Vietnam Attracts 2.5 Million Foreign Tourists In January 2026

Vietnam, which is already one of the leading players of Southeast Asia on foreign tourism, is off to a powerful start as it successfully attracted 2.5 million foreign tourists in January 2026 alone, according to a news report by VnExpress. The relaxed visa policies and enhanced tourism campaigns were factors behind the early success.

For insight, Vietnam attracted 21.2 million foreign tourists in 2025. It is expected to attract more from Israel as its ties with the Jewish state are getting stronger. Also, a lot of Filipino travelers searched for accommodations in Vietnam online in 2025. These are only a few of many factors highlighting the tourism boom in Vietnam.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you ever toured Vietnam? With the strong start, do you think Vietnam will be able to attract more than 30 million foreign tourists this year? What is the first thing that comes to your mind when it comes to tourism in Vietnam?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

I Love Israel: Direct Flights Between Israel And The Philippines In 2027 Planned

Have you ever dreamed of visiting the Holy Land in Israel as well as the many other nice places which welcome tourists from around the world? EL AL Airlines, the national airline of Israel, announced its plans to introduce direct flights between Israel and the Philippines starting some time in 2027, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). The plans are subject to regulatory approvals as of this writing. The Israel-Philippines route is just one of several new routes EL AL is pushing for.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface.

For its part, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) of the Philippines supports the plan citing President Bongbong Marcos’ directive to expand international air connectivity and the strengthening the bilateral ties between nations. High-level talks happened between the DOTr and the Israeli Ambassador to the Philippine Dana Kursh.

Having been to Israel myself, I am delighted with the planned Israel-Philippine direct flights planned by EL AL. Direct flights will help not only Filipinos but also foreign travelers to visit Israel for business, pilgrimage and leisure.

When I first traveled to Israel in 2023, it was on an EL AL flight using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Then our Israel pilgrimage tour took place afterwards and I personally witnessed God’s Word come to life whenever we visited the many sites of the Holy Land. I encourage you all to read my feature articles about the Pool of Siloam, the Southern Steps in Jerusalem, Nazareth Village, the grave of Oskar Schindler, the Dead Sea Beach, and some nice commercial joints (click here, here, here and here).

Having direct flights between the Jewish state and the Philippines will also help my native country attract more foreign tourists as well as Israeli investors and technology developers. The Philippines right now is experiencing slower economic growth, having trouble attracting foreign investors and it remains a weak compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors when it comes to attracting foreign tourists.

As such, I encourage all of you to pray to God for the planned Israel-Philippines direct flights of EL AL Airlines to be fulfilled, and for improvements in the ties between Israel and the Philippines. As I mentioned many times online, Israel-Philippines ties are essential!

To all my readers, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 120

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Tremors Revisited – The first time I ever saw the 1990 monster adventure movie Tremors was on home video. The movie turned out to be more thrilling and more enjoyable than I expected, and eventually I replayed it a number of times on cable TV and DVD in the years after. There is already a 4K Blu-ray of Tremors that I have yet to acquire. For me, Tremors is still a significant movie to watch again and its concept of having huge monsters that travel underground is still engaging to see. As the 1990 became a massive success AFTER its not-so-hot theatrical run (note: it achieved massive success on home video sales/rentals, cable TV and the like), Tremor is now a popular part of American pop culture and it is not surprising to see many retrospective YouTube videos about it. Posted below for your enjoyment are videos I selected.

#2 Luxury Food In Japan Sold At Bargain Rates  –In Japan, there a certain types of food that are often sold at high prices in relation to their quality, availability and other socio-economic factors. Wagyu beef, for example, is a premium meat that recently has been in high demand in Japan as the very high number of foreign tourists are buying and consuming it there. Still, there are times when premium food items are temporarily sold with low prices that locals can take advantage of. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#3 How MIT Students Used Math to Win Millions of Dollars From Casinos – When you visit a casino, you often see people placing their bets in different games of gambling. Among the most popular forms of gambling is the card game which often requires discipline, precision and luck to win. Believe it or not, there were students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who were trained to win in card games with an emphasis on mathematics, discipline and teamwork. Decades ago, these students played in many casinos and won tens of millions of Dollars over a period of years before law enforcement and technology ended their streak. Watch and learn what happened in the video below.

#4 The Rise Of Solo Dining In South Korea – Have you been in South Korea over the past twelve months? Due to the rise of single-person households in the country, solo dining became a new trend there and there seems to be no sign of it slowing down. Watch the video below to discover what solo dining is and what created it.

#5 Final Fantasy IV Revisited Final Fantasy IV is the first-ever Final Fantasy game I ever played as well as one of the very first Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) I played. The story had solid structure, the characters were memorable, the gameplay was challenging yet fun, and the fantasy settings were special. Released in America as “Final Fantasy II” on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), the game succeeded commercially and critically, and it paved the way for the greater acceptance of JRPGs on consoles in the West. To learn more about Final Fantasy IV and why it is significant, watch the video below.

#6 Ranting For Vengeance Slams New Lara Croft – Recently a new live-action version of the video game icon Lara Croft was revealed with actress Sophie Turner playing her. This early, long-time fans of Croft and the Tomb Raider video game franchise in general rejected the newest live-action version. Ranting for Vengeance posted his own video reacting to Sophie Turner’s Lara Croft, explaining the legacy of the Tomb Raider franchise, and standing up for the long-time fans. His video is indeed critical but you have to watch it entirely to fully understand his reaction and logic. The video will also remind you that there is a woke mob out there and they are becoming the FAKE FANS of established entertainment franchises and icons.

#7 Silent Hill Movie Revisited – Just seven years after the release of the original Silent Hill video game, a live-action movie was released with the same title. While the early Silent Hill video games were critical and commercial hits, the effort to make an official film adaptation did not start immediately. In fact, Christophe Gans sent to Konami a video interview of himself (talking about Silent Hill) with Japanese subtitles which eventually convinced the publisher to award him the film rights. The Silent Hill movie did not gather much appreciation from film critics but it still succeeded in entertaining many moviegoers with its unique approach to horror and suspense. To see and feel the impact of the Silent Hill film and discover its production history, watch the videos below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Foreign Resident Population In South Korea Reaches New All-Time High

Have you ever thought about entering South Korea with employment and residency in mind? The economic giant of Asia saw its foreign resident population reach a new all-time high and it has something to do with the arrival of young migrants and foreign students, according to a news report by VnExpress. Not only that, Vietnam’s own people in South Korea got counted as a fast-growing demographic.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think South Korea can benefit economically and socially from the growing foreign resident population? Do you think time will come when foreign residents will eventually displace South Korea’s citizens on employment, local communities and business? Do you know anyone who wants to study in South Korea or enter the country as a foreign investor? Do you think South Korea has secured itself from human trafficking?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines Attracted Only 5.235 Million International Tourist Arrivals In January-November 2025 Period

Even though there already is a foreign tourism boom in Southeast Asia, the Philippines has literally been left behind by its neighbors as it attracted only 5.235 million international tourist arrivals for the period of January to November 2025, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

For the newcomers reading this, the Philippines has been struggling throughout the year when it comes to attracting foreign visitors. In 2024, the Philippines attracted 5,949,350 foreign visitors which is way off the declared target of 7,700,000. A real estate advisory firm pointed to domestic travel as the key for the recovery of the nation’s tourism industry. Read my previous blog post by clicking here.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

For further insight about the tourism industry problem of the Philippines, watch the CNA Insider video below.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you think the Philippines can still beat its 2024 record of international visitor arrivals and generate huge revenues for the economy? Do you think the current administration will be able to improve the nation’s infrastructure and make travel more efficient and convenient for all tourists? Do you think the Philippines is too expensive when it comes to air travel?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

I Love Israel: Philippines Is A Priority Market For Israel On Tourism

Following the end of the 2-year war in Gaza and the return of twenty living hostages connected with US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and the Middle East, there is now a renewed optimism in Israel particularly on tourism and that includes efforts to revive the travel sector while providing foreigners new opportunities to visit the Holy Land. Israel made clear that it sees the Philippines as a priority market on tourism, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For the newcomers reading this, I myself had visited Israel on a pilgrimage tour with my local church in 2023. You can read some of my blog posts by clicking here, here, here, here, here and here. My faith in Lord Jesus is uncompromising and I will always stand in support of Israel and its people.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

This newest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties and I am confident that new travel breakthroughs between Israel and the Philippines plus other nations in Asia will happen. That means better commercial and investment opportunities, and more people in Asia will be able to visit the Holy Land in Israel and witness the Holy Bible come to life during their visit. This also means more Asian travelers – the faithful and those who are still spiritually lost – will have golden opportunities to realize that Lord Jesus is the hope of all nations!

To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Domestic travel leading recovery of Philippine tourism industry

While it is a fact that the Philippines is failing on attracting visitors from overseas, the real estate advisory firm Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) pointed to domestic travel as the key to the industry’s recovery, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the tourism industry of the Philippines will do better this year with domestic travel as the main factor? Do you think it is still possible for the Philippines to attract at least six million foreign tourists by the end of this year? Do you think both the national government and private sector should work together to improve local infrastructure so that the cost of travel will go down?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

NBI Apprehends Nine Koreans for Online Fraud in Parañaque City

Recently in the city of Parañaque, elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended nine Koreans for involvement in online fraud, according to a GMA Network news report. The apprehension happened inside a condominium and the law enforcers found several computer workstations operating programs.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of GMA Network. Some parts in boldface…

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think that cyber crime or online fraud within the city will only grow and get worse?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

New Korean volunteers in Muntinlupa City

Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, a new batch of Korean volunteers were deployed for activities in childhood development centers and Mayor Ruffy Biazon welcomed them, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you think the activities of the newest batch of Korean volunteers will be beneficial to local childhood development?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Immigration officials arrest two wanted foreigners in BF Homes, Parañaque City

Recently in Parañaque City, elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested two wanted foreigners in BF Homes subdivision who allegedly were involved in fraud overseas, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. One of the suspects has been tagged by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) with a red notice since 2018.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think there are still a lot of wanted foreigners hiding within the local communities of the city? Has your local community been communicating lately with the Bureau of Immigration lately?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673