Viet Nam NewsHÀ NỘI — Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts was officially appointed Việt Nam’s Tourism Ambassador for the 2017-2020 tenure by Việt Nam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at a ceremony yesterday.

Vogt-Roberts is the first film director to take on the position, which aims to promote the image of both Việt Nam’s people and culture to international friends and to bring the country closer to Hollywood film producers and directors.

At the opening ceremony, a ministry representative noted that Kong: Skull Island officially hit international cinemas last weekend and continues to receive positive feedback.

In Việt Nam, the movie, whose backdrop was mostly filmed in the country’s landscape, broke box office records just after three days of screening.

Beautiful beast: Kong: Skull Island is the biggest Hollywood movie ever to be filmed in Việt Nam.

“I appreciate all the hospitality from locals who have welcomed me as their guest. I want to put this country on screen not only for the people here to see how beautiful their country looks and have a sense of pride in it, but also for the rest of the world.”

As the new tourism ambassador, he expressed his wish to bring more Hollywood productions, actors and directors to Việt Nam and “to collaborate with local talent.”

“In a way, I can help to further expose the world to Việt Nam, helping people know how beautiful this country is,” he added.

King-sized: In Việt Nam, Kong: Skull Island broke box office records just after three days of screening.

Addressing at the ceremony, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện said that the appointment of the US film director as Việt Nam’s Tourism Ambassador and the screening of Kong: Skull Island worldwide will be a breakthrough for Vietnamese film and a new start for Vietnamese tourism, an industry that plans to be the key developmental driving force of the country in the years to come.

US ambassador Ted Osius praised Vogt-Roberts’s work in the Hollywood blockbuster and his new role.

“Your work on Kong: Skull-Island showcases the best of Việt Nam and promotes the country as a place for tourism and the arts. The more people can experience the best of Việt Nam, the more Việt Nam can engage in and benefit from the world community,” he said.

“Your genuine and obvious love for the country will make you a fantastic ambassador for tourism and entertainment. I’m certain that your time as ambassador will encourage many people to come and be enchanted by its beauty, its great food, its culture, its warm and welcoming people,” he added.

Kong: Skull Island was shot in Ninh Bình, Quảng Ninh and Quảng Bình provinces in Việt Nam.

It is the biggest Hollywood movie ever to be filmed in Việt Nam. — VNS