Travel to Korea with 5 destinations not to be missed

Gangwondo – a paradise for sports enthusiasts

Gangwondo is a province in the Northeast of Korea, with beautiful nature, majestic seas and mountains. Gangwondo is an ideal destination for sports enthusiasts because it will be the venue for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Therefore, since this year, Gangwondo province has focused on developing winter tourism products under the name: "Hello! Pyeongchang 2018".

Coming to Pyeongchang, we will visit the official competition venues, famous ski fields of Korea and immerse ourselves in the sports competition atmosphere of the pre-Olympic testing events. In addition, coming to Gangwondo, you can also visit Seoraksan Mountain - a mountain famous for the harmony between streams and beautiful rocks, recognized by UNESCO as a world ecological reserve.

Come to Jeollanamdo – slow down to love more

Jeollanamdo is located in the southwest of Korea with famous natural tourist attractions such as Suncheonman Bay, Yeosu Beach, slow cities such as Jeungdo Island, Cheongsando Island, Damyang. (Slow cities are places where people's lives slow down, the environment is cleaner, people are more connected and respect traditional cultural values). This place is also famous for its rich seafood dishes, along with unique traditional music arts such as Pansori and Arirang.

In Jeollanamdo, you can relax by watching the romantic Yeosu sea at night and take a sunset cruise on Suncheon Bay. Coming to Yeosu, you can take a cable car across the sea, ride a bicycle on the rail track along the coast, and enjoy the panoramic view of Yeosu city at night. For nature lovers, the eco-city of Suncheon - the beautiful gem of Jeollanamdo is definitely a great choice. You can visit Suncheonman Bay Ecological Park and the two temples Songgwangsa and Seonamsa with picturesque scenery.

Go to Gyeongsangnamdo to see the most beautiful sea view in Korea

Gyeongsangnamdo is located in the southeast of South Korea, adjacent to the port city of Busan. It is home to the Haeinsa Buddhist temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination. If you are interested in Hallyu culture, Gyeongsangnamdo is a must-see destination.

One of the highlights of Gyeongsangnamdo is Namhaedo Island, home to the Namhae Sea and part of Hallyeohaesang National Park, along with some of the most beautiful ocean views in Korea. Sangju Beach is a vibrant place with bustling activities all year round, especially in the summer. The 2km stretch of beautiful white sand is a great place for children to play. You can also enjoy an evening of ocean fishing on the two rocky islands of Namuseom and Dolseom, located right in front of the beach. Behind the beach is Geumsan Mountain, famous for its beautiful sunrises. This place is definitely an ideal destination for couples in love or about to get married.

Busan– MICE in the port city

Busan is the second largest city and the number 1 trading port of Korea, located in the southeast of the Korean peninsula. As the first international city of Korea, Busan connects with Asia, Europe and North America, so it is very convenient for traveling. Busan is in the top 4 MICE tourism cities in Asia (MICE tourism is a combination of meetings, incentives, seminars and exhibitions). Fully equipped with infrastructure with high-tech conference centers and convenient transportation network, Busan is proud of the title of the best global MICE city. There are ideal locations to host MICE such as Busan Exhibition House, BEXCO Convention - Exhibition Center, etc. In particular, the APEC Nurimaru building is the venue for the APEC summit. The name of the building also contains a deeper meaning, calling for serious cooperation between 21 Asia-Pacific member countries for mutual development. The APEC Nurimaru Building, spread over approximately 19,000 square meters, is three stories above ground and combines the most modern technology with the beauty of traditional Korean architecture. The building is located on Dongbaek Island near Busan's famous Haeundae Beach. This beach is considered the most beautiful in Korea with white sand beaches and pine forests overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

In Busan, you can enjoy the typical festival atmosphere with the Busan International Film Festival and the Busan International Fireworks Festival. The Busan International Fireworks Festival takes place every October along Gwangalli Beach. You will experience diverse cultural events such as high-tech laser shows, unique and colorful fireworks displays. This is one of the most famous festivals in the region, attracting more than 1 million visitors each year. You can go to the beach to immerse yourself in the festival atmosphere or climb the nearby Hwangnyeongsan Mountain to admire all the most beautiful fireworks displays.

In Busan, there is also the first medical street in Korea called SMS (Seomyeon Medical Street). Here, you can experience the most advanced beauty care services, health check-ups with modern technology combined with resort tourism.

Aside from inland tours, Busan is also a great place to visit by the sea. Famous beaches such as Haeundae, Gwangalli, and Songjeong offer stunning views of uniquely shaped rocky islands. Amnam, Igidae, and Haean Parks offer stunning views of nature. Jagalchi Market is an iconic landmark in Busan and the largest fish market in the country. Take a tour around the market to discover fresh seafood, considered a Busan specialty.

Enjoy the real Daegu

Daegu is the fourth largest city in Korea. In addition to modern amenities, this city is also famous for its rich natural and historical heritage. When coming to Daegu, you will visit great tourist attractions such as Daegu National Museum, Daegu Park with diverse sports activities, here is Daegu Tower - the tallest observation tower in Korea.

One of the main places to experience Daegu's herbal culture is the Daegu Yangnyeongsi Herbal Festival held annually at Yangnyeongsi Market. The market stretches 700m along Namseong-ro Street in Jung-gu, also known as "Yakjeon Golmok" (alley of herbal shops). The street is lined with several herbal clinics, herbal restaurants, and herbal medicine stores.

The five destinations above are certainly new, unique and wonderful choices if you are planning to go to Korea for a vacation this year. Go and experience the interesting things in new lands!

For information about Korean tourism, please visit the website of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam at: www.visitkorea.org.vn or contact: 04. 3556 4040

Nguyen Hang Nga

The Thanh