HCM CITY — The Điện Biên-Northwest Culture and Tourism Week kicked off in HCM City on Monday night, offering a range of activities to promote the tourism potential of Điện Biên Province and the Northwest region.

The event is aimed at promoting National Tourism Year 2024, which will be hosted by the northwestern province of Điện Biên.

A variety of exciting activities are taking place at Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street until December 6, such as art performances, street parades, a photo exhibition, and a seminar on tourism promotion.

It also includes a series of trade fairs displaying “One Commune-One Product” (OCOP) products, specialty products, and tourism products of the northwest region.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dương Anh Đức, deputy chairman of the city People’s Committee, said the northwest region has rich tourism resources with a unique cultural identity, magnificent nature, and heroic history.

The breathtaking landscape and unique cultural identity of the mountainous northwest region cannot be found elsewhere, making it an alluring destination for domestic and international tourists, Đức said.

The region is home to many ethnic groups such as Mông, Thái, Mường, Dao, Khơ Mú, Lào, Lự, and Hà Nhì with different customs and traditions that are key tourism resources of the region, he said.

HCM City and the northwest region, comprising the provinces of Điện Biên, Hà Giang, Hòa Bình, Lai Châu, Lào Cai, Sơn La, Yên Bái, and Phú Thọ, signed an agreement in 2020 to develop inter-regional travel products and strengthen cooperation in marketing and promotion activities, human resources training, and investment in tourism, he said.

The event is part of this agreement of tourism linkages, offering an opportunity for localities to jointly exploit their full tourism potential, he added.

Vừ A Bằng, deputy chairman of Điện Biên Province’s People’s Committee, said Điện Biên-Northwest Culture and Tourism Week was part of activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory and enhance cooperation in culture and tourism between HCM City and the region. —VNS