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Caravan is a type of travel by personal vehicle, in groups of 2 or more vehicles by road, can go through many different regions or countries. In the world, caravan tourism appeared about 20 years ago, popular in Europe and North America. Although introduced to Vietnam not long ago, caravan is gradually becoming more popular, because more and more people own their own cars, are passionate about traveling and want to experience driving on new roads.
Safety first
Recent surveys from Booking.com reflect the tastes of Vietnamese travelers in the new context. Accordingly, 75% of travelers said that staying safe while traveling is a top priority; 42% of Vietnamese people will choose alternative destinations to avoid crowded areas. In addition, 50% of Vietnamese travelers participating in the survey said they would skip public transportation to avoid sharing a ride with many other people. Instead, travelers will choose to rent a car or use a personal car to drive themselves.
According to Mr. Truong Duc Hai - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hon Ngoc Vien Dong Company (a caravan organizer in Ho Chi Minh City), caravans are becoming more and more popular after the Covid-19 pandemic. To avoid crowded places and limit public transport, traveling by private car is the best choice, both safe for health and ensuring disease prevention, and suitable for the trend of traveling in small groups and families.
In addition, caravan tours always put traffic safety first. The convoy is organized in a disciplined manner and participants must follow specific rules. Discipline and teamwork to ensure general safety are also the "specialties" of caravan tourism, creating a difference and excitement compared to other types.
Mr. Phung Gia Tuan - representative of Caravan Vietnam Tourism and Media Services Company said: "To ensure safety, the caravan organizer must know how to distribute and arrange vehicles as well as weak and inexperienced drivers who are not familiar with the terrain in safe positions, "accompanied in front and behind" so that they can feel secure when moving and not break the connection between the vehicles. The group leader will regulate the distance between the vehicles so that they are not too close, the distance between the vehicles will depend on the location in the inner city or on the highway, the weather, sunshine, rain, fog or the mountain pass, slope. Each trip must control the number of members and vehicles, not organize too many vehicles and not operate in unsafe conditions, all participating vehicles are advised and required to be warranted, maintained, and carefully inspected before rolling".
In addition, the organizer is always ready with equipment to support vehicle repair and basic first aid, and always has necessary support plans when incidents arise...; at the same time, they go to the site many times to grasp the changing issues related to roads and traffic regulations of the local areas they pass through to have solutions or information for tourists to know and comply with or adjust accordingly and safely.
Towards new values
Mr. Tran Van Ngoc, Director of Phong Ha Service Company Limited, commented that after Covid-19, tourists have higher demands on travel experiences, not just purely listening, watching, eating and playing, but also having to find valuable and meaningful things and participate in contributing to the community at the destination.
Caravans with small and flexible vehicles can easily take tourists to remote places that are difficult to reach with large tourist vehicles. This advantage helps tourists set foot in new, little-known destinations, have different experiences and can combine charity programs, learn about local culture... that mass tours often do not have.
Grasping the tastes of tourists, caravan tours are now supplemented with many new experiences and activities by tourism businesses. For example, in 2020, the caravan program "Return to the Central region" took tourists to do charity work in places that had just suffered damage from historic floods. The "Western Nghe An" caravan combined with trekking to conquer Pu Xai Lai Leng peak, visiting border guards and giving gifts to the poor. "Northwest Ban flower season caravan" with highlights of challenging mountain passes, experiencing Mu Cang Chai terraced fields, Lai Chau tea hills, Ta Xua cloud hunting... In addition, caravan trips always have a team of professional film and photography crews to capture beautiful and meaningful moments for tourists throughout the journey.
In the Southern region, some of the most attractive caravan routes are the 7-day journey through 13 provinces of the Mekong Delta, exploring the Southwestern border patrol route, the "Up the forest down to the sea" route connecting Ho Chi Minh City - Dak Nong - Dak Lak - Binh Thuan... Mr. Truong Duc Hai said: "Every season has its own beauty to go and explore. The outbound and return routes are designed differently, the scenery is different in each place and the stops for rest and photography are always changing, making the trip much more interesting than traveling on a fixed route in regular tours".
Recently, the journey "VGreen Caravan Northwest - blooming season" took tourists to learn about the life of prehistoric people at Xom Trai cave (Hoa Binh) - one of the most important relics, representing the ancient Hoa Binh culture; or experience transporting food to the battlefield during the Dien Bien Phu campaign at Pha Din pass (Dien Bien). Mr. Phung Quang Thang - Chairman of VGreen Sustainable Tourism Club said that the highlight of this new tourism product is the cultural content and experiences cleverly integrated into the caravan type, helping tourists to absorb and feel more easily.
In general, joining a professional caravan makes the trip smooth and convenient, tourists can feel secure in experiencing the driving, exploring the journey without having to worry about other issues. "With the professional organization of travel agencies, tourists do not waste time researching roads, booking hotels, eating... The services are guaranteed and the tour guide will help tourists experience and explore" - Mr. Thang added.
