1. National tourism year in Thai Nguyen

This tourism year, entitled “Returning to the capital of mountain and forest wind - the northernmost Revolutionary Base”, was held successfully. It helped revive the historical values of the revolutionary cause among Vietnamese people.

Vietnam welcomed the 4 millionth foreign tourist on December 6 – a milestone in the tourism sector. Surpassing the target of 4 million international tourists has laid a foundation for the Vietnam tourism sector to receive between 6 and 6.5 million international visitors by 2010, gradually turning tourism into a spearhead industry for the economy.

Vietnam tourism was promoted for the first time on the international television channel CNN. The video clip, which cost the Vietnamese government VND4.7 billion, has been broadcast at prime time for three months since October 10.

4. Successful meeting of the Tourism Ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

The first meeting was held on the sidelines of the Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair. Ministers of Tourism of the three countries signed a joint declaration on tourism cooperation with the aim of implementing the “three nations, one destination” tourism programme.

5. Voting for Ha Long Bay as one of the seven new wonders

A campaign to vote for Ha Long Bay as one of the seven new wonders of the world has been held across the country and received wide support from local people and international friends. The vote has helped promote the prestige of Vietnam’s tourism and enhance the nation’s pride.

6. Successfully conducting surveys to develop new tourism programmes

Conducting a number of surveys to develop tourism products across the country, especially in remote, mountainous, border and island areas has helped change awareness of tourism and discover new tourism sources. Localities have made significant progress in tourism promotion. Trans-national surveys between Vietnam-Laos-Thailand-Cambodia and Vietnam-China have boosted regional coordination in tourism development. This will provide a new orientation for building trans-national tourism products that will help develop the region as a destination to attract visitors.

7. Successfully organizing Da Lat Flower Festival

The festival was held from December 15 to 21 with the participation of 100 businesses from 24 provinces and cities in Vietnam and seven countries of the world. This included the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Belgium, Denmark and China. It was a good chance to promote the image of Da Lat in particular and Vietnam in general to international friends as well as a place for businesses and investors to exchange experiences and seek co-operative opportunities.

In first ten months of 2007, there were 41 foreign direct invested (FDI) projects in tourism and hotels with a capitalized value of US$1,773 million, up 17.2 percent compared to the same period last year. From 1988 to October 2007, Vietnam has attracted 229 FDI projects with a total investment capital of US$6,084 million.

9.Vietnamtourism.com celebrating its 10^th anniversary

On December 16, 1997, Vietnamtourism.com – the first official tourism website was launched in Vietnam. In the past ten years, the website has been developing strongly. With five languages – Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese and Japanese, the website now has a reputation both at home and abroad.

The pilot programme to welcome Thai caravans to Vietnam has created a sudden increase of overland tourists to the central provinces. Most of them are from the ASEAN countries. This rise has contributed to the development of tourism in the region and turned ASEAN into a vital market for Vietnam’s tourism sector.

Major tourism events to take place in 2008

1. Mekong Delta “Waterways Gardens” Tourism Year

This will be a main national tourism event in the whole year of 2008.  It will be held in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, with the goal of attracting more than two million foreigners and bringing in estimated revenue of VND600 billion.

2.  “Returning to the roots” programme

2008 will be the fourth consecutive year that such an event will be held by the three northern provinces of Phu Tho, Yen Bai, and Lao Cai. The programme is expected to welcome 4.5 million tourists.

3. Hue Festival 2008

Entitled “Cultural heritage and integration and development”, the event will be organized on a large scale with hundreds of fascinating cultural and tourism subprogrammes to honour Vietnam’s and Hue’s cultural values.

The Hue Festival 2008 will open at Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) Square inside Hue’s ancient citadel on the night of June 3 and conclude on the banks of the Huong River on the night of June 11.

4. Voting campaign for Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Wonder

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism will continue to support its voting campaign for Ha Long Bay in 2008 with the goal of placing it among the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World. This online popularity poll was initiated by the private, non-profit New Open World Corporation.

5. International Fireworks Display Contest

An international fireworks display contest will take place along the Han river in central Danang City as the city organizes various culture festivals to promote its fields of culture, tourism and sports.

6. Miss Sports Contest 2008

A beauty pageant will be launched by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and several advertisement companies. The recruitment round has been taking place since December 5 of this year to March 30, 2008.

7. Vietnam Tourism promotion in the country and abroad

This activity aims to make full use of advantages to develop Vietnam Tourism into a spearhead economic industry. It belongs to the National Action Plan on Tourism in the 2006-2010 period.

8. Miss Universe

Over 100 candidates, who represent countries from all over the world, will visit Nha Trang to take part in beauty and talent contests in July 2008. More than 170 television channels will broadcast live the event, which is expected to catch the attention of 120 nations.

9. ASEAN and TRAVEX 2009 Tourism Forum
The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is an annual event of tourism. It is considered to be the most prestigious and largest event of its kind in the region. At the coming forum in Bangkok, Thailand, Vietnam will officially take over the task of hosting the ATF and TRAVEX 2009 on January 5-12, 2009.