During the trip, the ambassador had a meeting with Governor of the Ionian Islands Yianis Trepeklis at the regional government headquarters, where both sides discussed potential areas for collaboration.

Governor Trepeklis warmly welcomed the Vietnamese diplomat and described the visit as an important step in promoting bilateral cooperation. He noted that tourism is a key economic driver for the Ionian region, which includes popular destinations such as Corfu, Zakynthos, Lefkada, and Cephalonia. The region also prioritises environmental protection and the conservation and promotion of UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage sites.

He expressed his wish to expand cooperation with Vietnam in tourism and cultural exchange, saying he welcomes Vietnamese delegations to explore opportunities in sustainable marine economic development, nature conservation, and environmental protection.

Ambassador Huong highlighted Vietnam’s potential, strengths and priorities in economic development, noting the country’s geographic and cultural similarities with Greece. With more than 3,200km of coastline and around 4,000 islands and islets, Vietnam considers maritime economy and tourism vital sectors. In the first half of 2024, Vietnam welcomed nearly 11 million international visitors, while outbound Vietnamese tourism sees over 5 million travellers annually, with Greece becoming an increasingly preferred destination.

The ambassador invited Ionian authorities and businesses to visit Vietnam to explore cooperation prospects. She also encouraged local hospitality businesses in the Ionian Islands to consider hiring Vietnamese workers, with support from the regional government and the Vietnamese Embassy.

Governor Trepeklis proposed establishing ties between the Ionian Islands and a Vietnamese coastal locality, aiming to enhance cooperation in tourism, marine economy, island governance, and environmental protection. He also expressed interest in participating in international travel fairs held in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi, to promote Ionian tourism in the Vietnamese market of over 100 million people.

As part of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation toured the Archaeological Museum of Corfu and the Museum of Asian Art. The latter, a national museum of Greece, expressed interest in hosting exhibitions featuring Vietnamese artworks. It currently displays collections from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Cambodia, and other South and East Asian countries.

The delegation also visited the family of Konstantinos Fitsitzoglou, a Greek-born soldier who joined the Viet Minh Front under the name Nguyen Van Bong. He served in Binh Thuan province during the resistance war against French colonial rule and took part in numerous battles.

Huge potential remains for Vietnam-Greece collaboration: Ambassador

Vietnam and Greece hold great potential and ample room to further develop their relations, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Greece Pham Thi Thu Huong.