UK newspaper promotes northern Vietnam for 2019 visit

In a listing 40 top holiday destinations for the year, The Guardian includes a tour of northern Vietnam.

It recommends a pilgrimage to the top of Yen Tu Mountain in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

A historic relic on the mountain is visited by thousands of Vietnamese citizens in the first days of the Lunar New Year. They burn incense for King Tran Nhan Tong, who founded the Truc Lam Zen sect in the late 13th century after abdicating his throne and embracing the life of a Buddhist monk.

Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh Province is always flooded with pilgrims during the lunar new year. Photo by Shutterstock/tranduong

Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh Province is always flooded with pilgrims during the Lunar New Year. Photo by Shutterstock/tranduong

It used to take around four hours to get to the pagoda on the summit of the 1,068-meter high mountain, but a cable car system has made the ascent easier in recent years.

The UK newspaper also recommends a lesser known, lesser spoilt nature reserve in the central province of Thanh Hoa as a viable alternative to the more popular Sa Pa town in northern Lao Cai Province. The Pu Luong reserve is a four-hour bus ride to southwest of Hanoi.

Boys play on a small pond in Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Photo by VnExpress/Tran Huy Thang

Boys play on a small pond in Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Photo by VnExpress/Tran Huy Thang

Pu Luong’s rice fields, taking on various hues during various seasons, the lush green mountains that surround it, and the marked absence of modern conveniences, apart from a few homestay services, as well as its relative isolation, adds to the reserve’s attractiveness.

Among the top 40 holiday destinations for 2019 compiled by The Guardian are locations in Japan, India, Singapore, Taiwan, Macau, France, Mexico, Argentina and the U.S.

The U.K. newspaper last year named Quy Nhon, a beach town in south-central Vietnam, among the top 10 best destinations for a winter escape.

VnExpress

Other News

Vietnam secure berth at FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 for first time

Vietnam secure berth at FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 for first time

Vietnam national U17 football team secured a place at the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 for the first time after defeating United Arab Emirates national U17 football team 3-2 on in the final Group C match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 in Saudi Arabia on early May 14 (Vietnam time).

Vietnam’s most beautiful railway station twins with French counterpart

Vietnam’s most beautiful railway station twins with French counterpart

A twinning agreement between Da Lat Railway Station in Vietnam and Trouville-Deauville Railway Station in France was signed at the French Embassy in Vietnam on May 7, creating new opportunities for cooperation in station management and operations, as well as cultural and tourism promotion between the two sides.

Hanoi gains two more craft villages in World Crafts Cities network

Hanoi gains two more craft villages in World Crafts Cities network

The recognition of Chuyen My and Son Dong craft villages as members of the World Crafts Cities network represents international acknowledgement of the cultural value, artisanal techniques, creativity and sustainable vitality of Vietnam’s traditional craft villages, he said.

Thang Long - Hanoi Festival 2026 to return in September

Thang Long - Hanoi Festival 2026 to return in September

Co-hosted by the municipal People’s Committee, the Department of Culture and Sports, and domestic and foreign agencies, the whole spectacle is meant to honour the city’s millennia-old heritage while reafffirming its strategy of establishing culture as a development engine.

Spreading Vietnamese cultural identity in digital space

Spreading Vietnamese cultural identity in digital space

In the context of deep international integration, cultural identity serves as both a “shield” against assimilation and a defining marker of a nation’s image. Protecting and promoting uniquely Vietnamese cultural values has therefore become a pressing task, particularly in an increasingly complex digital environment.

ITE HCMC 2026 to promote Vietnam’s tourism on global map

ITE HCMC 2026 to promote Vietnam’s tourism on global map

With its large scale, the ITE HCMC 2026 aims to promote tourism cooperation between Vietnam and priority markets such as Northeast Asia, Western Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and Oceania while also boosting visitor arrivals from the Indian market

Vietnamese puppetry seeks renewal amid preservation challenges

Vietnamese puppetry seeks renewal amid preservation challenges

Although widely regarded as a cultural “speciality” attracting tourists, Vietnamese puppetry is facing multiple challenges in preservation and development, requiring renewed efforts to both safeguard its identity and adapt to contemporary cultural currents.

Project on digital transformation in cultural sector approved

Project on digital transformation in cultural sector approved

By 2030, the project targets the establishment of shared digital platforms across 100% of cultural sectors. All digitised cultural heritage will be standardised under the national data framework and shared in accordance with regulations, while 80% of public digital heritage assets are expected to receive digital identifiers to clarify ownership and management, encouraging organisations and individuals to do the same and support market development.

Vietnam eyes becoming region’s leading tourism destination

Vietnam eyes becoming region’s leading tourism destination

Vietnam has in recent years undergone a notable transformation in its tourism development strategy, placing a strong emphasis on nature-based and eco-tourism. This shift is not merely aligned with global trends, but represents a necessary step towards safeguarding valuable natural resources, while appealing to a growing segment of environmentally conscious travellers.