China tour restart

"Hot" short tours, road

Since mid-March, when she heard that China was about to open its doors to Vietnamese tourists, Ms. Hoang Thi Binh Minh, an office worker (living in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi), went online to search for a tour to China with her colleagues on the occasion of April 30. "After checking the prices, we decided to choose a road tour to Phoenix Ancient Town - Phu Dung Ancient Town - Zhangjiajie for 7.39 million VND/person. Compared to traveling domestically, this price is very reasonable, and we can go abroad. The duration of 5 days, 6 nights is right during the holiday, we don't have to ask for extra leave," Ms. Minh said.

Zhangjiajie is a popular destination for Vietnamese tourists before and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

On social networks, tours to China are being actively offered by companies and individuals. For example, the Zhangjiajie - Phoenix Ancient Town tour costs 7.69 - 7.99 million VND/person; the Guilin - Yangshuo tour costs 6.68 - 6.95 million VND/person. In addition, companies also offer air tours to Tianmen Mountain - Yuanjiajie - Phoenix Ancient Town, flying with Vietjet for 11.99 - 13.49 million VND/person...

In addition, some units sell 3-day, 2-night tours to border gates such as: Lao Cai - Ha Khau (China); Mong Cai (Quang Ninh province) - Dong Hung (China); Huu Nghi (Lang Son province) - Bang Tuong (China) with prices ranging from 2.1 - 3.5 million VND/person.

Mr. Hoang Hau Duong, Director of Vietnam Mainland Travel Company, said that since mid-March, many tourists have contacted to ask about going to China, especially during the April 30 holiday. Because commercial flights from Hanoi to cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu have not resumed, at this time, travel companies mainly offer short, overland tours such as: Zhangjiajie - Phoenix Ancient Town; Lijiang - Shangrila; Nanning - Guilin...

"Air transport costs are high, there are few airlines operating, if there is a transit flight, the tour price will increase a lot. Currently, we mainly focus on tours that were "hot" before the pandemic such as: Zhangjiajie - Phoenix Ancient Town; Lijiang - Shangrila... Through research, many customers still like to travel on these routes because they are close to the Vietnam border, convenient in terms of transportation, and save time," said Mr. Duong.

Although the price of China tours is about 20% higher than before the pandemic, Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoan, General Director of Flamingo Redtours, assessed that road tours have many advantages compared to before. "The expressways from Hanoi to the border gates in Lao Cai and Lang Son are now very convenient. To China, there are high-speed trains, and travel is also faster. From Kunming, tourists can go to Yangshuo, Guizhou, Hunan, Chengdu, Sichuan, etc. Tourism businesses and tourists can be more proactive in choosing tours, routes, and departure dates without depending on flight schedules," said Mr. Hoan.

Regarding the reason for the higher price of Chinese tours compared to before, this person explained: due to the inflation situation, the increase in gasoline. Moreover, previously, tours were subsidized by shopping places, restaurants, and hotels, now only a few shopping places and hotels have reopened, plus the lack of human resources, so the price of services has increased. "Customers have high expectations for promotions, tour discounts, and have the mentality of waiting longer to buy tours at good prices, but with the above reasons, it is very difficult to go on cheap tours," Mr. Hoan shared.

Strengthening cross-border tourism cooperation

To exploit the Chinese tourism market, travel companies of the two countries have also initiated strengthening connections to build attractive, quality tourism products suitable to the tastes of Chinese and Vietnamese tourists after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recently, the Hanoi Department of Tourism coordinated with the tourism departments of Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and the Hong Ha district government (Yunnan province, China) to organize a conference to promote the launch of the golden tourism route "Two countries - six destinations" between China and Vietnam.

The promotion program with the participation of nearly 300 tourism businesses from China and Vietnam, exchanging information on tourism products, introducing and promoting tourism and destinations; thereby creating opportunities for tourism businesses to understand needs and seek investment cooperation opportunities.

Mr. Trieu Thuy Quan, Secretary of Hong Ha District Party Committee, said that Hong Ha is a miniature of beautiful China and colorful Yunnan. Coming to Hong Ha District, tourists can visit the place where President Ho Chi Minh - the great leader of the Vietnamese people worked in Mong Tu H.; meet the Ha Nhi and Yi people; visit the Thai Binh forest lake town and experience the beautiful view of life here; experience the small French train to go against the wind, explore the ancient Song Long bridge and the thousand-year-old Doan Son ancient village...

"The launch of the China-Vietnam golden tourism route "Two countries - six destinations", including Kunming - Hong Ha - Sa Pa (Lao Cai province) - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province) will create a good foundation for China and Vietnam to strengthen cross-border tourism cooperation on a larger scale," said the Secretary of the Hong Ha Chau Party Committee.

Ms. Dang Huong Giang, Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism, said that Hanoi always identifies China as a key international tourist market. The resumption of the "golden" tourist route is a good sign for the tourism industry of the two countries in general and the localities in particular.

The leaders of the Hanoi Department of Tourism suggested that tourism businesses proactively exchange information and cooperation opportunities to prepare the best conditions for facilities, products, human resources, and soon implement a two-way tourist pick-up and drop-off program.

According to travel companies, the April 30 - May 1 holiday is a good time to stimulate demand for China tours. If regular flights resume, China tour prices will "cool down", and it is predicted that this summer there will be an "explosion" of tours to China as before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/tai-khoi-dong-tour-du-lich-trung-quoc-185230402184028658.htm