Vietnam is one among seven “lesser-known destinations to consider when it’s safe to travel again”: CNBC

“Travelers’ habits are changing - quickly and en masse. People are bypassing big cities in favor of smaller destinations that attract fewer tourists, and outside activities such as hiking and biking are attracting more interest than before,” reporter Monica Buchanan Pitrelli from CNBC wrote. 

The colouful lanterns in Hoi An ancient town, Quang Nam province. Photo: Google Art & Cluture.

According to her, to avoid crowds while spending time in the great outdoors, there are seven spots worth considering once it’s safe to travel again.

After Normandy, France and some islands of Greece, Central Vietnam stands  third on the list. While many international tourists to Vietnam head north to Hanoi and Halong Bay or south to Ho Chi Minh City, CNBC advised them to travel to the central region of the country.

“Those who do venture to the center typically go to the old town of Hoi An, the glitzy hotels outside of Da Nang or to the historic sites of Hue and My Son,” the article stated.

A visit to Quy Nhon is like a trip back in time. The central coastal province is still home to small-scale fishermen and where the neighbourhood's wet markets were bustling with fresh seafood from the daily catches. 

Anantara Quy Nhon Villas is an all-villa resort built in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. Photo: Booking.com

Several years ago, a small number of resorts bet that travelers would be attracted to the sleepier parts of Vietnam. Anantara, a luxury brand from Minor Hotels group, was one of the first five-star international hotels that opened in a part of Vietnam that received few international visitors.

In 2017, The Guardian, a UK newspaper, named Quy Nhon among the top 10 winter sun destinations for 2018. The intense resort development seen in the country’s more popular seaside locations has yet to reach this region, making for a laidback atmosphere and the perfect place for a relaxed getaway.

Another attraction to the country’s interior is the colossal Son Doong cave. First explored in 2009, only 1,000 travelers are permitted to explore it every year, a limit put in place to protect the cave, which is believed to be one of the largest and most magnificent in the world.

Son Doong Cave. Photo: Jason Speth/ Oxalis Adventure.

Son Doong is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district. Formed between two and five million years ago, the cave is more than 200m high, 150m wide and approximately five to 6.5 km long. 

Son Doong Cave has been recognized the largest of its kind in the world by three international organizations, including Guinness (based in the UK), the Association World Record (based in Hong Kong) and WorldKings (based in the US and India).

The US Smithsonian Magazine, used to rank Hang Son Doong as top among “25 great places to see in the 21st century” and described that the cave is big enough to “accommodate the Washington Monument” and “fit a pair of Boeing 747s side by side”.    

Other travel destinations that are recommend by CNBC to visit after Covid-19 pandemic including Kagawa- Japan, Dandenongs- Australia, New Mexico and Saba and Saint Eustatius.