(TITC) - On 27th January, on a business trip to Laos to attend the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) had a meeting with Ms. Suanesavanh Vignaket, Minister of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR. Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hoa, Director of the Department of International Cooperation (under MOCST), staff of the Vietnam Cultural Center in Laos, staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos attended the meeting.
MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung and Lao MICT’s Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket (Photo: TITC)
Giving the opening remarks, Minister Nguyen Van Hung congratulated the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism for successfully organising the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024, which is the opening activity for the year Laos assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship.
Recalling the occasion of welcoming and holding talks with Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket and the delegation of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos during the organisation of Lao Cultural Week in Vietnam in December 2023, Minister Nguyen Van Hung was pleased that the two sides reviewed and evaluated the results of cooperation in recent times, discussed contents that need to be promoted and reached agreements to implement cooperation in the future.
Lao MICT’s Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket speaking at the meeting (Photo: TITC)
Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Suanesavanh Vignaket, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos, thanked Minister Nguyen Van Hung and the delegation of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam for attending ATF 2024 in Laos. In recent times, the two Ministries have regularly exchanged and supported each other in all fields of culture, arts, sports and tourism. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam coordinated and supported the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos to successfully organise the Lao Cultural Week in Vietnam in December 2023 and the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024.
"I want to express my deep gratitude from the bottom of my heart. Over the past time, Vietnam has actively helped and supported Laos in all fields, not only culture and sports but also tourism," said Lao MICT’s Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket.
MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung speaking at the meeting (Photo: TITC)
Regarding the project to build the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Park in the capital Vientiane, Minister Nguyen Van Hung said this is a typical cultural project, a symbol of special solidarity between the two countries. MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung added, during a meeting on the morning of 27th January with the Chief of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the two sides agreed on the construction progress. Accordingly, it is expected that in the first quarter of 2024, the architectural plan, symbols, statues, and reliefs will be completed and submitted to competent authorities for approval. Construction will begin in the second quarter of 2024 and is expected to be completed in early 2025.
Regarding the development of a dossier requesting recognition of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos as a national relic of Laos, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos will continue to work with relevant agencies and departments of Laos and coordinate with the Vietnamese side to prepare documents.
Overview of the meeting (Photo: TITC)
Regarding the tourism field, Minister Nguyen Van Hung has worked with the Vietnam Cultural Center in Laos and the Minister appointed the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism to immediately develop a project to establish a Vietnam Tourism Promotion Office at the Vietnam Cultural Center in Laos. This office has the task of not only promoting and connecting to attract tourists to Vietnam, but will coordinate with Laos to connect and take advantage of common strength to attract more tourists to both countries. Vietnam will send groups of experts and travel businesses to the Vietnam Tourism Promotion Office in Laos to coordinate the implementation of tourism promotion activities. The Minister proposed the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to support and create favourable conditions for the establishment of the Vietnam Tourism Promotion Office in Laos in the coming time.
The meeting took place in a very friendly atmosphere (Photo: TITC)
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos Suanesavanh Vignaket said the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Park is a very important project between the two countries. The Lao side will coordinate closely with Vietnam during the project implementation process.
Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket expressed her support and high agreement on the establishment of the Vietnam Tourism Promotion Office in Laos. When there is specific information from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos will coordinate closely to promote tourism cooperation and enhance tourist attraction to the two countries. The Minister also added that many Lao tourists love to travel to Vietnam, especially to Da Nang to enjoy sea tourism.
MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung and Lao MICT’s Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket (Photo: TITC)
Leaders of the two Ministries taking souvenir photo (Photo: TITC)
The two ministers exchanging souvenirs (Photo: TITC)
Tourism Information Technology Center
