The seventh Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Exhibition (ITE HCMC) officially kicked off on Sept. 14, drawing travel agencies and companies from 40 countries and territories worldwide.
In my eyes, Ha Giang, the northernmost province of Vietnam , is the most attractive destination in the country, with the rocky plateau at Dong Van, the love market at Khau Vai, Heaven's Gate over the Quan Ba Pass and the friendly, colourful ethnic groups. For that reason, despite the bad weather and narrow roads, our seven-day trip to Ha Giang was eagerly anticipated.
Visitors to Sa Dec Town in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap can admire gardens full of colorful flowers in spring time or visit Huynh Thuy Le House where French hit movie L’amant (The Lover) was filmed.
International tourists will enjoy value-added tax (VAT) refunds when they purchase goods in Vietnam under a draft currently being considered by the Ministry of Finance.
Unique cultural features, traditions and customs of five ethnic groups, Cho ro, Cham, E de, Jrai, and M’nong, are introduced at the Culture-Tourism Village for Vietnamese Ethnic Groups in Hanoi’s outlying Son Tay town.
The local tourism sector needs USD 42.5 billion during the next 10 years, for the development of infrastructure and service. The funding is needed to increase the number of local tourists from 28 million in 2010 to 47-48 million in 2020 and foreign tourist arrivals from 5.05 million to 10 million.
‘Vietnam’s water puppetry is the cultural event which we most look forward to in Nuevo Leon state,’ said Liliana Melo de Sada, the head of the organising board of Santa Lucia international stage festival in Mexico, in a press conference to present the event on September 8.
