Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to Greece Pham Thi Thu Huong paid a working trip to Rhodes, the largest island of Greece’s Dodecanese archipelago in the southeastern Aegean Sea, from August 4-6.
At a meeting with Deputy Mayor of Rhodes in charge of economy, finance, and cultural heritage Chalkias Konstantinos, Huong was briefed on the island’s rich history, distinctive architecture, and cultural heritage. Rhodes is home to a well-preserved medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's most renowned tourist destinations.
The ambassador took this occasion to introduce Vietnam’s maritime and island potential, drawing parallels with Rhodes in their shared emphasis on developing maritime economy.
The Vietnamese Government attaches importance to sustainable and green economic growth, which goes hand-in-hand with preserving cultural identity and heritage, Huong said.
With its long coastline, Vietnam considers the marine economy, especially tourism, a key driver of national development. The country welcomes more than 17.5 million foreign tourists and sees over 5 million Vietnamese travelling abroad each year, with many expressing interest in visiting Greece, she said.
Building on the shared strengths of both sides, the diplomat expressed her hope for deeper cooperation with Rhodes, particularly in tourism, hospitality, education, and labour.
She suggested showcasing Vietnam at Rhodes’s cultural festivals with the presence of local Vietnamese community, fostering partnerships between Vietnamese travel companies and Rhodes-based partners, and encouraging academic exchanges in tourism and hospitality through student internships. She also suggested Rhodes receive Vietnamese workers to support its tourism sector, particularly in hotel, restaurant, and service industries.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, she invited Rhodes officials to visit Vietnam to explore concrete cooperation areas and consider establishing a twinning relationship with a coastal Vietnamese locality.
For his part, Konstantinos welcomed the ambassador’s proposals, signaling openness to further discussions to advance practical collaboration.
Meeting with representatives of the 100-strong Vietnamese community in Rhodes, Huong updated them on recent changes in Vietnamese laws and policies related to nationality, identification, land, housing, and real estate investment, designed to strengthen ties between overseas Vietnamese and their homeland.
She encouraged the community to engage in upcoming events held by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese and Vietnamese associations across Europe, particularly those aimed at involving younger generations. She also urged the community to appoint a representative to serve as a liaison with the broader Vietnamese network in Greece and the Vietnamese Embassy./.
