Hanoi and Hoi An are perhaps the only urban centres of Vietnam where an ancient quarter is still preserved. Due to the impact of climatic conditions, the construction materials and wars, the present physiognomy of the ancient quarter only dated back to the end of the 19th century. But according to various historical sources, this area was the core of Thang Long, the capital, since establishment in the 11th century. This means that this area has existed for nearly one thousand years. Your can find the best Vietnam Travel Deals from Viet Vision Travel.
The ancient quarter has the of an isosceles triangle the top of hich is Hang Than Street, the Eastern side is the Red river dyke, and the Western side is Hang Cot, Hang Dieu and Dong Da Street, while the base formed by Hang Bong, Hang Gai, Cau Go Streets. Prior to the arrival of the French, the ancient quarter hs this common feature: criss – Crossing streets like on a chess board, most of the streets bearing the name of the products made or traded there. Sugar Street, Silver Street, bamboo Baket Street… “Tube-house” line both sides of the streets: they are long, narrow shophouses which sometimes end on another street; the front room is a shop for selling or provides light and ventilation and which is also used for raising decorative fish or ornamental plant and flowers; next come the family’s living quarters, followed by a supplementary area. Most are none-atorey house, with upturned roofs covered with small red tiles, the two walls surpassing in height the roof to be built in the shape of steps and the edge of roof being two strange pillars. Some houses have a second storey but it is usually low, and seldom does the second storey have a window which, in any case, must be very small (because the population was forbidden, under the feudal regime, to look at the face of the Emperor, particularly from above, when he was passing).

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Number of tourists down by 30%

According to the Vietnam National Tourism Administration (VNAT), 315,000 foreign tourists came to Vietnam in September, a decrease of nearly 50,000 tourists compared to September last year. While the number of tourists from China, Russia and Germany increased slightly, the numbers of tourists from the US, France, Japan and South Korea have seen considerable decreases.

The official number of tourists in October has not been revealed yet, but the director of a travel firm said that the number might see a decrease of 30%. Five-star hotels in HCM City and Hanoi say that the number of clients staying at the hotels is smaller than during the same period of last year, though it is now the high season for western tourists to come to Vietnam on their winter vacation.

The director of a travel firm that specialises in serving MICE tourists complained that the number of clients has decreased by 50%. He said that in previous years, it was very difficult to book hotel rooms, but now travel firms can easily negotiate room rates.

Local planning and investment departments in HCM City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces have also confirmed that the number of foreign investors coming to learn about investment procedures has decreased. The staff responsible for providing information at the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Zone Management Board said that if the board previously received some 10 investors, it was now receiving only 3-4 investors.

Struggling with the financial storm

An official from the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment said that it is not a surprise to see the number of investors decrease in the current difficult conditions.

“What we need to do now is to make a breakthrough to urge investors to disburse for licenced projects when they are considering the places to inject money into,” he said, adding that only by doing so can Vietnam prove that it is an attractive destination.

The official said that recently, a delegation of Nigerian businessmen came to Vietnam to seek investment opportunities. A delegation of 200 Italian investors will arrive in Vietnam earlier the next month with the same purpose. The governor of the US’ Idaho state has led a delegation of US businessmen to Vietnam to market US farm produce.

At the Vietnam-Nigeria Business and Investment Forum held in Hanoi on October 24 by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mustafa Bello, Managing Director of the Investment Promotion Committee, said that Vietnam’s strong industries could be an attractive market for Nigerian businessmen to export materials to.

Explaining the reason that brought hundreds of Italian businessmen to Vietnam in the last few days, Marco Saladini, Italian trade commissioner in Vietnam, said that Vietnam is really an attractive market for Italian investors as it imports several billion dollars worth of equipment and production tools per year. Vietnam has caught the attention of investors also as a fast-growing retail market in the world.

The director of a tourist firm has urged state management agencies to take action to attract clients in the current difficult period. “While other countries have been trying to promote tourism, Vietnam still keeps quiet,” she said.

The director said that hotels owners in Vietnam should think about the fact that room rates in Vietnam are still 25% higher than in regional countries.