Mr Trong, who is paying an official visit to Indonesia, congratulated Bali province on being elected by the World Tourism Organisation as a tourist destination of its Green Tourism project in 2010.

He praised Bali’s potential for tourism development and proposed the Indonesian province increase cooperation with Vietnam which has a number of UNESCO-recognised tourist sites such as Ha Long Bay, Hue Imperial City, My Son Relic, Hoi An Ancient City and Phong Nha-Ke Bang Cave.

Governor Mangku said his administration will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese localities to share experiences in tourism management. He said the administration is interested in preserving its traditional cultural identity, considering this a prerequisite for the province to attract tourists.

In the evening, governor Mangku gave a banquet in honour of Mr Trong and his entourage.

Mr Trong began an official visit to Indonesia on February 28 at the invitation of Marzuki Alie, Speaker of the Indonesia House of Representatives.