Ha Long Bay - one of the must-see destinations in Quang Ninh (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The annual ASEAN TourismForum (ATF 2019) is scheduled to take place in the northeastern province ofQuang Ninh from January 14-19 under the theme “ASEAN: The Power of One”.
First launched in 1981 in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia, ATF is the biggest annual and alternated event under the ASEANtourism cooperation umbrella with a view to promoting the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as one tourist destination.
It involves all the tourism industry sectors ofthe 10 ASEAN member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The hosting of ATF in 2019 creates a goldenopportunity for Vietnam in general and Quang Ninh in particular to promotetourism.
A wide range of activities will be held as partof the forum such as formal meetings between officials of ASEAN NationalTourism Organisation (NTO) and meetings between ASEAN tourism ministers andtheir counterparts from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and India.
[Opening ceremony of National Tourism Year 2018 slated for April 28]
Other events include association meetingsinvolving ASEAN Tourism Association, Federation of ASEAN Travel Association,ASEAN Airlines Association, and ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association,exhibition and business appointments seeking to facilitate the trade ofregional and individual tourism products of ASEAN member states, and a tourismconference.
The unique and specialised ATF Travel Exchange(TRAVEX) is expected to make it easier and more convenient for suppliers ofASEAN tourism products and services and international buyers to conductbusiness.
Vietnam boasts a long coastline, forests andmountainous regions with numerous magnificent landscapes. The country also hasa long history and diverse culture with a variety of ancient architectureconstruction and wonderful legends.
In 2017, Vietnam welcomed nearly 13 millioninternational tourists and 74 million domestic ones. In the first three monthsof 2018, the country greeted over 4.2 million foreign visitors, a year-on-yearrise of 30.9 percent.
Quang Ninh has a coastline of more than 250kilometres and over 2,000 islands and islets which account for two-thirds ofthe total number in Vietnam.
The province is hosting the National TourismYear 2018 themed “Ha Long-Heritage, Wonder, Friendly Destination”, which willopen in Ha Long city on April 28.
Ha Long Bay literally “descending dragon bay” isa must-see destination in Quang Ninh. It was recognised as a UNESCO World HeritageSite in 1994 and 2000.
The bay spans 1,553 square kilometres andincludes 1,969 islands of various sizes. It features thousands of limestonekarsts and islets in various shapes and sizes. The limestone in the bayhas gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions andenvironments. The geo-diversity of the environment has created biodiversity,including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea biosystem. Ha LongBay is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species.
Located 80 kilometresfrom the mainland, Co To island is another attraction in the. The islanddistrict comprises Co To Lon (large Co To island), Co To Be (small Co Toisland) and 15 smaller islands. Besides enchanting beaches, the island has naturalforests, lighthouses, parks, wharves, fishing villages, bays and a rock garden.
A corner of Co To island district (Photo: VNA) Yen Duc Village in QuangNinh’s Dong Trieu district is one of the few villages in Vietnam that stillretains its authentic lifestyle. Located along the highway between Ha Noi andHa Long city in the Red River Delta, Yen Duc Village is the epitome ofVietnamese rural living with its charming rice fields, traditional houses andgardens and friendly locals.
Located about 70km from Ha Long city, Binh Lieudistrict is ranked top of Vietnam National Radio Station’s list of best 2016travel destinations. It is renowned for its fresh air, beautiful landscapes andethnic minority groups. Visitors could admire great mountains, green ricefields and blooming reed fields of white flowers in late autumn and earlywinter.
As Quang Ninh’s most famous mountain, Yen Tu(meaning Bronze Pagoda) is appreciated not only for its natural landscape andstature but also for its significance as a historically preserved relic. It islocated about 50 kilometres from Ha Long city.
In 2017, Quang Ninh received 9.87 milliontourists, including 4.28 million foreigners, up 18 percent and 23 percentrespectively. The tourism sector earned over 17.88 trillion VND (786.9 millionUSD), up 30 percent compared to the previous year, and contributed 3.2 trillionVND (140.8 million USD) to the State budget, accounting for 11.9 percent of thelocal budget collection.
Under the Overall Plan for Tourism Development,Quang Ninh strives to become an international tourism centre and a leadingtourism destination in Vietnam with modern infrastructure and diverse, highquality and competitive tourism products.
The province hopes towelcome 12 million visitors this year, including five million foreigners, andearn 22 trillion VND (968 million USD) in tourism revenue.-VNA
