Industry News
The First Overseas Tourism Office of Vietnam was Officially Opened in London, the UK, on February 18.
The launch was attended by more than 200 guests from travel companies, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK, the Vietnam-UK Network, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK and national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Quang Tung said the UK is a strategic partner and the second largest tourism market of Vietnam in the EU. Therefore, the office opened here will help British people learn more about Vietnam’s tourism.
The office, named The Visit Vietnam, is tasked with coordinating with British partners to promote the two countries’ tourism cooperation, he noted.
Tran Trong Kien, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, said the office will work with The PC Agency of the UK to popularise Vietnam’s tourism and introduce the country’s latest tourism products to travel companies in the UK, thus helping to increase visitors from the UK and other key European markets to Vietnam.
Kate White, Director of Asia Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, highly valued the opening of this office, adding that she believes the upcoming F1 Vietnam Grand Prix in Hanoi will once again prove Vietnam to be an attractive destination for travellers.
Vietnam has been assessed as one of the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations by many international tourism bodies like the UN World Tourism Organisation and the Asia-Pacific Tourism Association. It has also been named on the lists of the top tourist and cultural tourism destinations in Asia, the world’s best golf destinations, along with other rankings.
Destination Highlights
F1 Circuit Completed for Vietnam Grand Prix.
The final 150m of track was laid last week, along with the start/finish line to complete the 23-turn circuit, which features a unique hybrid design, fusing a street circuit’s characteristics with a permanent track layout and is the first of its kind.
The original surface sample was sent to laboratories in Singapore and Germany to undergo thorough testing to ensure it met all FIA requirements.
The organisers are now focusing on the temporary structures around the circuit, including the Grandstands – each named after iconic Vietnamese cities and locations, as well as the media and medical centres and safety barriers.
The Hanoi circuit, which is the third round of the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship, is scheduled to entertain Vietnamese spectators on April 3-5.
Vietnam is the third country in Southeast Asia to host a Formula One race after Malaysia and Singapore.
Traditional Festivals of Ethnic Minority Groups Restored.
Accordingly, the Ministry will support the preservation and restoration of traditional festivals of Lao ethnic group in Dien Bien Province; La Chi group in Ha Giang Province’s Quang Binh District; Nung people in Hoang Su Phi District in Ha Giang Province; Thai group in Yen Bai Province; Lai Chau Province’s Si La people; Kon Tum Province’s Gia Rai group; and Binh Phuoc Province’s traditional festivals.
The restoration of traditional aims to promote the cultural values of ethnic minority groups, contributing to enhancing the movement “All people unite to build cultural life in residential areas and building new-style rural areas” while eliminating backward factors and customs that are not suitable in community life.
The MoCST asked the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the provinces and localities to survey, select and create scientific dossiers on the festivals in need of being restored before February 20.
Travel Update
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