National Tourism Year 2017: “Visit Vietnam Year 2017 - Lao Cai -Northwest”

At the first meeting designed to discuss and agree on some contents relating to preparations and operation programme of the National Tourism Year 2017 held in Hanoi on July 11, Mr Ha Van Thang, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province, reported on preparations and presented the draft programme for the National Tourism Year 2017. Accordingly, the National Tourism Year 2017 will be hosted by Lao Cai province with the participation of Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien and Ha Giang provinces and the response of other provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Thua Thien - Hue, Da Nang, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City.

 

According to the draft programme, the National Tourism Year 2017 will have eight activities led by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in cooperation with other central authorities; five events hosted by Lao Cai province and 12 events hosted by Northwest provinces, including four international events and eight promotional events.

Besides, other provinces and cities will host some other activities and events in response to the National Tourism Year 2017. The opening and announcing ceremony of the National Tourism Year 2017 is expected to take place in February 2017 together with the Thuong Temple Festival in Lao Cai province and the closing ceremony is planned to be held in November 2017 together with the 17^th Vietnam - China International Trade Fair in Lao Cai.

 

 

To prepare for the National Tourism Year 2017, Lao Cai and Northwest provinces have prepared eight locally typical tourism products in 2017. The highlight will be community tourism aimed to introduce the beauty of people, culture and lifestyle of Northwest ethnic groups to domestic and foreign tourists.

 

Other tourism products feature terraced fields; upland market fairs; spiritual tourism tours along the Red River passing Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Phu Tho provinces; spiritual tours along the Da River going through Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces; Northwest flower tours; and legendry footprint tour which will explore military trails in Dien Bien Phu battlefield; and "Conquering the peak" tourism.

 

At the meeting, participants discussed and agreed upon the name, logo and slogan of the National Tourism Year 2017, whose full name will be Visit Vietnam Year 2017 - Lao Cai - Northwest themed (Northwest colours). The logo of the National Tourism Year 2017 highlights the image of houses on stilts, a characteristic architecture of the Northwest and a symbol of homestay service - a popular type of tourist accommodation in the Northwest.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Nguyen Van Vinh, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council of Lao Cai, affirmed that Lao Cai province will collect and integrate suggestions from participants to complete the programme and make early preparations for the National Tourism Year 2017. He also suggested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to direct its subordinate units, localities and enterprises to give priority to promoting the National Tourism Year 2017.

 

Mr Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasised that activities of the National Tourism Year 2017 must be prepared carefully and focused wit fascinatingly distinctive events to draw more tourists.

 

Particularly, the opening ceremony must leave impressions on the public and tourists, highlight diverse Northwest cultures, and demonstrate high professionalism. In addition, he asked Lao Cai province and Northwest provinces to count tourist arrivals and revenues to demonstrate the success of the National Tourism Year 2017.