vietexplorer0040

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 26 organized a workshop on ASEAN festival tourism, as reported by VNA. Vietnam is actively participating in and contributing to tourism cooperation activities within the ASEAN framework. Currently, Vietnam holds the Chair position of the Committee on Resources, Monitoring and Evaluation of ASEAN Tourism; and serves as the main coordinator of the project “Building ASEAN festival tourism products”. According to the organizing committee, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has stated that international tourism is on its path to recovery and is expected to reach about 90% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023. Several destinations have already recovered, some even surpassing their pre-Covid-19 visitor numbers and revenue. Based on forecasts by tourism experts, the global tourism industry is projected to fully recover starting from 2024 onwards. Delegates discuss...

The festival, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade and the Vietnam Cuisine Culture Association, showcases a combination of traditional and contemporary art programs, along with various national Tet rituals. The event features over 150 booths exhibiting a diverse range of Vietnamese products and specialties from different regions. Many tourists gather to observe artisans wrapping and cooking “banh chung” (a square glutinous rice cake), a traditional dish during the Tet holiday. A special attraction of the festival is a calligraphy market where calligraphers, dressed in “ao dai” (Vietnamese traditional long dress), sell calligraphy works written in black and yellow ink on red paper. Visitors also have the opportunity to participate in traditional folk games such as stilt walking, tug of war, blindfolded clay pot breaking, and mandarin square capturing. A booth showcasing “To He” (toy figurines) attracts...