CategoriesNews By Ánh Ngọc Trương

Khanh Hoa tourism promotion conference in Russia

Khanh Hoa tourism promotion conference took place in Moscow City, Russia on March 11. 

Representatives of Khanh Hoa tourism enterprises introduce products to Russian travel agencies.

Present at the event were Dang Minh Khoi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the Russia; Nguyen Khac Toan, Permanent Deputy Secretary of Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Provincial People’s Council, Secretary of Provincial Party Agencies; Tran Hoa Nam, Vice-Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Manuylov Vyacheslav Viktorovich, Acting Director of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow; representatives of the Moscow City Tourism Committee; departments, agencies and sectors of Khanh Hoa Province together with more than 130 representatives from tourism associations and businesses in Russia and Khanh Hoa.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi affirmed that tourism is an important economic sector, contributing greatly to the socio-economic development. Vietnam -Russia relations, especially tourism cooperation between the two countries, have seen significant progress.

The Ambassador emphasized that Russia is one of the vital markets of Vietnamese tourism, with more and more Russian tourists traveling to Vietnam to explore distinctive culture, diverse cuisine, and stunning landscapes. In particular, Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa is considered the “beach capital of Vietnam” and is a very popular destination for Russian tourists thanks to its captivating long coastline, crystal-clear waters, pleasant climate and a wide array of services.

In 2024, Vietnam welcomed more than 232,300 Russian visitors, making up 36% compared to its pre-Covid-19 in 2019, up by 84.9% compared to 2023. Russian visitors to Vietnam are expected to continue to increase in 2025. Vietnam always creates favorable conditions for Russian travelers. Recently, Russian travelers are eligible for visa exemption up to  45 days to enter Vietnam and 90 days with e-visas.

Russia has also included Vietnam in the list of countries that are granted e-visas with a stay of 14 days with straightforward application procedures. The Vietnam – Russia comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to develop strongly, creating momentum for tourism development cooperation between the two countries,” Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi affirmed.

Russian travel agency representatives learn about tourism information in Khanh Hoa.

At the event, the Organizing Committee screened a video introducing the province’s unique destinations, from the beautiful beaches of Nha Trang to high-end resorts, diverse sea tourism services and unique local cultural experiences. Also at the conference, delegates discussed specific solutions to overcome difficulties to restore the Russian tourist market.

Representatives of tourism businesses and delegates from both sides pledged to cooperate closely, with the aim of taking advantage of preferential policies, as well as exchange initiatives, to overcome current difficulties towards sustainable tourism development.

Speaking at the conference, Vice-Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Hoa Nam affirmed that Russian tourists are a traditional tourist market for Khanh Hoa tourism in particular and Vietnam in general. In 2019, there were about 463,000 Russian arrivals to Khanh Hoa Province, accounting for 71.6% of the total number of Russian tourists to Vietnam and Russia was known as the second largest international tourist market of the province at that time.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2024, the number of Russian tourists to Khanh Hoa has resumed, reaching more than 105,500 arrivals, up by 206% compared to 2023, but only 22.8% compared to 2019. Vice-Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Hoa Nam expressed his hope that Khanh Hoa Tourism Promotion Conference in the Russian Federation will contribute to promoting the Russian tourist market.

Also within the framework of the conference, representatives of Russian enterprises visited the exhibition with many attractive products and publications, providing a comprehensive view of the province’s tourism services and potential. In particular, through the Business-to-Business (B2B) session at the conference, representatives of Russian and Khanh Hoa enterprises directly exchanged, connected and built long-term business cooperation relationships with partners from Khanh Hoa in the coming time.

Vice-Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Hoa Nam and members of the working delegation worked with the Aeroflot Airline.

After the conference, the delegation of Khanh Hoa Province had a working session with representatives of the Russian national airline Aeroflot with the main objective to discuss in detail the plan to resume the direct flight service from Moscow to Cam Ranh International Airport which has been suspended since early 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic..

Speaking at the meeting, Vice-Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Hoa Nam emphasized the importance of opening a direct flight route in tourism promotion between the two countries. “The restoration of the flight route from Moscow to Khanh Hoa not only shortens travel time but also reduces airfare costs and facilitates the promotion of the Russian tourist market, one of the major international tourist markets of Khanh Hoa tourism,” Tran Hoa Nam expressed.

Aeroflot representatives said that the airline is closely monitoring the trend of international tourism recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, especially the increase in travel demand of Russians to warm destinations in Southeast Asia. In particular, Khanh Hoa stands out as a great destination for Russian tourists thanks to its remarkable sea and island tourism potential, beautiful natural landscapes and ideal warm climate.

Accordingly, Aeroflot has planned to resume flights to Cam Ranh with 2 flights/week from the end of March 2025 and will consider increasing the frequency of flights during the peak tourist season. The reopening of the flight route from Moscow to Cam Ranh not only meets travel demand but also contributes to promoting trade and bilateral cooperation between Russia and Vietnam.

Source: Khanh Hoa News – news.baokhanhhoa.vn – Mar 13, 2025

CategoriesNews By Ánh Ngọc Trương

Quang Nam launches Hoi An – My Son – Dong Giang Heaven Gate tourism route

On March 8, the Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee officially launched a new tourism corridor: Hoi An – My Son – Dong Giang Heaven Gate at the Quang Nam International Travel Conference 2025.

Quang Nam’s officials and an representative from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism chair the conference.

According to Vice Chairman of Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee, Phan Thai Binh, this 100km three-destination journey integrates three unique cultural and natural landmarks: Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary – two UNESCO world heritage sites, and Dong Giang Heaven Gate Ecotourism Site featuring Vietnam’s highest concentration of natural waterfalls.

So, the new tourism route as a blend of architecture, history, and culture.

The Ngoc Rong glass bridge at Dong Giang Heaven Gate Ecotourism Site.

To support this initiative, the Quang Nam Department of Construction has approved a new interprovincial bus route connecting Hoi An, My Son, and Dong Giang Heaven Gate.

Delegates perform the ceremony to announce the Hoi An – My Son – Dong Giang Heaven Gate tourism corridor.

Speaking at the conference, the Quang Nam provincial Party Secretary, Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, highlighted the Hoi An – My Son – Dong Giang Heaven Gate heritage route as the province’s first official intra-provincial tourism route, linking key destinations and expanding regional connections.

Source: QNO – en.baoquangnam.vn – Mar 10, 2025

CategoriesNews By Ánh Ngọc Trương

Hollywood film crew fascinated to produce a new film set in Cát Bà (Hải Phòng)

(TITC) – On 10th March, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung had a meeting with Hollywood directors and film producers regarding a new film project.

Overview of the meeting (Photo: TITC)

On the Vietnamese side, attendees included MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong; Chairman of the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh; Director of the Department of Cinema Dang Tran Cuong; Director of the Department of International Cooperation Nguyen Phuong Hoa; Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation Tran Nhat Hoang; Deputy Director of Hải Phòng’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vu Huy Thuong; leaders from Hanoi Tourism Corporation (Hanoitourist); Oxalis Adventure; and representatives from various tourism and travel enterprises.

On the Hollywood side, the delegation included Ms. Rose Lam, Global Executive Producer of Riot Studios (Riot Games), and Mr. Nicholas Simon, CEO and Producer of Indochina Productions.

Strengthening Film Industry Cooperation Between Vietnam and the U.S.

MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung speaking at the meeting (Photo: TITC)

Welcoming the Hollywood filmmaking team, MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung emphasized the significance of the meeting as an important milestone in future Vietnam-U.S. film cooperation. He noted that 2023 marked the 30th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between the two nations, and the recent elevation of their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has further deepened bilateral cooperation in culture, sports, and tourism.

MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong at the meeting (Photo: TITC)

Vietnam has adopted open policies and actively promoted people-to-people exchanges and tourism cooperation with the U.S. As a result, the number of American tourists visiting Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese tourists traveling to the U.S., has steadily increased. The U.S. is now one of Vietnam’s top inbound tourism markets. MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung praised the strong collaboration between the two countries in policy communication, destination promotion, and cultural diplomacy to foster mutual understanding.

VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh at the meeting (Photo: TITC)

In 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism launched the first-ever Vietnam Tourism & Film Promotion Program in the U.S. With the active cooperation of American partners, this initiative has significantly contributed to the development of the film industry and the promotion of tourism in both countries.

MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung also highlighted Vietnam’s reputation as an attractive destination for international tourists, as recognized by numerous prestigious global tourism awards.

“Vietnam’s breathtaking natural landscapes serve as inspiration for poetry, music, painting, and cinema. The Vietnamese people are friendly, warm, and welcoming. Leveraging these advantages, Vietnam has proactively collaborated with other countries to develop its film industry. Cinema has also become an important contributor to the national GDP,” the Minister stated.

He cited Kong: Skull Island as a prime example of a Hollywood blockbuster filmed in Vietnam. The movie gained widespread international recognition and significantly boosted Vietnam’s tourism industry, making it a shining example of cinematic cooperation between the two nations.

Hollywood’s Interest in Filming in Cát Bà

Ms. Rose Lam, Global Executive Producer of Riot Studios speaking at the meeting (Photo: TITC)

Ms. Rose Lam, Global Executive Producer of Riot Studios, expressed her gratitude for the warm reception from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. She introduced Riot Games as a multinational video game developer and publisher known for hit titles and global esports tournaments. League of Legends, one of its flagship games, has attracted 650 million players worldwide.

Riot Studios is currently planning a new film project. After scouting locations in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam, the team determined that Cát Bà Archipelago (Hải Phòng) was the most ideal and feasible filming location. Ms. Lam expressed her hope that the Ministry and local authorities would provide support and favorable conditions for the production team to execute the project smoothly. She also highlighted the potential for the film to promote Vietnam’s tourism industry to a global audience.

Mr. Nicholas Simon, CEO and Producer of Indochina Productions speaking at the meeting (Photo: TITC)

During the meeting, the Hollywood team presented their project ideas and production plans for filming in Cát Bà, engaging in detailed discussions with Vietnamese officials.

Mr. Nicholas Simon, CEO and Producer of Indochina Productions, expressed optimism about further discussions on Vietnam’s film regulations and the practical aspects of the project. He emphasized that filming and premiering this movie in Hải Phòng would be an excellent opportunity to showcase Vietnam to the world.

According to Mr. Simon, Vietnam consistently ranks as a top choice for international travelers and filmmakers. Given Riot Games’ extensive global audience, a film shot in Vietnam would generate significant positive attention for both countries.

Vietnam’s Commitment to Sustainable Filmmaking

MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung reaffirmed Vietnam’s willingness to enhance collaboration with U.S. partners in film and tourism while ensuring compliance with national laws. He emphasized the importance of mutual benefits and shared responsibilities in the filmmaking process.

MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung gifting souvenir to Ms. Rose Lam (Photo: TITC)

Leaders and delegates of both sides taking souvenir photo (Photo: TITC)

The Minister also urged the Hollywood team to carefully study Vietnam’s Cinema Law to ensure the film meets both Vietnamese and international cinematic standards while avoiding inappropriate or culturally insensitive content.

Additionally, he stressed Vietnam’s strong commitment to environmental conservation and heritage protection. Since the proposed filming locations include areas designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, he emphasized the priority of preserving the environment, marine ecosystems, and cultural heritage.

“Vietnam’s stance is clear: we will not compromise environmental sustainability for economic gain,” MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung concluded.

Tourism Information Technology Center

CategoriesNews By Ánh Ngọc Trương

“Live fully in Vietnam!”: Effective method to spread the beauty of Vietnamese tourism to international friends

(TITC) – The YouTube digital media program “Live fully in Vietnam!” is an initiative jointly initiated by the Tourism Information Technology Center (Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism) and Google in the context of the tourism industry’s efforts to recover and develop.

This is a new and creative strategic communication direction of the Tourism Information Technology Center to take advantage of the power of digital transformation to enhance communication and promotion in the digital environment, shorten geographical distances, and reach potential and target customer markets. With a new and effective approach, “Live fully in Vietnam!” attracts support and companionship from many localities, units in the tourism sector, and influential YouTube content creators.

Up to now, the products of the “Live fully in Vietnam!” campaign are video clips promoting Vietnam’s main types of tourism, such as sea and island tourism, cultural tourism, nature tourism, city tourism, Vietnam’s outstanding tourist destinations, and strong types of tourism such as culinary tourism, golf tourism, health care tourism, agricultural and rural tourism, railway tourism, etc.

“Live fully in Vietnam!” videos has shown the vibrant, brilliant beauty of Vietnamese tourism such as the image of spectacular terraced fields that are typical of the highlands of the Northwest, the majestic scenery and rich ecosystem of caves and waterfalls, immersing in the clear blue water of the sea, or taking viewers to enjoy peaceful moments on a boat in the middle of the Mekong Delta, the warm atmosphere of reunion when Tet comes and Spring returns. All bring viewers complete, genuine emotions.

With unique content, themes, and images, the eye-catching footage has touched the hearts of viewers and received widespread attention and sharing on social networking sites. “Live fully in Vietnam!” received Second Place at the 8th National Award for Foreign Information in 2022 and Third Place at the 10th Award in 2024 by the Central Propaganda Department in coordination with key press agencies.

Tourism Information Technology Center