise over the target, including an estimated 2 million international visitors.
There are more tourists coming to Quang Ninh than before the Covid-19 pandemic, but fewer come to Ha Long Bay
Prior to this, statistical data until November indicated that Quang Ninh province had already hosted approximately 15 million visitors, a 142% increase compared to the same period in 2022, with over 1.8 million being international tourists.
By the end of 2023, Quang Ninh province is certain to attract a higher number of tourists compared to the period before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, the tourism industry in Quang Ninh flourished, welcoming over 14 million visitors.
However, the number of visitors to Ha Long Bay in 2023 is lower than in 2019. Specifically, in 2019, this UNESCO World Heritage site welcomed 4.4 million visitors, while in 2023, it only received over 2.4 million visitors.
The announcement of impressive tourism figures for 2023 by Quang Ninh’s tourism sector has surprised many businesses. This is because several planned tourism products for this year, such as the mountain climbing experience at Bai Tho, and cruises exploring Bai Tu Long Bay from the Ao Tien port, have not yet been implemented.
Meanwhile, some recently introduced tourism products have not performed well, such as the night walking street at Bai Tho and the pedestrian bridge at Hai Thinh Lake.
In 2024, Quang Ninh province has set the ambitious goal of attracting a staggering 17 million visitors, which is 17 times the local population, including 3 million international tourists.
Overcoming the leading names in Vietnamese tourism, the destinations in this Central Vietnam heritage journey are the most sought after by Vietnamese travelers for the year-end holiday season.
According to data from a leading global online booking application, during the Christmas, Western New Year, and Lunar New Year holidays in 2024, Vietnamese tourists particularly favor coastal domestic vacations, with 5 out of the top 10 most searched destinations located near the coast.
Additionally, two major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, are among the top 5 most searched destinations by Vietnamese travelers for the year-end festive season. The data, collected from December 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, is based on the booking volume by Vietnamese tourists for domestic travel programs.
Da Lat is behind Hoi An in the list of most searched for by Vietnamese tourists
Specifically, the top 10 most searched domestic destinations, with check-in dates from December 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024 (the number in parentheses indicates the change in ranking compared to the same period in 2022), are as follows: Leading the list is Hoi An (rising from the 6th position last year), followed by Dalat (+1), Ho Chi Minh City (+1), Hanoi (-2), Da Nang (-4), Vung Tau (+2), Phu Quoc (-2), Nha Trang (-2), Sa Pa (0), and Mui Ne (+2).
For international destinations, thanks to numerous flights, short travel times, and low costs, Bangkok tops the list of the most searched foreign destinations for Vietnamese travelers during the year-end holiday.
Specifically, in addition to Bangkok at number 1, there are also Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Sydney, Chiang Mai, and Osaka.
Booking also revealed the list of the top 5 most densely populated international markets to Vietnam during the year-end holidays, with South Korea occupying the first position. The remaining four names include visitors from Australia, the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The top 5 most searched and booked domestic destinations by international visitors are Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Nha Trang, respectively.
Recently, the renowned Australian newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald honored Vietnam as one of the top 5 ideal destinations in the world to celebrate the New Year with family and friends.
“For those seeking a tranquil overseas holiday with beautiful landscapes, shopping opportunities, excellent cuisine, diverse culture, and rich history, Vietnam stands out as a remarkable choice,” the newspaper remarked.
Furthermore, foreign tourists no longer need to worry excessively as Vietnam’s transportation system is continuously improving. In addition, there are professionally organized tour activities, as well as numerous luxurious resorts and hotels. Vietnam’s gateway cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both incredibly attractive, representing the bustling entrepreneurial energy.
The Australian newspaper suggests that travelers explore the rural areas to discover expansive rice fields and rustic villages against the backdrop of lush hills. Since both Northern and Southern Vietnam offer distinctly different experiences, SMH encourages travelers to spend at least 10 days exploring.
December marks the beginning of the dry season in the South and is an ideal time to explore the water landscapes of the Mekong Delta. Along with floating markets, abundant bird flocks, and water meadows, tourists should not miss the beautiful area around Chau Doc, near the Cambodia border.
In Hanoi during this time of the year, visitors can expect warm sunny days with low humidity, although nights may be chilly. According to the author Michael Gebicki, the northern hills of Vietnam, especially cold in December, provide tourists with a tropical snowfall experience.
Other destinations on the list include Nepal, Maldives, Cambodia, and India.
Visitors exploring the Tien Son Cave will check in at unique resting points adorned with eco-friendly canopies and native climbing flowers, along with captivating stone mountain flower paths.
Magical scenery inside Tien Son cave. Photo: Vinh Loc district website.
The representative of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Center (Quang Binh Province) stated that after a temporary closure for upgrading and repairing facilities, the Tien Son Cave (part of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park World Natural Heritage), one of the attractive tourist destinations in the cave system in Quang Binh, officially reopened to welcome visitors on December 21.
According to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Center, Tien Son Cave is located in the Tram-Me hamlet, Phong Nha town, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province.
The cave is nestled against the mountains, about 200 meters from the entrance of Phong Nha Cave.
Tien Son Cave was discovered by locals in 1935 and has since attracted scientists and archaeologists for research and exploration.
In 1999, the Royal Cave Association of the United Kingdom conducted a survey of the entire cave, measuring a length of 980.6 meters.
Tien Son Cave is situated at an altitude of 200 meters above sea level, 120 meters above the Son River. The mystical scenery inside the cave, with primitive and dazzling stalactites, is likened to a “fairyland.”
In 2000, Quang Binh province opened Tien Son Cave for tourism, turning it into an attractive and fascinating destination that draws tens of thousands of visitors each year.
To explore Tien Son Cave, visitors will ascend more than 500 steps, following a circular route inside the cave with separate entrances of 400 meters each for entry and exit.
The cave’s temperature fluctuates around 18-20 degrees Celsius, providing a comfortable and cool feeling in summer and a warm atmosphere in winter.
Deep inside the cave, visitors can marvel at the masterpieces formed over millions of years. Natural stalactite formations take on unique and beautiful shapes with enticing names such as Kim Tuyen Silver Stream, Huyen Khong Cave, Love Chamber, Phoenix, Tree of Destiny, Three Buddhas, Mother’s Heart Cave, Harmonious River, and Underwater Cave.
Mr. Hoang Minh Thang, Director of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang Tourism Center, mentioned that after a temporary closure for repairs and upgrades, Tien Son Cave is ready to welcome visitors with a new look.
Specifically, the center has renovated the pathways, resting points, check-in locations, and eco-friendly canopies adorned with native climbing plants, creating a distinctive and eye-catching stone flower mountain path.
Especially noteworthy are the resting points on the “Fairy View Glass Bridge” during the cave exploration journey. Here, visitors can freely check-in and enjoy panoramic views of rice fields, cornfields, sugarcane fields, and the idyllic and peaceful village landscape below the mountain at an altitude of about 100 meters above the river’s water level.
The center has also invested in and installed a heat-reducing LED lighting system to minimize heat generation, contributing to the protection of the cave’s internal stalactite system. This ensures sufficient brightness for visitors to explore, take photos, and observe the natural beauty of the cave without causing any harm.
