VietNam boosts tourism ties with Italy

HCM CITY – With Viet Nam working towards making tourism a key sector by 2020, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien has sought to strengthen co-operation with Italy to expand promotion programmes and attract more Italian visitors to the country and vice versa.

Hạ Long Bay is one of the most popular destinations in Việt Nam for Italian tourists.—VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức

Speaking at a conference on Viet Nam – Italy tourism cooperation on the sidelines of the 13th International Travel Expo in HCM City on Thursday, he said "Italy is one of the most important markets for many countries including Viet Nam since every year 28 million of Italians, or nearly 50 percent of the country’s population, travel abroad".

Since the two countries signed agreements in 2009, and with Viet Nam waiving visas for Italians, the number of tourists from Italy has been on the rise.

However, the steady 13-18 per cent growth in this number notwithstanding, Viet Nam has not fully exploited the potential of the Italian market.

Thien blamed this on the lack of information about tourism products and tour packages, Italian-speaking tour guides and direct flights from Italy to Viet Nam.

Therefore, "the conference is an important platform for tourism officials and tour operators from the two countries to learn about trends and tourists’ behaviour from each other," he added.

Italian Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism Dorina Bianchi said though the number of Italian tourists visiting Viet Nam might not be high her compatriots were very interested in trying out new destinations, especially in Asia, including Viet Nam.

Viet Nam has the advantages of beautiful landscapes and delicious food and drinks that can be very attractive to Italian travelers, according to the deputy minister.

If Viet Nam can soon start a direct air service to Italy and increase the number of days Italians can stay in Viet Nam without a visa, the two countries can see tourism growth.

Nguyen Van Tuan, director general of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, promised to lobby the Government to continue the visa waiver for another five years and to increase the visa-free stay to 30 days from the current 15.

Carlotta Colli, the Italian consul general in HCM City, said that last December Italy became the first Schengen country to set up a visa application centre in Da Nang to make things easier for Vietnamese.

Referring to the shortage of Italian-speaking tour guides, she said the Italian embassy and consulate were making efforts to offer more Italian courses in Ha Noi and HCM City.

Many people graduating from those courses had become tour guides, she added.

Tourist behaviour

At the conference, tour operators from the two countries spoke about how to attract more visitors, saying one of the key factors is understanding tourist behaviour.

According to Tran Manh Duc, head of Vietravel’s European market department, Italian tourists tend to take long vacations in Viet Nam to explore many places.

They are keen on luxurious services, especially accommodation, Vietnamese cuisine and local specialties, something that Viet Nam should take note if it wants to attract them.

According to Giampietro Trovò, product manager of Italian tour operator Boscolo, Italian tourists like to travel in small groups to experience Vietnamese lifestyles.

Since not many Italians can speak English well, Vietnamese tour operators who have Italian-speaking tour guides have a competitive edge.

Italians love to spend the end of their trip on the beach and tan, and tour operators should keep this in mind when designing tour packages. VNS

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An Giang Tourism Month kicks off

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet chef Martin Yan, enjoy an ox racing festival and join the solemn Ba Chua Xu honouring festival in Chau Doc city this May.

The Bay Nui ox racing festival will be part of the An Giang Tourism Month slated for May 16-25 (Photo: VNA)

They are among a series of events of the An Giang Food and Tourism Culture Week, part of the An Giang Tourism Month, being held in Chau Doc city from May 16 to 25.

“With a range of interesting cultural, sports and tourism events, we would like to convey the message that An Giang’s aim is a green, clean and friendly tourism development,” director of An Giang’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Len said.

This cultural and tourism event of An Giang is also aimed at introducing and promoting the local natural landscape, historical and cultural relics, craft villages and local signature food.

The An Giang Tourism Month, organised by the An Giang’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, features a range of events, which include the Bay Nui ox racing festival, a traditional festival of the Khmer in the Bay Nui (Seven Mountains) region; boat racing; lantern releasing event; and a music gala featuring Mekong River’s music bands.

The An Giang Food and Tourism Culture Week will feature 200 booths, an exhibition showcasing An Giang’s tourism destinations, a space introducing the tourism and culture of the Khmer and Cham ethnic minority groups and a don ca tai tu (southern folk music) performance. 

Also on this occasion, visitors can participate in the Ba Chua Xu festival, an event that honours the sacred Ba Chua Xu (local tutelary goddess). The festival, held between 23rd and 27th of the fourth lunar month of the year at Ba Chua Xu temple, has five solemn rituals, including washing the statue of Ba Chua Xu, as well as dragon dances and art performances. Traditional rituals to open the festival, a national intangible cultural heritage, officially took place on May 17 evening.

Vietnamplus

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Ho Chi Minh City wants to wow tourists with light festival

Colorful light shows would cast a new look over iconic buildings and streets.

Visitors to Ho Chi Minh City this year will have a chance to see the city glowing in the night during a light festival.

The city government at a meeting Monday approved the culture department’s plan for the festival, during which famous buildings and streets will be lit up with colorful installations and light shows.

A specific timeframe has not been announced. Icons such as Ben Thanh Market, the Opera House and the city’s town hall are expected to make the final list of venues.

The upcoming festival is expected to become another reason to visit Ho Chi Minh City, one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam with 5.2 million foreign arrivals in 2016, a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

The city puts on colorful street lights every New Year and it has decided to keep the lights on every weekend.

It hopes to receive six million visitors this year.

Among various plans to bring in more tourists, the city has announced its intention to create a floating market, similar to the famous markets of the Mekong Delta, and launch weekend fireworks shows.

Light festivals have been a staple of many tourist cities across the world like Lyon and Sydney.

Hoi An in central Vietnam also lit up its ancient houses during its first-ever light festival, Shades of Hoi An, early this year. Watch the official video from Quang Nam Province.