Cua Lo determines to become a civilized and modern coastal urban area by 2020. The town is planning to become an important economic hub of Nghe An province.

It has been upgrading infrastructure and adding hotel rooms to improve the quality of tourism services and become a beach tourism destination by 2015.

Tourist arrivals to Cua Lo are estimated at nearly 2.3 million in 2014, including more than 1.4 million who stayed overnight and over 550,000 foreigners.

Last year, Cua Lo received 2.12 million tourist arrivals, a 9.6% increase over 2012, and earned VND1.46 trillion of revenue, almost a third higher than in 2012./.

Sa Pa

Many visitors flock to Sa Pa in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai to spend their New Year holidays. They will have a chance to see snowfall in winter like in Northern Europe.

Foggy Sa Pa lures a large number of visitors during Christmas and New Year season which see a wide range of activities such as music and dance performances, love market, and folk games.

Da Lat

Located in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, Da Lat is one of the most wonderful venues for tourists during New Year holidays.

The city of flowers is also chosen by many couples who are keen on romantic places like Mong Mo (Dream) hill, Tinh Yeu (Love) valley and Xuan Huong lake. Those who are interested in historical and cultural sites can also visit King Bao Dai’s palace, Domain church, Truc Lam zen, and Dalata waterfall.

Mai Chau

The beauty of pristine mountain and green forest in Mai Chau resort in northern Hoa Binh province attracts a large number of visitors, especially during New Year holidays when Mai Chau is in its most beautiful season.

Mai Chau is famous for flower blooming season and comfortable Nha San (Stilts House) – common accommodation of Thai ethnic minority group.

Visitors to Mai Chau can also enjoy campfire and taste delicious grilled dishes made of local farm produce such as maize, sweet potato, and sugar cane.

In this busiest time of year, farmers have to work in the garden from dawn to dusk, taking care of the trees, watering, fertilizing, weeding and spraying plant protection drugs.

In this busiest time of year, farmers have to work in the garden from dawn to dusk, taking care of the trees, watering, fertilizing, weeding and spraying plant protection drugs.

It takes more time to take care of ornamental plants than flowers, so people started to grow them from the beginning of the year. They are now only focusing on some special treatment for the plants. Depending on the growing time of each tree, people can decide when to plant. Year’s end is the planting season for short-term ornamental plants such as chili, heart-shaped plant and small carnation.

In Phu Long, Hung Khanh Commune, the ornamental bonsai farm of Nguyen Van Cong draws the attention of passers-by with bonsai formed in the shapes of 12 zodiacs. Some of his animal-shaped plants have been exported to Singapore and Australia.

Since early this month, people from everywhere have come to farms in Cai Mon Village to looking for their favorite plants. Some special kinds like mountain ginseng, fig or wrightia religiosa are usually sought after and sold out earlier than apricot blossom, mandarin orange plants and ornamental flowers.

Cai Mon Village, about 40 kilometers from Ben Tre City, has favorable natural conditions for planting fruit trees, ornamental flowers and plants. Many families there earn a living by planting decorative flowers and trees. Income from the job can cover their children’s school fees and other expenses, including home purchases.

The city has so far attracted VND22.95 trillion (over USD1 billion) and USD52.4 million from domestic and foreign investors; registered trade value of VND71.73 trillion (USD3.24 billion); and welcomed over 1.36 million tourists, a year-on-year rise of 16.6 percent, 8.3 percent and 9 percent, respectively.

In 2014, the city has improved infrastructure built for land and waterway traffic, while adopting incentives for businesses at home and abroad, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Bui Ngoc Vy.

Intensive trade promotion brought Vietnamese goods to rural areas and encouraged businesses to join international trade fairs in the capital city of Hanoi and the southern economic and business hub of Ho Chi Minh city, and other countries and territories like Cambodia, Taiwan (China), France, and Belgium, according to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Duong Nghia Hiep.

Local authorities also provided technical assistance for businesses to create new products, reduce production costs, and increase competitiveness in the domestic and global markets.

By concentrating on export staples like rice, seafood and garment, strengthening its foothold in traditional markets, and seeking fresh outlets, the city grossed over VND71 trillion (USD3.2 billion) from domestic goods consumption and USD1.35 billion from foreign exports.

Meanwhile, the tourism sector earned over nearly VND1.2 trillion (USD57.1 million) in revenue, exceeding the yearly target of 4.5 percent and registering a year-on-year rise of 20 percent, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Dang Thai Hoa revealed.

He attributed the outcome to the city’s cooperation with 19 cities and provinces across the country to promote its tourism products and services. Can Tho also partnered with southern An Giang and Kien Giang provinces to develop spiritual and ecological tourism, he said./.

During the event, Hoang Thanh Phong, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stressed hospitality, courteousness and friendliness as the key to attract and keep visitors to the province.

Ninh Binh is home to a number of destinations for tourists, such as the Trang An tourism complex - a UNESCO-recognised cultural and natural heritage site, Tam Coc–Bich Dong caves, Cuc Phuong Natinal Park, Van Long Nature Reserve, Kenh Ga hot springs, Bai Dinh pagoda – the largest Buddhist cultural and spiritual centre in Vietnam, Phong added. 

The Ninh Binh People’s Committee has instructed relevant agencies and localities to review operation of tourist agencies while improving quality of the tourism services in tourist areas.

The province by the end of November welcomed about 4 million visitors, including 456,000 foreigners, generating 884.3 billion VND (42.1 million USD) in revenue.

The new Terminal 2 has 48 check-in counters located at the G and H islands with plans to expand a dozen more counters at the E and F islands in the time ahead, more than doubling the current number of check-in counters.

Ticketing offices have been conveniently placed next to the check-in-counters with the baggage claim area for arrivals and the lost and found counters on the first floor to create the best conditions for passengers, an airline representative said.

In addition, situated on the fourth floor, a 750m2-VIP room has been opened to serve business class passengers, consistent with international standards.

For international flights at the new Terminal 2, check-in counters will open three hours ahead and close 50 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time, the spokesperson said adding that the airline will be phasing in the transfer of its international flights to the new terminal on December 26-30.

The mountain is called Da Chong because it is created by natural arrangement of many spectacular huge rocks with different shapes and sizes surrounded by greenery. The mountain is beautified by pristine white-sand Ninh Chu Beach in the east and paddy fields and vineyards in the west.

The mountain is dotted by pagodas, temples, and giant Buddha statues, including Thien Vien Truc Lam Vien Ngo (Truc Lam Vien Ngo Temple Complex), Trung Son Pagoda and Trung Khanh Pagoda.

Sweet and sour grated papaya salad mixed with beef is sold in many places. However, only in Ho Hoan Kiem street can Ha Noi gourmets enjoy this traditional dish with its real taste.

In the past, there were a few stands selling this dish. Later on, more stands appeared and this dish is now popularly sold.

A portion of sweet and sour grated papaya salad includes thin sliced beef (fried and ground beef), thick beef (grilled beef), spleen, tendon (cow stomach), sauce, sour and sweet vinegar, garlic vinegar and roasted peanuts. The unique feature of this kind of salad lies in the four typical tastes: sour, peppery, salty, sweet and not too fatty.

Stretching over the area of Mau Long commune, Yen Minh district and Sung Trai commune, Dong Van district, the cave was discovered by scientists in 2010 and is considered the most beautiful cave to be unearthed in Ha Giang so far.

The cave was formed in limestone, which is a common geological tendency across the Dong Van Krast Plateau in Ha Giang—a UNESCO-recognised Geo-Park.

The entrance to the cave, 30 metres in width, is covered with many valuable timbers. The inside of the cave amazes visitors with many stunning stalactites in various shapes and colours, which have been formed over thousands of years.

According to Secretary of the Yen Minh district Party Committee, Hoang Van Vinh, the district authorities have taken measures to safeguard the pristine beauty of the cave and raise public awareness of visitors and ethnic minority groups on protecting its surrounding ecological environment.

Efforts have also been made to advertise the image of the cave, making it an attractive destination for tourists to Ha Giang, he said.