One of the reasons tourists return to Cu Lao Cham (Cham Islands), a group of eight small islands off Hoi An city of the central province of Quang Nam, is its tour guides.
Students attend the tour guide training course. (Photo: vietnamtourism.gov.vn)
Quang Nam (VNA) - One of the reasons touristsreturn to Cu Lao Cham (Cham Islands), a group of eight small islands offHoi An city of the central province of Quang Nam, is its tour guides.
“Charming oratory, flexible tours and the provision ofexceptional information is real spice, making tour guides here a beguilingchoice for tourists," said Dutch visitor Jenny Mario after finishing atour with guide Vo Phuc Sinh, 34.
A typical working day for Sinh, who is called “Lord of theSoil and the Ground of Cham Islands” starts at 8am. When the first touristgroups from the mainland enter the port, he quickly supports them. They areattracted by his friendly, brisk and cheerful attitude.
Nguyen Thanh Ba, a visitor from Hanoi, said jokes andhumorous stories were combined with explanations of traditional customs ofislanders. He said this brought a relaxing, close link between guides andtourists. “It is far better than having dogmatic guides who always stick towhat they have been taught in the textbooks. So boring,” he said.
At present, the tourist guides at Cham Islands has up to 30members. They include former "xe om" drivers, boatmen and even housewives whohave been trained at local tourist guide classes and issued with a certificate.
Some guides are youngsters who left the islands, but returnedto take up jobs as guides. The team cleverly combines guiding with remindingtourists on keeping the environment clean. No plastic bags are allowed on theislands, swimmers are not allowed to remove anything from the sea - and thesale of rare sea crabs is forbidden.
Meanwhile, because many tourists love to see starfish andcoral while diving, tour guides are encouraged to bring them to the surface forvisitors to see - and then release them.
Guides are paid 200,000 VND for each tour. The money helpsthem to cover their living expense. When the stormy season comes, they returnto their daily routines as xe om drivers, hammock knitters and livestockbreeders.
Tran Thi Hong Thuy, Director of the Cham Islands Sea Reservesaid the reserve started training 30 young people a time in tourist guideclasses.-VNA
Tourists visiting Cu Lao Cham (Cham Islands) in the central province of Quang Nam now can see creatures and coral reefs in the seabed thanks to a new service launched by a local tourist company.
The central province of Quang Nam, which is hosting the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings, has designed typical tours for tourists to discover the locality’s culture and people.
The number of visitors increased by 4.1% compared to the same period last year, while total tourism revenue surged by 48.8%, or nearly 88% of the year’s target.
“There is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam’s twin metropolises as this train rattles through historic cities and swooshes beside spectacular coastlines,” according to Lonely Planet.
All the 240 households in Thieng Lieng hamlet once knew only salt production and aquaculture, but now welcoming tourists has become a source of their joy and income.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Students attend the tour guide training course. (Photo: vietnamtourism.gov.vn) 
