Many tourist agencies and companies take part in China Tourism Day 2026 in Hà Nội on May 19. —Photo courtesy of Chinese Cultural Centre

HÀ NỘI — The Chinese Cultural Centre in Hà Nội hosted China Tourism Day 2026, bringing together visitors to share knowledge, experiences and memories of travel in China while highlighting growing cultural and tourism links between the two countries as regional cooperation continues to expand.

China Tourism Day is celebrated annually on May 19 to promote the country’s cultural heritage and boost the travel sector. It commemorates the Ming Dynasty geographer Xu Xiake, who began his cross-country travels on that date in 1613.

This year’s event, themed Enjoy Quality Travel, Explore Scenic Land, emphasised the role of high-quality cultural and tourism products in meeting people’s spiritual needs and affirmed tourism as an important bridge for cultural exchange, friendship and shared development.

In his remarks, Zhang Deshan, director of the Chinese Cultural Centre, said that under the strategic guidance of senior leaders of both countries, 2026–27 had been designated the China–Việt Nam Tourism Cooperation Year.

He said this marked a significant milestone in cultural and tourism cooperation, generating new momentum for tourism exchanges, strengthening friendship between the two peoples and opening a phase of deeper, more substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation.

In recent years, two-way tourism exchanges between the two countries have grown strongly. Vietnamese tourists are increasingly visiting destinations in China, such as Guilin, Lijiang, Zhangjiajie and Tianshan Tianchi.

China’s tourism appeal also lies in its rich cultural and historical heritage, including landmarks such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Jiuzhaigou, alongside its integration of traditional culture with modern technology and the blending of heritage preservation with economic development.

“China is one of the countries with a dynamic and influential tourism industry in the world. Today, international tourists, including Vietnamese visitors, come to China not only for sightseeing, but also to experience the cultural life, cuisine, art, smart tourism, and modern developed cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing,” said Chu Quốc Hung, chairman of the UNESCO Hà Nội Travel Club.

“China’s green tourism, ecotourism, night tourism, and digital cultural tourism models are creating new trends for the Asian region.”

Conversely, Hà Nội, HCM City, Hạ Long Bay, Đà Nẵng and Nha Trang continue to attract large numbers of Chinese tourists.

Zhang noted that May 19 also marked the 136th anniversary of the birth of President Hồ Chí Minh, the leader of the Vietnamese revolution and a close friend of the Chinese people.

During his revolutionary activities in China, President Hồ Chí Minh visited cities including Guangzhou, Guilin, Liuzhou, Chongqing, Kunming, Nanning, Yan’an and Hong Kong.

Many historical sites associated with his activities remain preserved in China, serving as a testament to the traditional friendship between the two countries.

China is also developing tourism products linked to these sites, including Following in the Footsteps of President Hồ Chí Minh, while improving services to welcome Vietnamese visitors to learn about revolutionary history and experience the long-standing ties between the two peoples. — VNS