Taking advantage of SEA Games 32, Cambodia uses 'a series of tricks' to attract tourists

Oudong Ancient Capital and the main stupa containing the only Buddha relics in Cambodia

"Play" so who "plays" back?

First, free tickets for all competitions at the SEA Games, including football. Next, free food, accommodation, and travel expenses for participating delegations. Third, free medical services for all athletes. Fourth, free television copyright. In the history of the SEA Games, no country has been able to do so. In the future, it will be difficult for any country to do so.

Everyone was surprised by the host country's "play" and hospitality. Remember the story of Cambodia welcoming the MS Westerdam ship with 1,455 tourists and 802 crew members in early 2020. After being rejected by 5 countries and territories due to the epidemic, Prime Minister Hun Sen decided (proposed by Tan Hong Vietnam Company) to let the ship dock at Sihanouk port on February 13, 2020. On behalf of the Prime Minister, the Sihanouk province governor gave the delegation 4,000 cans of Angkor beer, exempted visas and invited tourists to visit Sihanouk for free. Currently, on the way down to Sihanouk port, there is still the number "13.02.2020".

During the recent Chol Chnam Thmey (April 13-15), Prime Minister Hun Sen dispatched 450 vehicles (45-seat type) to take poor people in Phnom Penh back to their hometowns to celebrate the traditional New Year and ordered that vehicle prices not be increased during the New Year. Remember, nearly 70% of families in Phnom Penh own their own cars. This is even more surprising because Cambodia is the second poorest country in ASEAN, just above Myanmar.

Minister of Tourism Thong Khon, Permanent Vice President of the 32nd SEA Games Organizing Committee, pledged that Cambodia will try its best to implement the slogan "Sports live in Peace " and organize the opening ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games according to Olympic standards.

The mascots of the 32nd SEA Games are a pair of white rabbits, dressed in red (male Borei rabbit) and blue (female Rumduol rabbit) and Kokator traditional martial arts, a world intangible cultural heritage of Cambodia (recognized by UNESCO in November 2022). I don't know the meaning of "Borei" yet, but "Rumduol" is the star fruit tree (ancient Khmer), the national flower of Cambodia, and also the delicious rice that won the "World's Best Rice" award 5 times in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022. According to the Cambodian calendar, 2023 is the year of the rabbit (Vietnam is the year of the cat). For the Khmer, rabbits are intelligent animals, symbolizing sacrifice (the legend of rabbits jumping into fire and turning into food).

"Cambodian Pride", the official song of the 32nd SEA Games, released on April 10th, is very popular. After only 10 days, it has had over 50 million views on YouTube, breaking the previous record for a SEA Games song.

Morodok Techo Stadium was built by the host country to serve the 32nd SEA Games.

Cheering for SEA Games 32 - Things to know

SEA Games 32 has 12,404 participants from 11 ASEAN countries. Not counting the host, Thailand is the largest delegation with 1,276 members with the goal of winning 164 gold medals, taking the top spot. Vietnam has 1,003 members; departing on April 19; competing in 31/48 sports, sub-sports belonging to 446/608 events; aiming to win 90-120 gold medals. Brunei's delegation has the least number of members with 113 people.

The goal of Vietnamese sports at the 32nd SEA Games is to finish 3rd overall (expected after Thailand and the host country); especially successfully defending the championship in men's and women's football. But not only football, Vietnam participates in 446 events with nearly 900 athletes, players and coaches; not including managers and leaders.

Relatives of athletes and coaches all want to have the opportunity to "witness" and witness with their own eyes and encourage their loved ones to compete with all their might, bringing glory to the Fatherland. If each competitor (the coaches also compete in intelligence and tactics) has a relative to cheer them on, the number of people will be close to a thousand.

No SEA Games has been as favorable as the 32nd SEA Games. All tickets are free. Cambodia will imprison those who take advantage of this policy to sell invitation tickets. The distance from Saigon to Phnom Penh is only 240 km, the same as Saigon to Hon Rom (Phan Thiet), the road is good and safe.

In Phnom Penh, in addition to the local Riel currency, you can use USD like in the US. Note that the 2 USD coin is not used, the current exchange rate is 1 USD = 4,000 Riel, which has not fluctuated for more than 20 years. The exchange rate is the same for 1 USD or 100 USD. Vietnamese currency is quite popular. Khmer people are friendly and hospitable. It is estimated that more than 80% of leaders at all levels and 30% of the population of Phnom Penh can speak Vietnamese.

Cambodian cuisine is similar to the taste of the Southwestern region of Vietnam, easy to eat, has many delicious dishes, and many famous Vietnamese restaurants. Cambodian durian is far superior to Vietnamese and Thai durian.

A corner of Putkiri Pagoda

How to combine travel?

In 2019, Cambodia tourism welcomed more than 6.6 million international visitors. The Angkor complex (Siem Reap) is considered the world's leading wonder of sculpture and architecture. In addition to other world cultural heritages such as Preak Vihear temple (province of the same name), Sambor Prei Kuk complex (Kampong Thom), Cambodia also has Kban Spien and the River of a Thousand Lingas, Tonsle Sap - Great Lake (Siem Reap), Bokor plateau (Campot), sea and islands (Sihanouk), freshwater dolphins (Kratie).

If you only go to watch football, each match lasts 2 days, with 1 visit to Phnom Penh. If you have time and are economical, you should go for 5 days to watch 3 matches (1 men's match, 1 women's match), from 8 to 12.5. Based on the match schedule of the Organizing Committee, choose the departure and return dates with the most reasonable route. You should not take a plane because the price is very expensive and the distance is too short. Going by road will have more interesting experiences.

The procedure for applying for a permit to drive yourself through Cambodia is quite expensive. Renting a car to drive yourself through Cambodia is also not economical or safe in case of an accident. If you go by yourself, the best option is the round-trip Saigon - Phnom Penh bus. There are sleeper buses or wide-seat buses (45-seat buses have 34 seats, 3 seats per row instead of 4). Including border fees, the price is 22 USD/ticket. Before the pandemic, the ticket price was only 200,000 VND.

Lunch or dinner near the border gate costs at least 50,000 VND (rice dish). Moc Bai - Bavet border gate operates from 7am - 10pm every day. The popular means of transportation in Phnom Penh is the traditional tuk tuk (motorbike with passenger compartment), which can comfortably seat 4 people, and costs about 1.2 USD per km (negotiable). New tuk tuks (imported from India), run by Grab technology, each vehicle can carry 2 people, and the price is fixed per km.

Cambodia is one of the favorite destinations for many Vietnamese people.

Go with reputable companies, reasonable prices, guaranteed service quality, attentive staff, and can ask for a refund if the service is not up to standard. Having tickets to watch the competition and traveling during the peak season of the SEA Games must be carefully calculated, including eating before watching the match. The tour price of the companies fluctuates around 1.3 million VND/day/person for the whole package.

In the free time between matches, in Phnom Penh you can go to the Royal Palace, the Emerald Pagoda (also known as the Silver Pagoda, the Golden Pagoda); Ba Penh Pagoda (Watt Phnom); Ounalom Pagoda (the current abbot); Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, the National Museum; Independence Monument; Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Monument; Naga World; Choeung Ek Killing Fields, Our Lady of the Mekong Pilgrimage Center...

The surrounding area includes the ancient capital of Oudong (Candal), 40 km from Phnom Penh, the Khmer capital from the 17th to 19th centuries, the center of Khmer Buddhism with the only Buddha relics in Cambodia. Putkiri Pagoda, 99 km from Phnom Penh (Takeo), a Khmer Buddhist pilgrimage center with 84,000 Buddha statues...

Tourists can refer to the company's website for more advice. In particular, the Lua Viet tour on May 8-12 will be directly guided by the company's President and will provide free advice on Cambodia tours. Readers of Thanh Nien newspaper who bring a Thanh Nien newspaper when purchasing the Lua Viet tour to support the 32nd SEA Games will receive 2 months of Thanh Nien newspaper for free, delivered to their homes.

SEAGAMES 32 FOOTBALL CHEERING TOUR

• TIME: from 8 - 12.5 (Monday - Friday).

• LOCATION: Phnom Penh, Oudong, Takeo, Kandal.

• FOOTBALL:

-19:00 on May 8: Vietnam vs Malaysia (men)

-19:00 on May 11: Vietnam vs Thailand (men)

-15:30 May 9: Vietnam vs Philippines (women)

• TOURISM:

- May 9: Visit the Mekong Mother Pilgrimage Center (take a ferry from Chattomuk, cross the river, walk 500m) and Ounaluon Pagoda, where the King Sai (Grand Master Tep Vong is the abbot), next to the Royal Palace

-May 10: Visit Putkiri Pagoda in Takeo with 84,000 Buddha statues, the largest Buddhist pilgrimage center in Indochina (99 km from Phnom Penh). Have dinner and watch the sunset on a Tonle Sap cruise.

-May 11: Visit the ancient capital of Oudong in Kandal (42 km from Phnom Penh), the capital of Cambodia from the 17th to 19th centuries, where Princess Ngoc Van became the wife of King Chetta II in 1620.

• PRESENT:

-Cheerleading hats and t-shirts

-CPC SIM (per room).

• TOUR PRICE: 6,499 million VND including: New 45-seat vehicle; 4-star hotel; standard meals average 8 USD/meal; sightseeing tickets, cruise according to the program; VIP border procedures; mineral water upon request; insurance; tickets to watch 3 football matches.

Tour guided by the President of Lua Viet Tourism Company. Tel: 0903.913. 240. Priority registration.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/tan-dung-sea-games-32-campuchia-dung-lien-hoan-tuyet-chieu-hut-khach-du-lich-185230428115540323.htm