Kayaking on the Xong River in Vangvieng​ district, Vientiane province, is popular with Vietnamese visitors to Laos.--Photo Teng

Laos, Vietnam eye closer tourism links

Tourism cooperation between Laos and Vietnam is expected to boom in the near future as the two countries have a wealth of potential for such activities.
Laos’ Minister of​ Information,​ Culture and​ Tourism, ​Mrs​ Suanesavanh​ Vignaket, ​said Laos and Vietnam have held several promotion programmes to promote tourism, such as a culture and tourism week showcasing the nation’s northwestern region and Ho Chi Minh City, held in Luang Prabang province, and the Hanoi-Vientiane Conference on Tourism and Trade Promotion in 2024.
Tours organised between the two countries have helped people gain greater insights into the history and cultural traditions of the neighbouring nations, which is further fostering the longstanding and special friendship between Laos and Vietnam, she added.
The minister also said that both countries need to collaborate more closely in tourism through more officially organised exchanges.
These would be aimed at streamlining the immigration process, encouraging businesses to invest more in tourism, and jointly popularising specific tourist destinations, according to the Voice of Vietnam’s website.
The number of Vietnamese tourists visiting Laos has increased in recent years, according to the Tourism Development​ Department​ of Laos’​ Ministry​ of​ Information, Culture​ and​ Tourism.
A report by the department states that Laos welcomed more than 264,000 Vietnamese tourists in the first three months of this year, an increase of 47 percent compared to the same period last year, making Vietnam the second largest source of foreign visitors.
​Meanwhile, Laos is among Vietnam’s top 15 tourism markets, with the number of Lao travellers to Vietnam standing at 33,000, the Voice of Vietnam’s website reported.
Most Vietnamese tourists visit Vientiane and the riverside town of Vangvieng, while people from Laos like to tour Vietnam’s historical and cultural sites, as well as various scenic spots, including the country’s beautiful beaches.
Travel between Laos and Vietnam is relatively easy, by both land and air, with flights taking only 80 minutes.

By Times​ Reporters​
 (Latest Update May 29, 2024)