The central provinces experienced an unexpected boost of tourists for the Tet holidays.
About 74 thousand tourists, with 28 thousand foreign tourists, visited the province from January 17 to February 3, according to the Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
This is an increase of 7.5 percent compared to the same period last year.
Quang Nam, Da Nang, Thue Thien-Hue, Quang Binh and Ha Tinh were filled with an overwhelming amount of tourists.
This year Hoi An has seen more foreign tourists interested in wrapping banh chung, a square-shaped sticky rice, banh tet, cylindric glutinous rice cake and making fruit jams, said Nguyen Son Thuy, owner of the Earth Villa on Cua Dai Street.
Port City Da Nang received many groups entering by land and sea to destinations such as Son Tra Peninsula, Ba Na Hills, Marble Mountain - the Five Elements Mountains.
The city welcomed 181 thousand tourists, including 59 thousand foreigners, said Tran Chi Cuong, Deputy Director of Da Nang City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This number is a 23.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Thua Thien-Hue Province also welcomed over 60 thousand tourists, 45 thousand of them foreign. This is a 20 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Total revenue is reported at over VND31.5 billion (US $1.5 million). The Hue Imperial Citadel experienced over 35 thousand visitors in three days.
Many religious sites also attracted a large number of tourists. These sites include Linh Ung Son Tra, Linh Ung Ngu Hanh Son, Linh Ung Ba Na, Quan The Am, Linh Chua and Linh Tu Pagoda. Over 40 thousand people flocked to Vung Chua, the burial site of General Vo Nguyen Giap.
There are currently 16 international flights, with four direct flights, into Da Nang City. Travel agencies plan to increase number of routes to the city to boost tourism in the area to become an Asian “hotspot”.
