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Travel has changed in many ways since the pandemic started, but one change for the better is the new push toward rural tourism. Before we were intent on ticking off yet another city break, in lockdown we started dreaming of the great outdoors — and that still hasn’t changed. So here are 32 new rural spots to add to your list. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has drawn up its second annual list of “best” rural villages worldwide. International visitors participate in activities at Thai Hai village (Photo: thaihai.vn). It’s a departure from the usual lists of Instagrammable places in peak tourist destinations. The UNWTO is a United Nations agency focusing on responsible tourism — so these villages have been chosen for how they’re growing visitor numbers without ruining what it is the visitors are coming to see. In a statement, the UNWTO said: “The accolade recognizes rural destinations that are embracing tourism as a driver of development and new opportunities for j...

At the swearing-in of 9 Peace Corps volunteers in Vietnam. Photo: US embassy The swearing-in ceremony for nine Peace Corps Volunteers took place on December 30 i n Hanoi with the participation of Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn as part of her first official tour to Vietnam. Representatives Vietnam’s Government included Pham Quang Hung, Director General of International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Education and Training and Nguyen Tien Dung, Deputy Director General of International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Education and Training. Meanwhile, the US Government representatives included Melissa A. Bishop Chargé d’Affaires of US Embassy in Hanoi; and administrators and teachers from the schools where the volunteers will co-teach participated in the historic ceremony. Nguyen Tien Dung, Deputy Director General of International Cooperation Department, gave remarks and affirmed that the priority of Vietnamese education is English, so he welcomed the spirit an...