Vietnam-made virtual reality technology allows on-the-spot travel

VR allows people to experience trips around the world though they are just sitting at home. Travelers can make ‘draft’ tours with VR before deciding whether to go there.

The Conservation reported that after a virtual trip to the Great Barrier Reef offshore Queensland with VR device, users felt as if they had been to the world’s largest coral reef.

Vietnam has also begun utilizing VR in entertainment and tourism products and services in order to lure more customers. Some businesses believe that VR could be used in the advertisement and marketing industries.

VR game areas are now available in all entertainment areas of Vincom shopping centers belonging to Vingroup. Visitors to Landmark 81 Tower now can experience the thrills of parachuting in Top of Vietnam.

The game is designed specifically for Landmark 81 SkyView which allows people to make virtual parachuting from the height of 461 meters.

Unlike 2D games, where gamers have to regulate the games with buttons, VR games allow users to live in a space like normal life. They can hold and touch hands, and climb and parachute.

Vietnam has also used VR to promote tourism, show off tourism sites and beautiful landscapes to the world.

On World Heritage Day April 18, Google Arts and Culture expanded Open Heritage project with the digitalized 3D Tu Duc Temple version. The heritage in Hue City has become Vietnam’s first heritage present in the project developed by Google in cooperation with CyArk

Some tourism firms said they are utilizing VR in developing tourism products. Saigontourist, for example, plans to use VR to heighten the attractiveness of media advertisements. Travelers scan the designs with their smartphones, and ad clips will appear on their phones with virtual spaces related to tourism products.

The tourism company also utilizes VR in selling tours and introducing products at trade fair. To imagine about tour products, travelers can use AR (augmented reality) devices to have real-world experience.

Huynh Van Son, chair of Ngoi Sao Bien Tourism, said VR has become popular ibecause it helps travelers see and ‘touch’ the nature, thus helping them book tours.

However, he said it’s not easy to apply VR in Vietnam because of the high investment cost. The budget for marketing and tourism promotion is modest.

Thanh Lich