Nguyen Thu Huong won’t be making the traditional pilgrimage back to Ha Tinh Province to celebrate the upcoming Tet with her husband’s family this year. Instead, they are going to Singapore to enjoy shopping and sightseeing. Traveling overseas allows her family to bypass the crowds, clogged roads and boredom that can mark Tet in Vietnam. Huong, her husband and their small son have also visited Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong in previous years. “I don’t want a boring Tet, staying at home in Hanoi or going to Ha Tinh. Tet celebrations are always the same old thing – eating, drinking and watching TV galas – every year,” said Huong, 30, who works for the State Bank of Vietnam. “Traveling overseas is interesting, and it doesn’t cost much more than visiting tourist spots in this country.” Huong is just one of many Vietnamese people who have decided to go abroad this Tet holiday, which starts on February 15. Many travel agents said they have received 20-30 percent more bookings for overseas travel than last year. Vietravel has received an estimated 19,000 bookings for outbound tours this Tet, while Lu Hanh Viet and Hanoi Red Tour have forecast 10,000 and 3,000 customers respectively. Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan are proving to be the most popular destinations. Rising overseas travel is a result of smooth economic development and an expanding middle class, said Nguyen Cong Hoan, vice general director of Hanoi Redtour. “A more affluent younger generation now wants to see the… [Read full story]
VietNamNet Bridge – According to statistics of the Vietnam Travel Association, each year about 5 million Vietnamese travel overseas, spending about $6 billion (the figure for 2012 is about $3.5 billion). Many travel companies said the number of Vietnamese people traveling abroad is rising, mainly to Japan, Korea, Thailand, the US, Cambodia ... Tran Thi Viet Huong, marketing manager of Vietravel, said the number of local tourists buying overseas tours at Vietravel last year rose by 145% from a year earlier, while domestic travellers increased 132%. Notably, the number of individual tourists buying foreign tours was about 20% higher than…... [read more]
More overseas Vietnamese returning home for Tet By Dao Loan - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – The tourism authority of HCMC has estimated there will be around 150,000 overseas Vietnamese coming back home via the Tan Son Nhat International Airport this month to celebrate Tet, up 10% year-on-year. Most of these overseas Vietnamese, locally known as Viet Kieu, are from the United States, Australia and France. The HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Viet Kieu would make up nearly half of 310,000 international visitors who are expected to arrive in the city this month. Some hotels in…... [read more]
Many overseas Vietnamese singers have returned home for Tet and will perform during the country's biggest holiday. Singers such as Le Thu, Duc Huy, Tuan Ngoc, Khanh Ha, Thai Chau, Bich Chieu, Kim Anh, Ai Van and Nhat Ha, amongst others, will not only enjoy a warm holiday with family, but also have a chance to take part in New Year's celebrations.Overseas singers Tommy Ngo, Lynda Trang Dai, Thanh Ha, Phi Nhung and Mai Quoc Huy will be perform on stage together with local acts, such as Phuong Thanh, Dan Truong, Mat troi moi (New sun) band, Toc Tien at…... [read more]
In Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, Vietnamese expatriates joined together in Phat Tich pagoda on February 4 to pray for peace and happiness in the upcoming New Year. Speaking at the event, Venerable Thich Minh Quang, head of the pagoda highlighted the need to preserve Vietnam’s cultural identity and traditions. Built in 1957, the pagoda is serving religious demand of overseas Vietnamese (OVs) living in Vientiane and adjacent areas. It is a place for exchange, thus promoting unity in the Vietnamese community in the country. On February 4, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh, as entrusted by Prime…... [read more]
VietNamNet Bridge - The Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh these days is packed with overseas Vietnamese returning home for the country's most celebrated holiday. Tran Phuong Lan, a Vietnamese - American was in tears holding her daughter's hand when they stepped out of the airport's luggage check room. "Finally, I am home after 25 years. Finally, I have made it to bring my daughter home," said her of Alice Tran, the 19-year-old girl who had never been to her mother's homeland until now. More noticeable in the crowd at the airport lounge was the 8-member family…... [read more]
