The Hanoitimes - Organizers of the Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism (MIST) accelerator program announced that 12 startups from Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam have qualified to pitch their business plans to investors at the Mekong Tourism Forum, 6 June in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. Industry experts selected the 12 startups from more than 250 applications spanning travel technology solutions, traditional tourism products, hospitality projects and social enterprises. All 12 attended a three-day training and evaluation program, 5-7 May in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where experts from Amadeus Next, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Buffalo Tours (TMG), Clickable Vietnam, Entrepid Advisors, Gobi Ventures, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), and Triip.me mentored the startups. MIST co-creator Jens Thraenhart, executive director of MTCO, explained that it is critical in today's competitive and fast changing travel and tourism landscape to integrate innovation and … [Read more...] about 5 Vietnam companies enter final round of Mekong Startup Tourism competition
Vietnam motorbike tour expert
11 Vietnam tourism Startups highly appreciated by international community
The Hanoitimes - The Mekong Business Initiative (MBI) and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) have announced that 11 innovative tourism startups from Viet Nam have qualified for the Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism (MIST) Startup Accelerator program. More than 250 travel tech and traditional tourism startups applied to the MIST program. The Travel Startups Incubator, based in the United States, screened applications based on their potential for investment and the quality of their business plans. MBI experts performed additional due diligence, considering sustainability and other socio-economic criteria. Finally, selections were verified in partnership with the Da Nang City Incubator (DNES). Qualifying startups will advance to a MIST Startup Accelerator bootcamp May 5-7, 2017 in Siem Reap, Cambodia alongside nine innovative tourism startups from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar. Market experts including Deputy Director of TMG Cong Nguyen, Investment Director of Gobi Ventures … [Read more...] about 11 Vietnam tourism Startups highly appreciated by international community
Vietnam praised for stunning caves, street food
Lifestyle website Thrillist has compiled a list of the best things to do in Southeast Asia, urging visitors to Vietnam to explore the country's caves and check out its street food scene. The site said the cave system of the PhongNha-Ke Bang National Park in the central region is the best place to go. The 123,000-hectare (nearly 304 million acres) park, which holds UNESCO heritage status for both geodiversity and biodiversity, is home to a stunning network of 400 million-year-old caves including the world’s largest, Son Doong. It is also a place “where the farmers still flash peace signs as you motorbike by their striking green rice paddies,” according to Thrillist. Son Doong, or Mountain River, stretches for around five kilometers with at least 150 individual grottoes, rivers running through them, a dense subterranean jungle and fossilized corridors. The cave was discovered in 1991 by local man Ho Khanh, who in 2009 helped British experts explore it. It was first … [Read more...] about Vietnam praised for stunning caves, street food
Vietnam tourist police: overdue measure or just another copout?
Hanoi proposal to set up tourist police force slammed as ill-conceived, wasteful Authorities in the capital city of Hanoi have proposed establishing a special police force charged with maintaining tourist security but experts said such a force would be ineffective, calling the plan wasteful. Nguyen Van My, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City-based Lua Viet Tours, said such a force would be costly, but unproductive. "The system is already bulky and inflated it will only increase the burden on taxpayers," he said. "Will the tourist police specialize in protecting tourists exclusively? When dealing with thieves and pickpockets, will they stop to make sure the victims are tourists before pursuing the suspects?" Last week, the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed setting up the force following a slew of widely reported cases involving foreign tourists being ripped off in the capital city. In its proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the agency … [Read more...] about Vietnam tourist police: overdue measure or just another copout?
Vietnam tries to attract MICE tourists through websites
VietNamNet Bridge – A lot of big hotels in HCM City have been introducing their services, programs and events on their websites in order to help tour organizers consider designing MICE (meeting, incentive, convention, event) tours on demand. Services diversified Tourism experts say that international tourists and businessmen nowadays not only want to attend conferences and exhibitions at hotels and convention centers, but they also want to meet experts to discuss issues in fields of common interests. Therefore, Vietnamese service providers have been trying to diversify their services to attract more clients. Many hotels in Vietnam have been introducing special dishes on the websites, and trying to organize cooking classes for their MICE guests. If the guests want, they can even go to market to select ingredients for cooking themselves. In general, hotels assign their cooks, who are in charge of Vietnamese cuisine, to show guests how to cook … [Read more...] about Vietnam tries to attract MICE tourists through websites