Ninh Binh province, with its rich nature, culture, and history, is emerging as a tourism magnet for northern Vietnam, a potential that can be exploited further by enhancing cooperation with other localities in the region.

The number of foreign arrivals in Hanoi so far this year has surpassed 2 million, up 15 percent from the same period last year, the capital city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on October 6.

Vietnam would see an increase of 8-18 percent in the number of overseas visitors if e-visa and visas on arrival were available at all border gates, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

Homestay accommodation and community-based tourism, which are developing rapidly in a number of localities throughout Vietnam, have substantially contributed to the promotion of the value of local cultures and poverty-reduction efforts.

Vietnam’s only nominee, Vietravel was honoured a title of the World Travel Awards 2014 (WTA) at the awards ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand on October 2.

Vietjet Air has officially announced its new flight routes between Vietnam and the RoK in a ceremony held as part of the visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the RoK.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Norway recently organised a workshop to promote the country as a tourism destination on the northern European market.

An array of popular tour operators and hospitality providers have won the 2013 Vietnam tourism awards, mostly from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Saigontourist, Fiditour and Vietnamtourism-Hanoi are all recognised as the top outbound, inbound and domestic tour operators.

Vietnam welcomed more than 6 million international arrivals during the first nine months of 2014, up by 10.42 percent compared to the same period last year.

The northern province of Quang Ninh, home to stunning landscapes and important historical relics, launched a competition to find a new tourism slogan and logo.

Developing community-based tourism is expected to help local residents improve their living standards and promote their cultural values, a senior tourism official said at a ceremony in Hanoi on September 26 on the occasion of World Tourism Day.

Quang Ngai province is located in the central coastal region, bordering Kon Tum province and the Truong Son mountain range to the west, Quang Nam to the north, Binh Dinh to the south and the East Sea to the east, with a coastline of more than 140km.