South Korean firms seek to open diving tours at Vietnamese island

Authorities in the district confirmed some South Korean travel agencies have contacted with local administration to survey the opening of diving tours on Thanh Lan, the largest island in the district.

Covering 27 square kilometers, Thanh Lan is home to 1,200 residents who mainly earn their living by fishing.

On the island there are currently seven accommodation facilities with 100 rooms. To move around the island, tourists can rent a motorbike for VND200,000 (US$8) a day.

In addition to diving, South Korean businesses also want to open tours for tourists to experience fishing and explore mangrove forests in Van Don and Ha Long, instead of only cruise tours.

Since Vietnam reopened its borders to foreign tourists in March last year, South Korea has become the Southeast Asian nation’s largest source of tourist arrivals.

In the first nine months of this year, Vietnam welcomed over 2.5 million South Koreans.