Viet Nam’s cultural heritage and tourism promotion program is an activity in the framework of National Tourism Promotion Program, at the same time is start of Master Plan on Tourism Promotion in Europe in the period 2015 – 2017 of Vietnamese State Steering Committee on Tourism.

The program had the participation of the representatives of French Tourism Promotion Agency - Atout France, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Paris Ile de France, District 8 (Élysée) of Paris, 2 cruise firms, 15 leading French tour operators sending tourists to Viet Nam and tens of French travel agencies. On the side of Viet Nam, there were the attendance of Vietnamese Ambassador in France Nguyen Ngoc Son, the representatives of Viet Nam Tourism Association, 17 international tour operators and Vietnam Airlines.

Speaking at the program, Vietnamese Ambassador in France Nguyen Ngoc Son emphasized the ever-increasing important role of tourism for economic development of Viet Nam. In 2014, Viet Nam recorded more than 7.87 million international tourist arrivals, including 213,000 French arrivals; 38.5 million domestic tourism trips; total tourism receipts of VND230,000 billion. One of the factors that helps Viet Nam become a destination attracting French tourists is the operation of direct flights between Ha Noi/Ho Chi Minh City and Paris. Besides, Vietnamese Cultural Centre in France also contributes to strengthening and tightening cultural and tourism cooperation between Viet Nam and France.

In the framework of the program, performances of Vietnamese traditional costume (ao dai) and arts were introduced to the delegates. The tour operators of Viet Nam and France also worked together to boost tourism cooperation, create new and attractive tourism products.

Thu Giang