The event began with the screening of a video on the beauty of Vietnam and its people, followed by performances of quan ho folk singing and traditional musical instruments.
Speaking at the ceremony on September 20, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son highlighted the position and importance of the tourism sector in Vietnam’s economy. The sector attracted eight million tourists in 2015 and aims to welcome 11 million by 2020, making up 7% of the country’s gross domestic product.
He said Vietnam’s efforts in recent years, including its fifteen-day visa exemption policy and use of the A350 plane on the Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City–Paris route, made it more convenient for tourists to visit Vietnam.
Do Dinh Hong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said culture tourism is typical of the capital city’s tourism sector thanks to Hanoi’s rich history and 5,820 global, national and city-level relic sites.
Didier Cour, Director of France’s Terre d’aventure travel company, expressed his high appreciation for Vietnam’s visa exemption policy and praised the country as a wonderful destination for culture and cuisine.
With beautiful natural landscapes, a rich culture, a hospitable people and a diversity of ethnic groups, Vietnam promises to become a major destination in the future of global tourism.
During the event, Vietnamese and French travel companies discussed cooperation to boost the number of tourists to each other’s country.
