LIFESTYLE

Lao Airlines, the national flag carrier of Laos, has announced it will resume direct flights linking the Lao capital of Vientiane with Vietnam’s central city of Danang from March 29.

Vietnam welcomed 14 million travellers during the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday from February 14 to February 22, marking a strong rebound and record performance for the tourism sector.

A family-run noodle workshop in Danang is attracting growing numbers of foreign tourists by steaming mi Quang over rice husks, turning a traditional craft into a hands-on cultural experience.

Thousands flocked to Vieng Market in Ninh Binh on February 23, undeterred by heavy rain, to take part in the annual ritual of “buying luck and selling misfortune” at the start of the lunar year.

Authorities in Phu Tho Province have launched a sweep against unlicensed and unsafe tourist boats on Hoa Binh Lake, barring vessels that fail to meet safety standards.

Office workers in Hanoi struggled to find lunch venues on the first day back after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, as many eateries remained closed and those that reopened were quickly overwhelmed.

The luxury cruise liner Seven Seas Explorer docked at Cam Ranh International Port, Khanh Hoa Province, on February 23, carrying around 800 passengers and 700 crew members on a regional Asia itinerary.

Hanoi Metro carried more than 243,000 passengers during the nine-day 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, up more than 32 per cent year on year, with all services operating safely and on schedule.

Phu Quoc International Airport handled 260,473 passengers during Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026 holiday, marking its highest traffic since opening in 2012.

More than half a million passengers travelled on Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line during the seven-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, surpassing its target by 42 per cent.

HCM City welcomed 4.32 million visitors during the nine-day Tet 2026 holiday, generating an estimated VND 12.15 trillion (about USD 462 million) in tourism revenue, up nearly 43 per cent year-on-year.

Thousands of pilgrims and visitors flocked to Huong Pagoda in Hanoi on February 22, the opening day of the annual festival, despite persistent drizzle.

Italian cruise ship Costa Deliziosa docked at SP-PSA Port in HCM City on February 22, bringing 1,959 international tourists and 892 crew members on a visit at the start of the 2026 Lunar New Year.

Quy Nhon ranked fourth among the world’s 25 Trending Destinations in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards, a first for Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Prestigious fashion magazine Vogue has named Con Dao Island among the world’s top honeymoon destinations for 2026, highlighting its appeal to the high-end resort market.

A surge of holiday makers to former Ha Giang, now part of Tuyen Quang Province, has gridlocked major tourist sites and left accommodation fully booked.

Dalat in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Lam Dong was inundated with visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday, with many hotels fully booked and some room rates tripling.

Beaches and hotels in Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, were packed in the early days of the Lunar New Year, as tens of thousands of visitors caused traffic congestion and room shortages.

Italian-flagged cruise ship Costa Serena brought more than 3,500 passengers to Nha Trang Bay on February 20, marking the first international cruise call to Khanh Hoa Province in the Lunar Year 2026.