Travel

Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has approved the project for National Tourism Year 2026, confirming the title “National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026”, with the English name “Visit Viet Nam Year - Gia Lai 2026”.

The Secretary of the Party Committee of Pleiku Ward, Nguyen Xuan Phuoc, inspected final preparations on January 27 for the opening ceremony of the “Cho Nho night street” event, scheduled for January 30.

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.

A newly released bilingual book offers a comprehensive and evocative portrait of Vietnam’s seas and islands, highlighting their central role in the nation’s history, culture and development.

The gradual rollout of a night-time economy in central wards is opening fresh development opportunities for western Gia Lai, as local authorities seek to build more dynamic, round-the-clock urban areas.

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.

The central province of Gia Lai will host a number of events and festivals next year for the 2026 National Tourism Year, according to its People’s Committee.

The Mang Den Culture and Tourism Week and Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 will take place from January 1 to 4, 2026, featuring a series of vibrant cultural, sports, culinary, and eco-tourism activities. This event is set to be a highlight, attracting visitors at the start of the New Year.

Phu Quoc has emerged as the most-searched domestic destination for Vietnamese travelers planning trips for the 2026 New Year holiday, according to new data from Booking.com.

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.