Phu Quoc surges as top destination for Vietnamese travelers during 2026 New Year holiday

Wild apricot and đỗ mai blossoms are transforming the mountains of Vietnam’s Gia Lai province, while vibrant green moss carpets the coastal villages to the east, creating contrasting scenes that signal the arrival of spring across the Central Highlands.

Rubber forests across Gia Lai are reaching the height of their annual leaf-shedding season, transforming vast highland areas into sweeping vistas of yellow, red and brown beneath the rotating blades of nearby wind turbines.

Laos has been selected as one of the world’s leading travel destinations for 2026 by global travel publication TravelPulse, following an evaluation conducted by a council of international travel experts and consultants.

TasteAtlas has released its latest ranking of the 100 best dishes in Vietnam, based on 8,499 diner reviews collected as of January 10, 2026. The culinary platform validated 5,537 of those ratings to compile the list.

Asia's largest lantern festivals are not only grand-scale light shows but also gatherings that celebrate history, spirituality, and folk art.

Miss Hoàng Thùy has completed an eight-hour trekking journey to the summit of Chư Nâm Mountain in Bien Ho commune, the highest peak in the western region of Gia Lai province, reaching an altitude of 1,472 metres above sea level.

More than four years after being designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the Kon Hà Nừng Plateau is entering a new phase focused on implementing concrete measures to balance conservation with local socio-economic development, authorities said.

Gia Lai province is positioning itself as a major tourism hub as it prepares to host and co-organise activities for Vietnam’s National Tourism Year 2026, a move local authorities and businesses see as a catalyst for sustainable growth and brand-building.

Artificial “snow” displays transformed parts of Ho Chi Minh City into festive attractions on Christmas Eve, drawing large crowds to cafés, churches and Catholic neighborhoods across the city.

A street food festival in Pleiku Ward has drawn large crowds in the lead-up to the New Year, offering a lively showcase of local cuisine and One Commune One Product (OCOP) specialties as part of a countdown programme to welcome 2026.

A scientific project to develop a set of green tourism criteria linked to unique tourism products in the Kon Hà Nừng Plateau World Biosphere Reserve is underway in Gia Lai province, aiming to promote sustainable tourism development and community livelihoods.

A former traditional martial artist from Vietnam’s Central Highlands is carving out a new path in the culinary world, blending Western techniques with local ingredients to tell the story of his homeland through food.

Gia Lai province welcomed its first air travelers of 2026 on January 1, marking the start of a year-long tourism drive tied to the National Tourism Year – Gia Lai 2026.

Gia Lai province has stepped up efforts to strengthen tourism governance by enhancing statistical capacity and promoting the application of artificial intelligence, as part of preparations for tourism management in 2025.

The People’s Committee of Tuy Phuoc Commune in Gia Lai Province on December 27 launched a new tourism product, the “Journey of martial arts and meditation,” at Long Phuoc Pagoda, positioning traditional culture at the centre of local tourism development.

Gia Lai will host a large-scale countdown event to welcome the New Year 2026, featuring a variety of cultural, artistic, and entertainment activities. This event is regarded as a significant milestone for the local tourism sector, aiming to drive recovery and accelerate growth.

Vietnam’s tourism sector is poised for another major push in 2026 after a record-breaking performance in 2025, marked by strong visitor growth, rising revenues and international recognition, while warning signs emerge over sustainability and capacity.

Deep within the buffer zone of the Kon Hà Nừng World Biosphere Reserve, Hà Đông (now Đak Sơ Mei commune, Gia Lai province) remains pristine, home to Bahnar villages that exist peacefully amid the mountains and forests.

Vietnam’s passport has risen two places to rank 90th globally, according to the Henley Passport Index 2025, updated in December, reflecting a modest improvement in international mobility for Vietnamese citizens.

Vietnam is expected to welcome its 20 millionth international tourist of the year on December 15, marking the first time the country has reached the milestone, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Young Vietnamese travel creators are using social media to showcase local culture and landscapes, spreading positive images of their communities through simple, authentic photos and videos that resonate with wide audiences.

Pleiku Ward authorities have approved plans to develop the “Cho Nho Night Street” project, positioning it as a new tourism hub aimed at driving commercial and service-sector growth and shaping the ward’s post-merger urban identity.

Taste Atlas has just released its list of the Best Food Cities in the World 2025, featuring 100 cities. Among them, Vietnamese cuisine is represented by Hue, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Gia Lai province has launched a training programme to strengthen community-based tourism by equipping local residents with traditional cultural knowledge and hospitality skills, provincial authorities said on December 12.