Groups of cars traveling together to promote land based tourism between countries looks like the wave of the future, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

Motorcade tourism between Vietnam and neighboring Thailand shows good potential, said a senior official of the country’s tourism watchdog VNAT following a pilot journey to survey the possibilities.

They’ve just completed a trip to Thailand’s northeastern region to survey the routes, said Duong Xuan Hoi, deputy head of VNAT’s travel department.

The group passed through the Lao Bao checkpoint in central Quang Tri province traversing the border by land to Laos, and on to Thailand’s northeastern region and the Lao capital Vientiane before returning to Vietnam through the Cau Treo border gate in central Ha Tinh province.

Most of roads, hotels, resorts, and places of leisure along the routes are up to standard, Hoi said quoting comments of the pilot delegation.

The trip is part of the program allowing Thai motorcades to enter Vietnam and vice versa although the two countries have different driving rules. Thai cars have right-handed steering while Vietnam has the opposite.

The two countries signed an agreement to allow cars to freely enter each country in an effort to boost the unique style of tourism.

Since mid-2005, Vietnam has received six motorcades from Thailand, with some groups consisting of more than 30 vehicles and 100 tourists.

Source: Tuoi Tre - Compiled by Thanh Hang.