HÀ NỘI — The unique culture and beautiful nature of Guangxi Province has been showcased in Việt Nam in an effort to boost tourism between the two countries.

A culture and tourism exchange conference, on November 27 in Hà Nội, entitled Magnificent Guangxi, saw leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism, the Chinese Embassy in Việt Nam and the two sides' tourism agencies unite in efforts to increase cooperation.

Pundits predicted that the 2024 - 2025 season would be the year of inbound tourism boom in China, home to many beautiful landscapes and ready to welcome international visitors, including Vietnamese.

Speaking at the event, Chen Yijun, member of the standing board of the Guangxi Province’s Party Committee and head of the committee’s publicity department, said: “Việt Nam and China has a long-standing and strong relationship.

"Under the leadership of the Party and State of the two countries, that relationship is becoming increasingly closer. Today's event is expected to realise the two countries' policies and deepen that relationship."

Chen said Việt Nam and China had many similarities in terms of culture, beautiful natural landscapes and shared a rich potential for tourism development.

In 2025, the two countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, a perfect time to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in cross-border tourism border culture, and continue to deepen cultural and tourism cooperation, he said.

Recently, the waterfall tourist landscape areas -- Bản Giốc (Việt Nam) and Detian (China) - a cross-border tourism and cooperation zone was officially launched, one year after it had been successfully piloted. 

The Beihai - Hạ Long sea tourism route linking Guangxi and Quảng Ninh Province was also opened earlier this month.

“These are very favourable conditions for the two countries to cooperate and develop tourism, especially tourism in border areas. In 2024, about 800,000 tourists have visited Guangxi, among them were 80,000 Vietnamese," said Chen.

She also expected that Việt Nam and China continued to cooperate and exploit tourism across other types of travel, such as caravan tourism, resort and eco tourism and cultural tourism. 

Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Việt Nam, Wang Qun, said Việt Nam - China relations were developing more and more stably. Guangxi, as an important bridge and gateway between China and ASEAN, maximised its geographical advantage of being adjacent to the sea and land with Việt Nam.

The province had successfully exploited its rich and valuable natural resources and diverse culture and promoted extensive exchanges and cooperation with Vietnamese localities.  

Humanistic exchanges between Guangxi and Việt Nam reaped many positive results, especially in terms of cross-border tourism.

He promised that the Chinese Embassy in Việt Nam would continue to support exchange and cooperation activities between the two countries across different fields, including culture and tourism.

He hoped that this event would be a motivation for the culture and tourism cooperation development between two countries, ensuring the stably and long-term comprehensive strategic partnership.

At the conference, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hồ An Phong affirmed that cultural exchange and tourism cooperation between Việt Nam and China was among activities of a relationship which was rich in tradition. It was an objective need and a top priority for Việt Nam and this event carried important meaning, contributing to further promoting cultural and tourism cooperation between two sides. 

He said the Vietnamese ministry was ready work with the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Guangxi Department of Culture and Tourism to closely coordinate and organise the Vietnamese Cultural Week in China, research and build special tourist routes, and actively participate in the China - ASEAN Tourism Fair and help build a community that shared the future of Việt Nam - China.

At the event, participants were briefed about the unique resources, charming scenery, long history and diverse culture of Guangxi, where there visitors were offered countless and convenient travel opportunities.

It was also a chance for the two sides to witness the signing ceremony of tourism cooperation agreement between companies of the two countries and an announcement of a special route designed specifically for Vietnamese customers.

Following the agreement, the two sides would work together to promote cross-border tourism products into each other's markets, exchange tourist sources and expand the market overall.

"This event gives travel businesses of the two countries the opportunity to learn more about tourism resources of the other side. Việt Nam and China share many similarities in natural resources, beautiful landscape, culture and cuisine but there are also many differences and attractions that are just waiting for us to explore," said Minh Thế Long, deputy general director of the International Kim Liên Travel Jointstock

He hoped that moving forward Vietnamese and Chinese travel businesses would continue to increase promotion and work closely together to increase the number of tourists travelling between two countries, setting up a closer relationship between two countries and two peoples. VNS