Tours offer local experiences
The tourist market in Vietnam is constantly evolving to match the ever-changing demands and interests of travellers, according to Tran Gia Bach, Indochina regional manager of Buffalo Tours in Hanoi.
The tourist market in Vietnam is constantly evolving to match the ever-changing demands and interests of travellers, according to Tran Gia Bach, Indochina regional manager of Buffalo Tours in Hanoi.
"These days we find a lot of travellers wanting to get beyond the standard highlights and experience the real life of the destinations they visit," Tran says. "That could be through people, food or culture - exploring markets, meeting a priest at a small monastery or tasting the cities' best-kept food secrets with an expert guide."
He adds that since Buffalo Tours is based in Asia with its own operations, it can offer experiences that go beyond the guidebooks.
Tran says there is an increasing awareness of responsible tourism, with visitors looking for travel experiences that will have a positive impact on the communities they visit. "We have great outreach programmes supporting communities throughout Asia, and we also focus on our own impact by ensuring our vehicles are new [with less emissions], and our tours put money back into local pockets."
He says small group tours such as the company's Local Life programme are popular. "These tours explore the hidden sides of the destinations that few visitors have experienced. With only eight people on a tour, you really get the chance to have a personal experience."
Tran recommends a day trip to the Mekong Delta, where visitors can cruise on the quiet backwaters, meet locals, learn to make traditional Vietnamese rolls and enjoy lunch on a converted rice barge.
Trails of Indochina, another major travel agency in Vietnam, saw a decline in visitor numbers this year for the first time, but there was an increase in travellers from Hong Kong due to more direct flights, according to Linh Le, global director of product marketing sales for the Ho Chi Minh City-based operator.
The company specialises in creating tailored itineraries. Recently, it saw an increase in inquiries about destinations such as Sapa and Ha Giang, and in combining a tour of south Vietnam with beach breaks to Phu Quoc and Con Dao.
The travel agency recently introduced new destinations such as northeast Vietnam, Dong Hoi's Paradise Cave, Trang An Eco Tourism Complex, the Co Tu hill tribe village, and the deeper part of the Mekong Delta by Chau Doc.
