By Vy An  March 17, 2019 | 07:48 pm GMT+7 Daily life in North Korea through the lens of a Vietnamese tourist. Photo by VnExpress/Ngo Quang Minh. North Korea will present its attractions as a special guest at a major tourism event in Hanoi late this month. The seventh edition of the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) will be held at the Vietnam-Soviet Cultural Friendship Palace in Hanoi from March 27-30. This year’s edition will be very special because it will be the first time that a North Korean booth will present the country’s attractions. The presentation is set to take place at 1:30 pm on March 29. Vu The Binh, head of the organizing committee, said that a North Korean travel agency had accepted the invitation to join the fair and the Vietnam Tourism Association has created all favorable conditions for the participation. "However, detailed information about the content, personnel, and North Korean delegation have not been revealed," Binh … [Read more...] about North Korea to join Vietnam tourism fair for the first time
Vietnam tourism agency
Lao Cai province, Vietnam News Agency sign media cooperation agreement
At the signing ceremony (Source: VNA) Lao Cai (VNA) – The People’s Committee of the northern border province of Lao Cai and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on March 1 signed a media cooperation agreement for the 2019-2020 period. The agreement aims to raise public awareness of the Party policies and guidelines as well as the State laws; popularise Lao Cai and its people, achievements in socio-economic development and Party building; strengthen local political system; ensure national defence-security; and introduce local strengths to domestic and foreign investors. Accordingly, the VNA will feature Lao Cai’s strengths in socio-economic development, especially border economy, tourism, high-tech agriculture, its role in Kunming – Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh economic corridor, as well as effective business models, thus strengthening public trust to ensure stable development. In particular, the VNA will also popularise … [Read more...] about Lao Cai province, Vietnam News Agency sign media cooperation agreement
Vietnam tourism eyes North Korea opportunities
Vietnam is expected to become a transit point for international visitors to North Korea, said Ha Van Sieu, head of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. illustrative image According to Sieu, the North Korean tourism agency would come to Hanoi in March to discuss tourism co-operation. They will discuss the probability to make Vietnam another transit point to North Korea besides China and this will become more feasible if Vietnam has a direct flight route to North Korea. A North Korean delegation will attend Vietnam International Travel Mart which will be held in Hanoi from March 27 to 30 to promote their country and tour packages. Tourists can currently book tours to North Korean with Chinese companies. They can travel by car, train or fly from Beijing to Pyongyang. HCM City Department of Tourism said several local firms in HCM City had organised tours to North Korea but they also had to co-operate with Chinese companies. If Vietnam becomes a transit point to North Korea … [Read more...] about Vietnam tourism eyes North Korea opportunities
Vietnam News Agency receives Lao noble orders
VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi holds talk with KPL General Director Sounthone Khanthavong. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) held a grand ceremony at its headquarters in Hanoi on January 15 to receive noble orders granted by the State of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Lao Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdara presented second-class Isala (Freedom) Orders to the VNA and VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi. Meanwhile, third-class Labour Orders were bestowed on several VNA collectives, namely the Editorial Secretariat and External Relations Department, the Domestic News Department, the News for Foreign Service Department, the Press Photography Department, the Vietnam Pictorial, the VNA Technical Centre, and the VNA bureau in Laos. Speaking at the event, VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi affirmed that this is recognition from the Lao Party and State for the effective cooperation and support between the VNA and … [Read more...] about Vietnam News Agency receives Lao noble orders
Vietnam tourism hamstrung by lack of funds for marketing
The International Tourism Fair was held in HCMC last September by the tourism ministry and the city. Originally meant to attract visitors to the country, the fair, over the last 14 years, has instead become a place for foreign tourism agencies to find outbound Vietnamese tourists. At Japan and South Korea's tourism booths, guests get to try on traditional costumes. The Japanese booth was the biggest one this year. It and those of Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea dazzled with their modern design and eye-catching images that drew visitors like a magnet. The Cambodian booth had an idol of a four-sided god and a full-sized replica of a temple, and entertained visitors with non-stop music and dance performances. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism's (VNAT) booth on the other hand barely distinguished itself from last year with the agency thinking large photos of tourist attractions would suffice. Meagre tourism promotion budget At many meetings, VNAT leaders said the … [Read more...] about Vietnam tourism hamstrung by lack of funds for marketing