HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) is taking its message direct to the heart of movie world, pushing ahead with a Việt Nam Tourism - Cinema Promotion Programme in the US themed 'Việt Nam - New Destination of World Cinema'.

Marc Knapper, US Ambassador to Việt Nam speaks at the press conference. — VNA/VNS Photo Trần Khánh An

It will be travelling to Los Angeles, California, from September 23 to 25, to introduce Việt Nam as an ideal location for filmmakers to produce movies, along with highlighting it as a tourist destination.

"One of the key aspects of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the US and Việt Nam is promoting greater connection and stronger people ties between the two countries," US Ambassador to Việt Nam Marc Knapper, told Việt Nam News.

"There is no better way to promote mutual understanding than through cooperation between Việt Nam and US film production companies. The more Americans can see Việt Nam through films and television series, the more they understand about rich culture and history and hopefully, they will come here to see themselves."

Local authorities and tourism businesses of Hà Nội, HCM City, Ninh Bình and Quảng Bình Province, which have previous tourism and a cinema relationships with the US, will join the programme.

A scene of Thủng Mountain in Cao Bằng Province by photographer Trần Tuấn Việt. Photographs of Việt Nam by Việt will be exhibited at the programme. — Photo Trần Tuấn Việt

The programme will feature a meeting with the US side to promote cooperation in tourism and cinema development, an exhibition to introduce the country, people and culture of Việt Nam and a workshop to introduce the potential of Việt Nam's tourism and cinema.

The Vietnamese delegation will also visit, work and discuss with Google how to best promote Vietnamese tourism and cinema.

Deputy Minister of MoCST Hồ An Phong, said: "With natural landscapes and diverse cultural identities, Việt Nam has the potential to become a famous film studio. Cooperation in Việt Nam not only offers international audiences the vivid experience of Việt Nam but also promotes the demand for tourists to visit and travel here."

The programme is expected to attract the participation of more than 450 guests, including agencies, investors, producers and directors of film studios in the US.

General Director of the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism, Nguyễn Trùng Khánh, said several prominent American filmmakers and producers may participate, including Oliver Stone, the acclaimed director and screenwriter with three Oscars, Phillip Noyce, known for directing The Quiet American and Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the director of Kong: Skull Island.

MoCST has also been talking to the Indochina Productions Company, which was founded by Hungarian-American producer Nicholas Simon. He has been producing feature films, TV series and commercials in Southeast Asia for two and half decades.

About 100 leading US news agencies, including Reuters, CNN, New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, and independent film journalists will participate in the programme. — VNS