Hoi An one of 10 best cities in Asia, says Smarter Travel

Smarter Travel, one of the largest online travel resources for independent advice for the budget-conscious traveller, has voted Hoi An as one of the 10 ideal cities for visiting in Asia.

The US site says, "A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An Ancient Town remains a trading port, just as it was from the 15th to 19th centuries as it thrived in the spice trade.

"The fact that it's so well-preserved attracts foreigners who come to see the poster child for traditional Southeast Asian ports.

"One-time merchant homes represent Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese styles and are now a mix of antique shops, eateries, and galleries."

Hoi An is ranked ninth in the list. The others include Beijing, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, Siem Reap, and Taipei.

VN's top luxury hotels try to lure affluent travellers

Five luxury properties situated in each of the country's most compelling destinations are working to position Viet Nam as an attraction for affluent travellers.

The five the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, The Nam Hai in Hoi An, the Reverie Saigon in HCM City, La Residence Hotel & Spa in Hue, and Paradise Cruises on Ha Long Bay have formed a digital platform called Quintessential Collection Vietnam – quintessentialcollectionvietnam.com – that will function as a single resource.

Among the things the site will feature are information like where to get exactly the right martini, what activities visitors may want to indulge while in Viet Nam and what exactly are the goods to take back home from a trip.

It will report what the world's leading media outlets are saying about Viet Nam.

Mong Cai City gets its first pedestrian mall

Mong Cai City in the northern province of Quang Ninh has made Tran Phu off-limits to vehicles and exclusively for pedestrians at certain times of the week.

The city's first walking street is expected to speed up its tourism development.

On both sides of the street are stalls selling Vietnamese and Chinese foods and displaying local specialities like white-leg shrimp, Tra Co crab, and Mong Cai pork.

It also features music and dance performances to attract visitors.

The street will be off-limits to vehicles every evening from Wednesday to Saturday. 

Quang Binh develops community-based tourism

The community-based tourism in Quang Binh province, including homestays and farmstays, has attracted a large number of visitors. Quang Binh provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has planned some projects to develop this type of tourism.

With the first success of the homestay model at Chay Lap, Phuc Trach commune, Bo Trach district six years ago, the community-based tourism is currently common at communes in the buffer zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a World Natural Heritage Site.

Tran Thi Dien, the owner of Pepper House at Hung Trach commune, Bo Trach district, has shared that her accommodations located in a calm natural space with eco-activities in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, has attract many visitors, especially international tourists. At Pepper House, the visitors have a chance not only to see the beauty of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, but also to enjoy life in the Vietnam’s countryside, according to owner Dien.

Ho Khanh Homestay, another accommodation in Bo Trach district, and run by the married couple Ho Khanh and Le Thi Nghia, includes two bungalows and three buildings. The Ho Khanh Homestay’s has beautiful and romantic views and is a convenient location for visiting the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Visitors have the opportunity to meet with the accommodation’s owner, Ho Khanh, who discovered Son Doong cave - the largest cave in the world.

Recently, Ha Thi Huyen Trang, from Bac Ly ward, Dong Hoi city, Quang Binh province, has opened Homestay Ocean View in Quang Phu commune, marking the first appearance of eco-friendly tourism in the sea city of Dong Hoi.

Quang Binh currently has three farmstay zones and 27 households with homestay services. Over the two past years, the accommodations, with their friendly style and competitive prices, have attracted many international visitors.

In the first three months of 2015, Quang Binh welcomed over 10,400 foreign travelers, the majority of who have chosen to stay with a homestay.

Highly appreciating the effect of community-based tourism, Deputy Director of Quang Binh provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyen Van Ky, who also is Chairman of the provincial Tourism Association, said that this type of tourism not only contributes to introducing and promoting tourism in Quang Binh, but also brings practical benefits to the economy and the lives of local people.

According to Chairman Ky, the natural beauty of the forests, seas and people in the surrounding zones of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and along of beaches in Quang Binh will help develop tourism to the region.

Quang Binh has provided refresher courses for local people, however the community-based tourism is developing largely on its own.

Ho Khanh expressed his hope that he would het to improve the quality of Ho Khanh Homestay.

Quang Binh provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is planning to develop more large-scale community-based tourism. According to Chairman Nguyen Van Ky, local authorities should raise awareness of community-based tourism to support and create the conditions to develop tourism.

Meanwhile, the local people should be trained in foreign languages, tourism skills and services to improve the quality of tourism services at homestays and farmstays.

With the participation of local authorities and local people, the quality of tourism will improve.