The opening activities include a ceremony announcing the 2016 Tourism Year and a ceremony commemorating the 54th anniversary of the Hero of the People's Armed Forces Phan Thi Rang at the Ba Hon historical relic site in Hon Dat district on January 9.

The Tourism Year will also feature another 63 cultural, arts and tourism events in 18 provinces and cities around the country.

Kien Giang province will host numerous events such as a trade fair for the Mekong River Delta region in April in Rach Gia city, the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festival of Khmer ethnic people in the province on November 14, Nghinh Ong (Whale Worshiping) festival on November 14-15 in Kien Hai district, and the closing ceremony of the Visit Viet Nam Year 2016.

In addition, a wide variety of activities will also be held during the Year including a photography campaign for the Mekong River Delta region’s photographers, the 2016 Viet Nam atistic photo exhibition, the folk song festival of Northern, Central and Southern regions and a culinary festival of the Mekong River Delta.

Visit Viet Nam Year 2016 is a large-scale cultural, economic and social event, promoting the values of natural resources and heritages in Viet Nam, particularly Kien Giang province.

The event will contribute to attracting more domestic and foreign visitors, as well as promoting the country’s economic development in the coming years.