Vietnam’s official online travel mart opens

This is the only website that allows tourists to buy package tours, hotel stays and airfares, as well as compare the price of different service suppliers, according to Vu The Bình, deputy head of Vietnam Tourism Association.

“The Tripi page will potentially allow for strong collaboration with suppliers to directly collect information on tourism products and services, hotels, airline tickets, and then pass this information on to users in the most convenient and transparent way,” he said.

“With advanced technology systems and the close collaboration with the tourism sector, the Tripi page is able to search for and offer a variety of selections for customers. In particular, users can search for and purchase products directly from the suppliers without any kind of additional cost.”

Tripi owns a huge database of hotels in Vietnam, more than any other hotel website in the world. The website is also updated continuously with information from airline ticket agents and travel companies.

“We noticed that visitors had to queue up and wait for a long time to get a chance to buy low cost airline tickets during VITM events,” said Bình.

“This year, by using the online tourism exchange, visitors will not have to be jostled by the crowd at the fair. They will still have the opportunity to buy cheap airline tickets or an attractive tour at the best price online.”

After initial testing at VITM 2015, the online travel exchange will open on Thursday (April 14), along with the opening ceremony of VITM 2016 at the Exhibition and Fair Centre, 148 Giang Vo Street, Hanoi.

The website www.tripi.vn promises to become the largest online travel exchange in Vietnam. While it is opening with VITM 2016, it will continue to operate afterwards.

In the near future, the operator will implement an English version of the website to target foreign tourists who want to discover Vietnam.