Also attending the meeting were Mr. Ha Hoang Hai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the Republic of Poland (concurrently to Lithuania), and leaders of units under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST).

MOCST's delegation at the headquarter of the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism

In his remarks, Deputy Minister Ho An Phong expressed his delight at the enduring friendship and cooperative relations between Vietnam and Poland, which have developed over the past 75 years with sincerity and mutual respect. He noted that Vietnamese Government had issued Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP earlier this year, granting visa exemptions for citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland entering Vietnam for tourism purposes under programs organized by licensed international travel agencies in Vietnam with temporary stay of up to 45 days. This policy has contributed to an increase in tourist arrivals from these markets.

The Deputy Minister expressed hope that, both sides will continue to foster tourism development, increase visitors exchanges, and further facilitate travel between the two countries. He proposed enhancing direct flight connections to major cities, creating more opportunities for businesses from both sides to share information, cooperate, and promote their destinations. He also emphasized the need to increase delegation exchanges to share experiences in tourism development and establish mechanisms to resolve issues that may arise during cooperation.

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong and Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism Piotr Borys

On this occasion, Deputy Minister Ho An Phong extended an invitation to the leadership of the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism to attend the ITE HCMC International Travel Expo to be held in September, one of Vietnam’s largest tourism events. He expressed confidence that the two countries would find more opportunities to deepen cooperation and elevate their tourism ties to a new level.

In the field of sports, Poland is a powerhouse in volleyball, martial arts, kickboxing, football, and winter sports such as skiing. Recently, some Vietnamese sports training institutions have signed cooperation agreements with Polish training establishments. Deputy Minister Ho An Phong expressed a desire to further strengthen cooperation in the training and exchange of coaches and athletes in Poland’s areas of strength.

The delegation of Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism

In one mind with Deputy Minister Ho An Phong’s proposals, Secretary of State Piotr Borys emphasized that Vietnam is a friendly country and a major tourist magnet in Southeast Asia. He was glad that more Polish businesses have recently invested in Vietnam and hoped that tourism enterprises from both countries would continue to have many opportunities to meet, exchange, and collaborate.

Mr. Piotr Borys also stated that the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism would encourage Polish tourism businesses to participate in the ITE HCMC 2025 in Vietnam. On this occasion, he expressed hope that both sides would move toward signing cooperation agreements in tourism and sports to open up new avenues for collaboration between Poland and Vietnam.

According to Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, the potential for tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Poland is immense, with good opportunities for businesses to foster exchanges and partnerships. He noted that signing cooperation agreements between the two Ministries would serve as a key foundation for developing tourism in both countries.

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong having a meeting with President of the Polish Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Pawel Niewiadomski

On the same day, Deputy Minister Ho An Phong had a meeting with Mr. Pawel Niewiadomski, President of the Polish Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fostering cooperation in culture, tourism, and trade, recognizing that the potential for tourism collaboration remains largely untapped. They expressed hopes for stronger coordination and a more substantial and effective partnership in the future.

Polish tourism businesses also showed a strong desire to enhance connections with Vietnamese partners, expand two-way tourist exchanges, and seek broader cooperation opportunities. Deputy Minister Ho An Phong welcomed these proposals and encouraged enterprises from both countries to proactively build collaborative networks. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s readiness to support international partners through flexible visa policies, marketing assistance, and the development of products tailored to the preferences of Polish travellers.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Polish Chamber of Commerce and Tourism

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong giving souvenir to President of the Polish Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Pawel Niewiadomski

Tourism Information Technology Center