From right to left, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lê Quang Tùng, Vietnamese ambassador Trần Ngọc An, Director of Asia Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Kate White and Chairman of the Việt Nam Tourism Advisory Board cut the ribbon to inaugurate the tourism office in London. — VNA/VNS Photo

LONDON — Việt Nam has officially launched its first overseas tourism office in London, the UK, on February 18. 

The UK is a strategic partner and the second largest tourism market of Việt in the EU, said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lê Quang Tùng at the launching ceremony. 

"The office opened in London will help British people get to know more about Việt Nam's tourism," Tùng said. 

"The office, named Visit Vietnam will co-operate with British partners to promote the two countries' tourism co-operation."

Some 200 guests from travel companies, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK, the Việt Nam - UK Network, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK and national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines attended the launch.

The office will work with The PC Agency of the UK to popularise Việt Nam’s tourism and introduce the country’s latest tourism products to travel companies in the UK helping to increase visitors from the UK and other key European markets to Việt Nam, according to Trần Trọng Kiên, Chairman of the Việt Nam Tourism Advisory Board.

Kate White, Director of Asia Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, highly valued the opening of the office, adding that she believes the upcoming F1 Vietnam Grand Prix in Hà Nội will once again prove Việt Nam to be an attractive destination for travellers.

Việt Nam has been assessed as one of the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations by many international tourism bodies like the UN World Tourism Organisation and the Asia-Pacific Tourism Association.

It has also been named on lists of the top tourist and cultural tourism destinations in Asia, the world’s best golf destinations, along with other rankings. — VNS