VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu attended online and had a speech at the ceremony. Photo TITC

The exhibition is organized for the purpose of introducing Zhejiang culture and tourism to ASEAN countries, and at the same time organizing culture and tourism exchanges between Zhejiang (China) and ASEAN countries.

VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu said Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of China with strong economy, magnificent natural scenery, long-lasting history as an origin of Chinese culture.

During past years, tourism cooperation between Vietnam and China has gained various remarkable achivements. China, continuously over the last decade, is the top number One visitor-generating market to Vietnam. Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Ha Long, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc are very popular destinations for Chinese visitors. And vice versa, Vietnam is also in the top 10 visitor-sending market to China.

With Zhejiang province in particular, VNAT has been holding various forms of tourism cooperation and exchanging activities, which have deepened the understanding of both sides and enhanced friendship and tangible cooperation. Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Zhejiang Department of Culture and Tourism have concluded the Memorandum of Understanding on tourism, which is a fundament for tight cooperation and facilitates travelling to and from Vietnam- Zhejiang as well as to and from Vietnam-China in general. This growing trend in visitor’s exchange between Vietnam and China in recent years thereby has strengthen the friendship with mutual understanding and positively contributed to socio-economic development of both side. 

However, the COVID-19 pandemic since early 2020 is spreading world-wide and has been creating unprecedented difficulties for international culture and tourism exchanges. After nearly 20 months of closing international tourism, now call for further cooperation and endeavor to safely reopen and recover the tourism industry. Recently, the Government of Vietnam has shifted to proactive and  flexible adapting and effective controlled to COVID-19 approach. Vietnam has just opened welcoming international tourists back to 5 destinations that are Phu Quoc island (Kien Giang province), Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ninh. China and other ASEAN countries have been gradually preparing/implementing plan to reopen international tourism as well.

Mr. Ha Van Sieu highly appreciated initiative and strong determination of Zhejiang and participating partners in organizing this virtual exhibition. Taking this opportunity, it is strongly suggested that China and ASEAN countries should pay more attention to facilitation of safe travel, entry and exit procedures for tourists from their own countries to Vietnam and vice versa. On the Vietnamese side, VNAT would like to encourage tourism businesses to join hands to promote safe tourism, proactive and flexible response to COVID-19. He hoped that the tourism industry of China, Vietnam, as well as ASEAN to be soon fully recovered and develop to a new height.

Tourism Information Technology Center