Analysis: Vietnam breaks out of Covid tourist trap

A local tourist posing for photographs with friends at the Mua Caves viewpoint in Vietnam's Ninh Binh province. - AFP

VIETNAM is pulling ahead in the race to reopen Southeast Asia to city-hoppers and sunseekers.

Thailand, by comparison, is still under a state of emergency, and other neighbors in the tourism-friendly region are only slowly easing restrictions. The steady reopening will help Vietnam’s convalescing economy, and may encourage a welcome rethink on leisure industry priorities.