WORDS ON THE STREET 70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day Vietnam - Asia 2023 Smart City Summit Hanoi celebrates 15 years of administrative boundary adjustment 12th Vietnam-France decentrialized cooperation conference 31st Sea Games - Vietnam 2021 Covid-19 Pandemic
Home / Travel / Tours
Vietnam tourism promotion event officially opens in Italy
Tuyet Nhung 23:57, 2018/10/04
The number of Italian visitors to Vietnam in 2017 was estimated at 58,000, up 13.2% year-on-year.
A tourism promotion event with theme “A Soulful Vietnam”, organized by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) in coordination with partners, officially opened in Milan city, Italy on October 3.
 
Foreign visitors to Vietnam. Photo: vtv.vn
Foreign visitors to Vietnam. Photo: vtv.vn
The event was part of a program organized by VNAT to promote Vietnam's tourism in Western Europe. Accordingly, the event introduced Vietnam’s tourist products and supportive policies. Popular destinations, including Ha Long Bay, Hue imperial citadel, Hoi An ancient town and Phong Nha – Ke Bang cave system were presented alongside Vietnam’s culture and cuisine.
In 2017, Vietnam welcomed more than 13 million European visitors, accounting for 15% of total foreign visitors to the nation. The figure for Italian tourists was 58,000, up 13.2% year on year, according to Deputy General Director of VNAT Ha Van Sieu.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Cao Chinh Thien said effective tourism development benefits companies, people and the economy of a country. He pledged the embassy would provide support to enhance Vietnam – Italy tourism cooperation.
Earlier, the Vietnamese government agreed to extension of visa waiver for a three-year period for the citizens of five Western European countries namely the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Accordingly, citizens from the five aforementioned countries will continue to enjoy visa exemptions to enter Vietnam up to 2020 after the previous visa-free policy expired in June this year.
The open-door visa policy aligned with enhanced tourism promotion has contributed to maintaining Vietnam's growth rate of foreign visitors at nearly 30% annually, according to Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung.
The government will consider proposals made by  the Vietnam Tourism Association concerning the extension of the period of stay in Vietnam from 15 to 30 days and the expansion of visa exemption for more countries, among others, he tipped.
Other news
21:39, 2024/12/15
New milestone in Hanoi's night tourism development
The 'Truc Bach Night' tourism promotion program is important in furthering Hanoi's efforts to develop the night-time economy.
06:52, 2024/12/13
24 hours in Hanoi: Learning to love the city
Spending a full day in Hanoi to experience the pace of life can be an emotional and unforgettable experience for people who are just passing through, but for those who are devoted to the city, years of exploration are not enough.
10:06, 2024/08/31
Self-drive tours become more popular in Hanoi
The "close to home" trend can be seen in the rise of self-driving and local travel this summer.
20:31, 2024/07/17
Hanoi's camping attracts visitors seeking nature experiences
Camping in Hanoi has become increasingly trendy among urban families in recent years, adding to the appeal of the city's tourism.
21:14, 2024/06/03
Summer travel trend: Vietnamese tourists opt for nearby destinations
Due to the high cost of air tickets, many people choose to travel by train, car or fly to regional countries.
15:04, 2024/02/02
Ngoc Son Temple night tour launched in Hanoi
The real-life program is based on real historical data and legends that have been passed down and carried on at the Ngoc Son Temple for centuries.