Ho Chi Minh City, earlier known as Saigon is a perfect medley of European architecture and south-east Asian lifestyle, adapting the nuances of a modern metropolitan city quite rapidly.
This was my second visit to Ho Chi Minh City and my ride to the hotel in District 1 to the Ho Huan Nghiep Street helped me recollect all that I had experienced a couple of years back. The roads were still motorcycle-choked; the fumes from the street food joints appeared even more delectable, while, in the narrow lanes,traditionally dressed men and women selling flowers and souvenirs, had the same charm in their smile. Undoubtedly, in a country that can be remembered for its hospitable people, Ho Chi Minh City serves as a perfect getaway for Indian travellers interested in the history of this otherwise timid country.
However, what looked distinctively different is the fast urbanisation of the country and the city in particular. From what I could recall from my trip in 2015, there has been a massive makeover of the city. New hotels, bars, art galleries and restaurants have sprung up in all possible corners of the city. Some of the under construction sites look promising despite adding a visual distraction at times. The city is still noisy but what has remained almost similar is the intent of the Vietnamese people to retain their culture in terms of the way they dress, the gestures and most importantly their innocent smile.
Floyd Cowan, a fellow journalist based in Singapore who has been visiting Ho Chi Minh City for the last 17 years said, "We have seen a lot of change over the years. The city has come from quite a small backward place to a thriving city now. It is perhaps the entrepreneurial skill of the people and the areas that we never visited in our earlier trips are now vibrant communities. I think Vietnam and especially Ho Chi Minh City has a lot to offer the world as a tourist destination. They just need to let the world know; how good the food is, how beautiful the country is and then they will really have a lot more tourists from all over the world."
Saigon: Soaked in history
Denne historien er fra November - December 2017-utgaven av India Outbound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November - December 2017-utgaven av India Outbound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
La Mamounia is an oasis for travellers
In order to cement its foothold in the Indian market, Moroccan luxury resort La Mamounia, located in the picturesque town of Marrakech, recently organised a visit to Mumbai and Delhi, engaging with top-tier travel industry partners from India. General Manager Pierre Jochem tells India Outbound that the resort, which recently completed 100 years, is targetting the Indian visitors seeking to explore Morrocan art, culture and heritage, besides its captivating beauty.
Africa has come a long way as travel destination for Indians
The perception of Africa as a tourism destination has come a long way in India as travellers from India have gone beyond safaris to discover other elements that make travel to Africa attractive. The change is not just amongst Indian tourists, but destinations have also learnt more about their Indian clients and are taking steps to customise their offer to the Indian visitors, writes Alpa Jani, Founder, Ace Connect, a tourism marketing company.
ASCENIC RAIL TRIP ACROSS BALKANS
A rail journey through the Western Balkans, from Serbia's vibrant capital Belgrade to the culturally rich Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a more tranquil, scenic way to explore the region's breathtaking mountains, lakes and historical towns at a leisurely pace.
Shahnaz Husain's cool tips for skincare during travel
Celebrity beautician and hair care expert Shahnaz Husain tells India Outbound on her secrets for skin-care and hair-care while travelling.
Plovdiv: Timeless jewel in Bulgarian crown
With a history spanning over two millennia, Plovdiv is not only one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, but also a vibrant conduit linking Bulgaria's past and its present.
Navigating Natural Wonders of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
For us city dwellers, even the sound of a cuckoo might seem exotic. So now imagine discovering a vastness filled with shifting dunes and interlaced emerald lagoons.
Explore the Jewel of Southern Spain, Seville
Home to one of the largest historic centres of Europe and three world heritage sites, the stunning city of Seville, located by the picturesque Guadalquivir River in southern Spain, offers tourists an experience rich in history, culture, art, gastronomy and much more.
UPI IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A GAME CHANGER FOR INDIAN TRAVELLERS
Having revolutionised digital transactions in India, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is now expanding globally. After tepid beginnings in the immediate neighbourhood, UPI is gaining acceptance in many countries making a win-win for Indian tourists and businesses overseas that are increasingly eager to tap the burgeoning Indian outbound travel market.
Debuting at COP29, can tourism lead march towards curbing carbon emissions?
Tourism will make its debut in global climate change negotiations in the next round of discussions, COP29, that opens in Baku later this month. So far, the discussions have spectacularly failed to produce any notable outcome, besides platitudes and numerous missed commitments. The global tourism industry has a golden opportunity to lead the way and show the world the true path to curbing carbon emissions. But the sector's own record in this aspect is hardly blemishless.
Bintan Island: SEESE
A haven of nature, with thriving flora and fauna, the Indonesian island of Bintan, that is barely an hour away from Singapore by ferry and comes with easy visa regimes, is an ideal extension for any Indian visitor to Singapore, looking to add a touch of wilderness to the experience.
