Many Vietnamese travelers are willing to spend big on overseas pilgrimage tours, which offer a variety of cultural and spiritual experiences in such religious places as India, Thailand, and Bhutan. As the Lunar New Year holiday is over, local travel agents are now offering various tours to foreign destinations with deep culture and religions, attracting a large number of clients. The journeys are designed not only to meet tourists’ spiritual demand but also to bring them a unique and comprehensive experience of the local culture. According to a representative of Ho Chi Minh City-based tour operator Vietravel, India, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia are still favorite places when it comes to pilgrimage trips. Bhutan, one of the new destinations, has also captured a lot of attention, he added. Pilgrimage tours to places in Southeast Asia, including Siem Reap – Phnom Penh, Bangkok – Pattaya, and Yangon are offered at between VND3.4 million (US$149) and VND12 million ($527), according to local travel agents. A trip to India may cost up to VND32 million ($1,406). One of the most luxurious journeys currently available is a seven-day stay in Bhutan, which is priced at nearly VND60 million ($2,637). Domestic pilgrimage tours are also a good option for those who cannot afford to travel overseas. Tour operators have organized various excursions to the Yen Tu relic site in northern Vietnam, Bai Dinh Pagoda in the northern province of Ninh Binh, Truoi River and Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery in the central province of Thua… [Read full story]
VietNamNet Bridge - The central coast, which is the home of some of the most famous beaches on the planet, such as Da Nang, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon and Phu Yen, is really the favorite destination for travelers this summer, who like beautiful beaches and professional services.Flocking to beaches to avoid summer heat Just a few years ago, when planning tourism trips, northerners would immediately think of familiar sites such as Do Son in Hai Phong City, Sam Son in Thanh Hoa, Cua Lo in Nghe An or Hai Thinh. However, recently, people tend to go farther to…... [read more]
Dat Tien To meet the demand of tourists keen to visit the late General Vo Nguyen Giap's grave, Saigontourist will open a new tour to the new attraction of Vung Chua in Quang Binh Province which is endowed with stunning scenery. The four-day tour will depart on Sundays from HCMC to Quang Binh-Vung Chua-Phong Nha-Quang Tri-Hue-Danang priced at VND4.7 million, exclusive of flight tickets. Travelers will be taken to famous places such as Phong Nha National Park, Hoi An ancient town, the 17th parallel relic, Hien Luong Bridge, Ben Hai River, Quang Tri ancient citadel, La Vang Church, Thien Mu…... [read more]
Saigontourist offers pilgrimage tours By Dat Tien in HCMC In Vietnam, the first month of the Lunar New Year is time to make pilgrimages to pagodas to pray for a happy life, good luck and good health in the year ahead. Pilgrimage tourism is becoming a part of modern Vietnamese culture and an attractive tourist product for foreigners. Pilgrimage tours to the north visit famous pagodas and temples, providing inner peace and interesting architecture such as Tran Temple in Nam Dinh Province, But Thap Pagoda in Bac Ninh Province, Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc, Ngoc Son and Quan Thanh Pagda…... [read more]
Freelance tour guides in Vietnam are railing against a new law that will ban them from doing their jobs independently from next year.In order to continue working as tour guides, they will have to either secure contracts with authorized travel companies or tour agencies, or join the Vietnam Association of Tour Guides, which was established early this month, under the amended Law on Tourism.Nguyen Nam, a tour guide, told VnExpress that not many travel companies are willing to hire tour guides as permanent employees because it means they have to pay them monthly salaries and cover compensation and benefits packages.Lo…... [read more]
Taking pilgrimage tours in spring By Dat Tien in HCMC In the first month of the lunar calendar, Vietnamese people traditionally go to sanctuaries to pray for good health and prosperity. Pilgrimage tourism is becoming a nice traditional feature and this is also an attractive tourist product to international tourists. Stillness of sacred places and incense rising into the sky take people's sensation back to the real ego of life, wanting to escape daily stresses and miseries to find peace and precious silence for their souls. Therefore, sanctuaries offer charming tourist products such as souvenirs or vegetarian food and other…... [read more]
