Addressing the launch of the National Tourism Year 2007 in the province on February 27, Mr Hung said the event is an opportunity for Vietnam and Thai Nguyen in particular to tap the potential for boosting socio-economic and tourism development.

About 20,000 people flocked to Thai Nguyen Stadium to witness the launch of the campaign. Spectators enjoyed music, dances and cultural performances by the Tay and Nung ethnic minority groups.

The opening was a precursor to other cultural events which will be staged throughout the year. Celebrations will be held in May to mark the 60^th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s return to the former Viet Bac Resistance War Base, and a photo exhibition of Thai Nguyen will be held at the Vietnamese Ethnic Groups’ Cultural Museum. Thai Nguyen City will celebrate its 45^th anniversary late this year.

Also on February 27, the Northeast Exhibition and Spring Fair opened in Thai Nguyen City to promote and honour Vietnam’s cultural values, traditional arts and special products of the region. The two-day fair, which is being attended by Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, Ha Giang and Bac Giang provinces, introduces typical Vietnamese artefacts such as ancient drum collections, pictures and pottery of the 12^th-15^th centuries, and a new collection of Central Highlands Gongs and Elephant Skin Drums. It also offers tourists 46 kinds of traditional wines and many types of folk songs, dances and games.

Earlier on February 26, Thai Nguyen held a Tea Culture Festival to promote its tea trademark.  

The tourism year is expected to highlight Thai Nguyen as one of the premier tourist destinations of the country. The province aims to receive more than 750,000 domestic and foreign tourists and earn US$26.5 million from tourism services.