The year-long event aims to create and diversify high-quality tourism products which are imbued with the cultural and natural identities of Hai Phong and localities in the region, as well as raising public and local authorities' awareness of the benefits the hospitality sector has brought and can bring to the community. It also provides a good opportunity to advertise the region's tourist locations and other places of interest, in order to lure more domestic and foreign visitors, attract investment and step up tourism co-operation between the region and the rest of the country.

According to Nguyen Quy Phuong, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism's Travel Department, the programme will help exploit the region's tourism potential, promote the links between tourism and the economy, cultural and external activities for sustainable socio-economic development while raising the image of Vietnam's culture, land and people to international friends.

With the theme "Red River Civilisation", the National Tourism Year of 2013 will spotlight the cultural traditions and the historical course of the Red river delta region, the home to a one thousand-year old tangible and intangible cultural heritage. From the region, the Red River civilisation has followed Vietnamese ancestors' footprints and laid firm foundations in its cultural values.

A wide range of activities will take place during the programme, including traditional festivals, exhibitions, tourism fairs and seminars. The highlight of the event will be the opening ceremony in January 2013, the Red River Delta Culture and Tourism Week, and the Hai Phong city's Flamboyant Flower Festival in May. Additionally, 66 events will be held throughout the year, which will be hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as well as the 12 participating localities in co-ordination with international organisations and Hai Phong's sister cities.

Twelve localities that will attend the "National Tourism Year 2013" are Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho and Bac Giang, in which Hai Phong city has been selected as the host venue. Located in the northern key economic region, Hai Phong city pocesses strong benefits for both socio-economic and tourism development, while still possessing typical features of the northern delta and coastal land, which can be seen through its assorted cultural and historical vestiges, festivals, natural landscapes, gastronomy, traditional crafts and various arts forms.

According to Doan Duy Linh, Director of the Hai Phong city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city People's Committee and the hospitality sector have renovated the city's typical tourism products and programmes, beautified the natural environment, upgraded inner routes to Cat Ba tourist site and advertised the national scale event through various means of communication. The local authorities have also asked relevant agencies to improve the city's infrastructure and have opened two training courses for tourist guides and volunteers. For such thorough preparations, Hai Phong city and the 12 cities and provinces in Red River delta region are all ready for the National Tourism Year 2013.