Vietnam Heritage Town Welcomes First Caravans

The World Heritage town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam on December 24 welcomed the first caravan traveling through Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

The group of 26 vehicles with 66 tourists began in Thailand on December 20, going over the Friendship 2 Bridge to Savannaket province of Laos. Then, the cars entered Vietnam through Lao Bao border gate in the central province of Quang Tri.

 

Having visited well-known landscapes in Vietnam, the caravans follow Ho Chi Minh Trail, crossing Bo Y border gate in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum into Laos. After that, they come back to Thailand.

 

The town is expected to receive more caravans following the opening of the Huu Nghi Bridge on December 20.

 

Vietnam, home to five World Heritage sites has witnessed increases in the number of caravan visitors in recent times, mostly from Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, signaling a boom in the new tourism model. Specifically, Danang city saw the number of caravan tourists increase five-fold this year to 20,000.

 

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the country’s tourism watchdog, was seeking permission to welcome motorcade tourists from Malaysia and Singapore.

 

Currently, Caravans are only permitted to enter Vietnam through the Lao Bao checkpoint in Quang Tri province and Cau Treo in Ha Tinh province.