Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) speaking at the Seminar (Photo: Organising Board)

Attending the Seminar were H.E.Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST); H.E.Mr. Dinh Toan Thang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the French Republic; Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT); delegates from French agencies and organisations, businesses and partners in the French and European travel and tourism industry; Representatives of Vietravel, Vietnam Airlines…

Giving his opening remarks, VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh said, the event demonstrates the efforts and determination of Vietnamese and French agencies and businesses in proactively promoting the development of multifaceted relations between the two countries.

As a country rich in natural and human potential, with many typical and unique products, Vietnam has many advantages to develop tourism. Cultural - heritage tourism, ecotourism, sea and island tourism with beautiful landscapes, beaches, friendliness, hospitality, and hard work of 54 ethnic groups are being focused on exploiting towards sustainable tourism development. In particular, Vietnam has 8 cultural and natural heritage sites and 15 intangible cultural heritage properties, 9 documentary heritage items and 3 global geoparks that have been recognized by UNESCO. Many destinations and tourism products have been ranked top in the world by reputable travel consulting and review websites and networks such as World Travel Awards, TripAdvisor, Telegraph... or major media agencies such as CNN, BBC…

MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung speaking at the Seminar (Photo: Organising Board)

For many years, the European Union has been an important economic partner of Vietnam and Vietnam is one of the Asian countries with the most comprehensive and extensive relations, the only ASEAN country with all pillars of cooperation with the European Union. Regarding the field of tourism, the European Union is a traditional market for Vietnam tourism with 2.17 million visitor arrivals in 2019, accounting for 12% of the total number of international visitor arrivals to Vietnam. Of which, French visitors to Vietnam reached 290 thousand, an increase of 3% compared to 2018, ranking the 2nd among Vietnam's largest tourist source markets form the European Union. Currently, there are over 300 thousand Vietnamese people living and working in France, many of whom have high professional qualifications and are good experts, actively contributing to the prosperous development of the French Republic.

Reviewing the situation of tourism development cooperation between Vietnam and France, VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh stated, in recent times, the two countries' tourism sectors have had many cooperative activities, creating favourable conditions for tourist exchange such as: Signed the Tourism Cooperation Agreement in 1996, the Protocol to implement the Tourism Cooperation Agreement in 2005; Letter of Intent for tourism cooperation in 2018. Vietnam Airlines and Air France have operated direct flights connecting major cities and tourism centres of the two countries. Vietnam Tourism actively organises tourism promotion activities in France such as: Organise  field trips, tourism roadshows, participate in The "IFTM Top Resa International & French Travel Market" and other activities to promote visitor exchange between the two countries. The Vietnamese Government has waived visas for French citizens to travel to Vietnam since 2015 and has increased the temporary stay duration for French citizens to 45 days from 15th August 2023.

Convenient direct flights, simple entry and exit procedures, attractive destinations, tourism products, warm and hospitable people are ideal conditions to promote tourism development between the two countries, emphasised VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh.

This is an opportunity to promote Vietnam tourism to French tourists in particular and European tourists in general (Photo: Organising Board)

Over the past 3 years, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected severely and directly on world tourism in general, including the France and Vietnam tourism. Up to now, when the pandemic is under control, the two countries have resumed all tourism activities and organised activities to recover tourism development. The Seminar introducing Vietnam tourism is a good opportunity for Vietnamese and French tourism businesses to share information, move towards business cooperation, and develop two-way tourism post the Covid-19 pandemic.

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh believes that the event and other programmes introducing Vietnam's unique culture and arts, diverse communication activities and tourism exchanges between the two countries will be promoted, deepening the strong friendship relationship between Vietnam and France and promoting tourist exchange between the two countries.

At the Seminar, delegates listen to the introduction of a series of Vietnam tourism products and services (Photo: Organising Board)

At the Seminar, delegates listened to an overview of Vietnam's tourism development situation; tourism services for international tourists; system of tourist accommodation establishments, international travel businesses, tour guides; prestigious international titles and awards for Vietnam tourism. Delegates were also updated on Vietnam's new visa and immigration policies with favourable conditions to attract international tourists to Vietnam. In particular, the Vietnamese delegation introduced unique and outstanding product lines of Vietnam such as island and sea tourism, cultural-heritage tourism, natural-ecological tourism, city tourism, culinary tourism, golf tourism, wellness tourism... to international delegates and businesses.

Ms. Marie-Hélène Vincent, representative of Vietnam Airlines in France speaking at the Seminar (Photo: Organising Board)

Ms. Marie-Hélène Vincent, representative of Vietnam Airlines in France, introduced the products, services, and flight network of Vietnam national airline. Ms. Le Y Linh, Director of Vietravel Corp Branch in France, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Culture Promotion Association in France and Europe introduced products, services, and tour programmes suitable for the French and European markets. Mr. Alain Nguyen, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Chefs Association, Vice President of the Vietnam Restaurant Association, gave an introduction about Vietnam's unique culinary culture - a strong form of Vietnamese tourism.

Within the framework of the event, a cooperation signing ceremony between associations, tourism companies and airlines took place.

Photos below: Vietnamese cuisine demonstration by Mr. Alain Nguyen - Judge of Top Chef Vietnam seasons 1, 2, 3, serving Vietnamese cuisine to French delegates (Photo: Organising Board)

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