Foreign arrivals to Vietnam hit a record high of more than 13 million people this year, a year-on-year increase of 30%.

About 13 million foreigners chose Vietnam as their holiday destination in 2017, which is considered a record of the tourism sector and marked a year-on-year rise of nearly 3 million in the number of foreign visitors for the first time.

 Industry insiders have urged the Government to further open up visa policy for foreign tourists to make Vietnam’s hospitality industry more attractive.

 Tourist sites and resorts in the Ham Tien-Mui Ne area, Phan Thiet city, the south central coastal province of Binh Thuan, are busy during last months of the year as many international tourists come here for their winter vacation.

Danang Department of Tourism said on the occasion of Christmas 2017 and New Year 2018, the city will receive four international cruise ships at Tien Sa port carrying about 6,000 passengers.

The first walking street in Phu Quoc island district was opened on December 24.

 Lying peacefully in the heart of HCMC for more than one century, Tan Dinh Church has been a convergence point for not only Catholic pilgrims to practice their religious belief but also for tourists.

Despite high growth in the past few years, Vietnam’s tourism still lags behind other ASEAN countries, especially in terms of competitiveness, due to poor products and strict visa requirements, heard a seminar in Hanoi City last Friday.

Sapa, Da Lat and Nha Trang have become top destinations of young tourists in recent years.

The island of Ly Son is endowed with scenic sites, some of which are popular among visitors such as Cau cave, To Vo gate, Duc and Hang pagodas and two craters.

 The Prime Minister has recently given the green light to a tourism development master plan for Dong Van Karst Plateau national tourism site in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang until 2025 with a vision towards 2030.

 Tung lamaow is a famous traditional dish of Cham people in the border town of Chau Doc in An Giang Province.

 Many localities of the northern province of Quang Ninh has actively built their plans in service of the National Tourism Year Ha Long-Quang Ninh 2018.

 The central city of Da Nang will host 143,000 tourists, including 82,000 foreigners, visiting during the Christmas and New Year vacation from December 24 through January 2.

 The restructuring of the tourism sector should be conducted in a synchronous manner across all related sectors like transport, trade, services and customs, delegates said at a workshop in Hanoi on December 22.

 Sa Pa winter festival 2017 will be organised in Sa Pa town, the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from December 23 with myriads of splendid activities.

 Travellers to the Mekong Delta should visit Tra Su cajuput forest in An Giang Province to enjoy its beautiful landscapes and serenity.

 Mu Cang Chai District, home to breathtaking terraced rice fields in the northern mountain province of Yen Bai, has recently been voted among the 19 most visit-worthy destinations around the world by readers of US travel site Insider.

 The US National Geographic Traveller magazine has revealed the list of the best destinations for winter trips, including Vietnam.

 A range of activities have been carried out by Vietnam tourism sector and other related authorities to realise the single ASEAN visa policy.