LIFESTYLE

The Vong Phu Rock relic in Vietnam’s central province of Thanh Hoa has been reinforced under a VND17 billion (USD 650,000) project after suffering damage from repeated lightning strikes.

UK-based travel magazine Time Out has named 19 best places in the world to travel in 2026, with central Vietnam ranking 8th in the overall list.

Vietnamese representative Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan will wear an outfit knitted from recycled fibre in the national costume segment of the coming 53rd Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant.

Danang is positioning itself as a halal-friendly destination as global Muslim travel surges, raise competitiveness and strengthen its image as an inclusive, internationally compliant city.

A 132-year-old bridge in Ho Chi Minh City has again been vandalised by graffiti, underscoring persistent challenges in protecting the city’s historic landmarks and public works.

Nguyen Phuong Linh, a 23-year-old contestant from Hanoi, was crowned Miss Vietnam Tourism 2026 at a grand finale held in the northern mountain resort of Sapa of January 10.

From January 13, 2026, all Vietjet domestic flights will conduct check-in procedures at Hall A of Terminal T1 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi plans to stage a fireworks display as part of a special art programme celebrating the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

An Indian Bollywood film crew will spend three days filming in Ha Long Bay and Tuan Chau in Quang Ninh Province for the upcoming film Silaa.

Flower growers in Danang are working day and night to ensure tens of thousands of pots bloom in time for the Lunar New Year or Tet 2026 holiday.

Seven tourists, including several Russian nationals, were rescued after being swept out to sea while swimming off Nha Trang beach in the southern central province of Khanh Hoa on January 9.

Lien Khuong Airport in Lam Dong Province will close from March 4 to allow construction works, with operations expected to resume by mid August.

The Ministry of Construction has approved a one-year pilot allowing Phuoc An Port in Dong Nai Province to receive international passenger ships.

Agoda has reported that Sapa was the fastest-growing destination in Asia in 2025, reflecting the rising level of interest among international visitors in Vietnam’s culturally rich highland town.

A luxury tourist yacht was destroyed by fire and partially sank in the Sai Gon River after a blaze broke out on the afternoon of January 7.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has added traditional knowledge of eel dish preparation in the central province of Nghe An to the national list of intangible cultural heritage.

The Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route ranked fourth among the world’s busiest air corridors in 2025, with about 11 million seats scheduled, according to aviation data provider OAG.

Hanoi has proposed suspending passenger trains on a central rail section that crosses Long Bien Bridge and the popular train street to protect heritage sites and improve safety.

Vietnam received a record nearly 21.2 million international visitors in 2025, up 20.4 per cent year on year, marking the first time the tourism sector has reached this milestone.