HCM City (VNA) – As many as 200 Iranian tourists arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on March 19 on the first charter flight from the Middle Eastern country to Vietnam, marking a milestone in the bilateral tourism cooperation.
They will embark on a tour of Vietnam’s southern, central, and northern regions before concluding their visit on March 28.
The city's tourism officials said the tourists’ selection of Vietnam as a destination during Nowruz, the Iranian New Year celebration, demonstrates the country’s growing appeal. Their itinerary showcases Vietnam’s rich cultural and historical landmarks like Cu Chi tunnels, Ben Thanh market, War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City Post Office, Ba Na Hills, Hoi An ancient city, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, and Hoan Kiem Lake.
Throughout their 10-day and 9-night journey across Vietnam, they will stay at prestigious accommodation establishments, including New World Saigon, Equatorial Ho Chi Minh, Four Points by Sheraton Danang, and Dolce by Wyndham Hanoi.
A representative of the municipal Department of Tourism said that this charter flight represented a crucial step in Vietnam's efforts to boost international tourism. Expanding into the Middle Eastern market not only diversifies the country's tourist sources but also creates opportunities to develop premium tourism products, improve service quality, and strengthen Vietnam's position on the global tourism map.
Looking ahead, the department plans to collaborate closely with industry partners to develop appealing tourism products tailored to international visitors' demands while enhancing promotional activities to attract more large tour groups to the country.
The second group of 200 Iranian tourists is scheduled to arrive in Hanoi on March 28. They will explore Vietnam's outstanding tourism sites in the northern, central, and southern regions until April 5./.
